Rassie Erasmus Accuses Dave Rennie of Breaking Protocol Over Springbok Scrum Claims
- Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus hit back at All Blacks counterpart Dave Rennie over his public comments on the Boks' scrum technique
- Rennie claimed after Saturday's second Test in Cape Town that the Springboks were 'walking around' opponents in the scrum
- Erasmus argued coaches must raise such concerns through World Rugby's official channels, not through the media
PAY ATTENTION: Mark Briefly News as a preferred source, and our content will appear higher in your Google feed!
Springbok head coach Rassie Erasmus publicly challenged All Blacks coach Dave Rennie on Monday, accusing him of bypassing World Rugby's official protocols by raising concerns about South Africa's scrum tactics in post-match press conferences.
Source: Getty Images
The dispute followed Rennie's comments after the second Test in Cape Town on Saturday, in which the New Zealand coach suggested the Springboks were "walking around" opponents in the scrum. This claim triggered debate among rugby analysts and former players across the country.
Erasmus: Use the official channels
Speaking in Johannesburg after naming his squad for the third Test at FNB Stadium this Saturday, Erasmus drew a sharp distinction between voicing an opinion and presenting it as fact.
PAY ATTENTION: You can now search for all your favourite news and topics on Briefly News.
"My frustration wasn't so much about his opinion, but when an opinion gets presented as fact," Erasmus said.
He pointed out that World Rugby's officiating system allows coaches to submit up to five video clips per match to raise specific concerns. He argued that taking such issues to the press instead undermines the process and unfairly pressures match officials.
"If I sat here and said New Zealand are cleaning out illegally at the breakdown and the referees must look into it, that's not the protocol; that's talking to referees through the media, and I've been burned for that before," Erasmus said.
He further warned that public narratives of this nature spiral quickly, drawing in media, podcasters, and commentators who, in his view, frequently lack technical expertise on scrums.
Source: Getty Images
Erasmus defends scrum coach Daan Human
Although Erasmus admitted that scrums are not his specialist area, he backed Daan Human’s approach. He rejected the suggestion that South Africa deliberately tries to manipulate the set-piece by moving around opponents.
The Springbok coach maintained that such a tactic was not part of the team’s preparation or coaching philosophy, insisting that Human had his full confidence.
Erasmus also played down any suggestion of a personal feud with Rennie. While he disagreed with the All Blacks coach’s decision to raise the scrum issue publicly, he said the two remained on good terms and that he understood why Rennie wanted to make his concerns known.
The focus will now shift back to the field, with the Springboks and All Blacks preparing for their third and decisive Test at FNB Stadium in Johannesburg on Saturday.
Rassie explains why Siya was subbed
Briefly News previously reported that Springboks head coach Rassie Erasmus has addressed the confusion surrounding his decision to substitute captain Siya Kolisi just two minutes into the second half of the second Test against New Zealand at DHL Stadium on 29 August 2026.
PAY ATTENTION: Stay informed and follow us on Google News!
Source: Briefly News
