George Bower: All Blacks Star Sends Strong Warning to Springboks Ahead of Third Test in Soweto
- All Blacks prop George Bower addressed the scrum controversy ahead of the decisive third Test at FNB Stadium on Saturday
- Bower warned that South Africa's front row changes angles without warning, with momentum shifting in an instant
- All Blacks coach Dave Rennie clarified his comments about the Bok scrum after a war of words broke out between both camps
PAY ATTENTION: Mark Briefly News as a preferred source, and our content will appear higher in your Google feed!
All Blacks prop George Bower has spoken candidly about what New Zealand expect from the Springbok scrum when the two sides meet in the third Test of the Greatest Rivalry Series at FNB Stadium on Saturday, with kick-off scheduled for 17:10.
With the series level at one win apiece, the stakes could not be higher. The team that wins in Soweto will be guaranteed not to lose the series, making this the most consequential fixture of the three-match contest.
Bower breaks down the Bok scrum
Bower, who has been heavily involved in the set-piece contests throughout the series, provided a detailed explanation of why South Africa’s scrum is such a difficult challenge.
He explained that South Africa’s front-row forwards prefer to attack the scrum directly and can suddenly alter their angles. Because of this, New Zealand’s front row must remain tightly connected and prepared for rapid changes in direction. Bower noted that this unpredictability is a key part of the Springboks’ scrum identity, with any shift in angle capable of changing the momentum almost immediately.
PAY ATTENTION: You can now search for all your favourite news and topics on Briefly News.
Despite several scrum resets during last Saturday’s Test in Cape Town, where referee Angus Gardner was hesitant to award penalties to either team, Bower stressed that New Zealand are not overawed by South Africa’s set-piece strength.
He said he relishes the challenge of scrummaging and believes the All Blacks are equally committed to testing South Africa up front. Bower acknowledged that the Springboks view the scrum as an important way to win penalties, gain territory and build momentum, but pointed out that New Zealand have also demonstrated a strong mindset at scrum time since the opening Test. He added that the All Blacks’ back five are equally eager to engage in the contest.
Rennie plays down war of words with Erasmus
The scrum debate intensified before the second Test after All Blacks coach Dave Rennie disclosed that he had contacted World Rugby over concerns about what he believed were illegal elements of the Springboks’ scrum.
The comments sparked a public war of words between the two coaching camps, with Rassie Erasmus showing clear frustration during his post-match media briefing after South Africa’s win last Saturday.
Rennie remained calm when asked about the controversy, saying he had only responded to questions from the media and had not followed the subsequent exchanges during the week. He explained that he had given his view when asked, then moved on without paying attention to the reaction.
He also rejected any suggestion that the disagreement had created personal friction between himself and Erasmus. Rennie pointed out that the two coaches had shared a beer immediately after the match and insisted that he did not view the situation as a personal battle, but rather as both men making comments on the issue.
With the series now on the line, attention will shift from the verbal exchanges to the field, where the scrums at FNB Stadium are likely to face another intense examination.
PAY ATTENTION: Stay informed and follow us on Google News!
Source: Briefly News
