Dave Rennie Dismisses Narrative Claims as All Blacks-Rassie Erasmus Scrum Row Continues
- All Blacks head coach Dave Rennie pushed back on accusations that New Zealand were deliberately trying to influence match officials through the media
- Rennie confirmed he and Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus shared a beer after the second Test despite the public disagreement over South Africa's scrum
- The two coaching camps have both submitted footage to the referee ahead of the deciding third Test in Soweto
- Briefly News spoke exclusively to a rugby analyst on Rennie's claims
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All Blacks head coach Dave Rennie has rejected suggestions that New Zealand are using media comments to manipulate officials, as the ongoing dispute with Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus over the legality of South Africa's scrum continues to simmer ahead of the third Test in Soweto.
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The All Blacks coach initially questioned South Africa’s scrum tactics following the second Test. Erasmus then responded, turning the issue into one of the talking points ahead of Saturday’s third Test at FNB Stadium.
Rennie had raised concerns before the Cape Town Test about how the Springboks operate at scrum time, and after New Zealand's 33-26 defeat on Saturday, he went further by accusing South Africa of "walking around" in the set-piece. Those remarks drew a sharp response from Erasmus, who denied any wrongdoing and claimed the All Blacks were deliberately trying to shape the thinking of match officials through public statements.
Rennie plays down 'war of words'
Speaking at his press conference following the announcement of his 23-man squad for the third Test, Rennie sought to de-escalate the situation. He confirmed the two coaches had shared a beer immediately after the Cape Town match and said he had no intention of prolonging the dispute. Rennie added that he was unaware Erasmus had continued to address the matter publicly during the week, saying he had moved on the moment Saturday's match ended. He also questioned whether the scrum debate deserved further attention, noting that both camps had submitted footage to the officials and that the matter now rested with referee Nika Amashukeli and his support staff.
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Teams to share plane to the United States
Beyond the third Test, both squads are scheduled to travel together to the United States for the fourth and final match of the series, a prospect Rennie acknowledged could be "slightly awkward" depending on the Soweto result.
"Rassie and I joked about it last week because someone's going to be grumpy getting on a plane," Rennie said, adding that deep mutual respect exists between the players in both camps once the final whistle blows.
The winner of the third Test will secure at minimum a series draw, with the final match in the US set to determine the overall outcome.
Speaking to Briefly News, rugby analyst Thabang Mooena said Rennie's comments appeared aimed at cooling tensions rather than extending the scrum dispute.
“Dave Rennie is clearly trying to take the heat out of the situation. By saying that he and Rassie had a beer after the Test, he is showing that whatever is said publicly is part of the competitive environment and there is still respect between the two coaches.”
Mooena added that the decision by both camps to submit footage to the referee was significant.
“The important thing now is that both teams have put their evidence forward. Once that happens, it should really be left to the match officials. The referee and his team have to make their own assessment based on what they see on the field, rather than what either coaching staff says through the media.”
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John Smit adds another twist to Dave Rennie scrum controversy
Briefly News previously reported that former Springbok captain John Smit has weighed in on Dave Rennie’s controversial scrum comments after the All Blacks’ defeat in Cape Town.
Smit offered a different perspective on the remarks, questioning what may have driven the focus on South Africa’s scrum tactics. His comments add another layer to an already heated build-up to the Johannesburg Test.
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Source: Briefly News
