Springboks Once Again Address All Blacks Accusations Over Controversial Scrum Tactics in Cape Town
- Springbok scrum coach Daan Human addressed the media after All Blacks coach Dave Rennie accused South Africa of illegal scrum tactics
- Human defended referee Angus Gardner's handling of last Saturday's scrums and dismissed suggestions of any wrongdoing by the Boks
- The Springboks face the All Blacks of New Zealand again this Saturday at FNB Stadium, with kick-off set for 17:10
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Springbok scrum coach Daan Human has pushed back against accusations of illegal set-piece tactics, insisting that he has never coached his players to "walk around" the mark during a scrum.
The row follows South Africa's 33-26 win over New Zealand at Cape Town Stadium, after which All Blacks head coach Dave Rennie alleged that the Springboks were manipulating their scrum positioning to bore straight through the New Zealand tighthead.
Rassie Erasmus hit back at the time, accusing the All Blacks of deliberately avoiding engagement to deny South Africa their traditional platform.
Daan Human takes centre stage
It appeared to be a calculated decision by the Springboks, with former Bok prop Daan Human chosen to address the media on Tuesday instead of Rassie Erasmus or another member of the coaching team.
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Human took a diplomatic approach, making it clear that South Africa had no complaints about the officiating and dismissing suggestions that the team had breached any scrum laws.
He praised the refereeing of Angus Gardner in last Saturday’s Test, saying the official had applied his decisions consistently to both teams and had been even-handed in his interpretation of the scrum.
Human stressed that South Africa had already moved on from the previous match and would now focus on adjusting to the way the referee appointed for Saturday’s second Test interprets the scrum. He added that the Springboks would make any necessary changes if the referee identified areas that needed to be corrected.
Walking around is not ideal for us
Addressing Dave Rennie’s claim that the Springboks were “walking around” at the scrum, scrum coach Daan Human firmly rejected the suggestion. He stressed that the team is coached to move forward rather than simply go through the motions, as walking around does not create the forward momentum the Springboks are looking for.
Human admitted that the scrum can still be improved but explained that the coaching staff addresses any issues as soon as they arise. If the team identifies something that could be executed better, they work to correct it at the next scrum rather than allowing the problem to continue.
With another Test against their rivals approaching, Human said the Springboks’ preparation remains overwhelmingly focused on their own performance. He explained that between 80% and 90% of their training and attention is dedicated to improving their own game, while still recognising the quality of the opposition’s backline and forward pack. The priority, he added, is continued improvement that extends beyond the upcoming match.
The second Test at FNB Stadium kicks off at 17:10 on Saturday and will be broadcast live on SuperSport.
Erasmus' warning adds context to ranking shock
Briefly News also reported that Rassie Erasmus had admitted the Springboks were feeling the pressure before the Ellis Park showdown with the All Blacks.
Erasmus said ahead of the Test that he was nervous, while describing New Zealand's approach as fast and intense. He also warned that the All Blacks wanted to move the ball quickly and challenge South Africa around the breakdown.
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Source: Briefly News
