Rassie Erasmus blasts Dave Rennie’s scrum criticism, says the All Blacks are ‘under pressure’
Rassie Erasmus produced a scathing rant in response to Dave Rennie suggesting that the Springboks ‘walk around’ in scrum contests.
The Springboks head coach’s comments came after his side’s nail-biting 33-26 victory over New Zealand in Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry’s second Test at DHL Stadium in Cape Town on Saturday.
Rennie stated that he brought up the issue of the Boks’ alleged scrum tactics with World Rugby - allegations that did not sit well with Erasmus.
An expletive-fueled response
“It is the first time in our history that anyone has talked about us walking around,” Erasmus said in his post-match press conference on the matter.
“There were six scrum collapses, why did they collapse? The last lineout was skew. If you are going to moan about things, then you show you are the team under pressure.
“There were five head contacts in the first Test (from the All Blacks), but we kept quiet about it. Today there were another four.
Media manipulation
“They have tried to convince people through the media,” Erasmus added.
“It started early in the tour, when they complained about teams slowing the ball down. I think it should be clear now we are not slowing the ball down.
“It was a plan on their part. We are not f**king walking around in the scrums, we are scrumming through.
“We have never been accused of scrumming through before.”
Late front-row change-up
Erasmus explained that his controversial decision to switch his starting and bench front-rowers was deliberately done based on weather conditions.
“We thought it was going to be wet, that was the prediction,” Erasmus explained.
“We felt we would have needed to start with our heavier front row had that been the case.
“Then when we got closer to the game we realised the weather was going to be dry, so then we felt we needed our lighter, more mobile front row.
READ MORE ON RGR TEST TWO: Springboks vs All Blacks analysis: South Africa respond in style but Test two shows margins are fine
Kolbe change
“When it comes to Cheslin [Kolbe], I said at the start of the week that he might come back if he proved his fitness,” Erasmus continued.
“Kurt-Lee [Arendse] knew that. Maybe I should have slashed them (bracketed) in the team that was announced, but Cheslin came through the Monday practice.
“He was back in the mix, and when I was asked on Tuesday about it, I said that he had come through very well.”
The rugby giants head back to Johannesburg to clash at FNB Stadium in Soweto on Saturday for Test three.
Considering the series is now tied 1-1, there’s no doubt there will be more drama between Erasmus and Rennie throughout the rest of the tour.
