Jake White argues the row from New Zealand on South Africa “walking around” at scrum time is less about cheating and more about the All Blacks matching a Springbok ploy.
Writing for RugbyPass, White says the front row remains rugby’s most secretive battleground, where skullduggery around body height, angle and footwork has always gone on largely unseen.
He notes Rassie Erasmus pointed out after the first Test of the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry that Gerhard Steenkamp was penalised for walking around the scrum in the 55th minute, a penalty that shifted the game, and argues that if both sides shifted in the same direction the scrum would simply veer that way without anyone cheating.
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White says it looks more like the All Blacks have picked up on what the Boks were already doing than any deliberate wrongdoing.
He believes coaches are always searching for a technical edge within the laws, and that some mystery around scrum time should remain rather than be stripped out by over-analysis.
“For me, there’s a reason we go misty-eyed at talk of the ‘dark arts’ of scrummaging,” White writes. “After a game, I often see front rows sitting together at post-match functions having a beer and locked in deep conversations about the scrum battle.
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“Both sides are looking for an edge. They’re looking for an achilles heel to exploit any weakness.
“No one is saying one team is cheating, it’s maybe more that the All Blacks have cottoned on to what the Springboks are doing.
“Ultimately, it boils down to a robust technical debate. Everyone is making such a big deal of it, but they say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery and that’s what we’re perhaps seeing at scrum time.
“Yes, rugby is constantly evolving but at the same time maybe there should always be mystery at scrum time. To my mind, to depower it would be egregious.”
Looking ahead to Saturday’s clash at FNB Stadium, White reckons the Boks need their set-piece and a reliable goal-kicker to keep the scoreboard moving, with the All Blacks having outscored the world champions nine tries to four across the series so far.
Photo: Johan Orton/Gallo Images
The post Jake: All Blacks cottoned on to Bok tactics appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Jake White argues the row from New Zealand on South Africa “walking around” at scrum time is less about cheating and more about the All Blacks matching a Springbok ploy.
The post Jake: All Blacks cottoned on to Bok tactics appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Read More
