Dave Rennie expects the All Blacks to be better at scrum-time against the Springboks on Saturday, but has taken issue with South Africa’s approach to the set-piece battle, reports DEVIN HERMANUS.
Rennie raised the matter on Thursday after naming New Zealand’s match 23 for the second Test of the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series in Cape Town.
Asked about the scrum contest after last week’s 33-16 win at Ellis Park, the All Blacks boss revealed the sport’s major governing body had been consulted over their concerns.
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“We’ve spoken with World Rugby around a couple of issues from our point of view, and so we think scrum-wise we’ll be a lot better. That was a massive in for them last week,” he told the media in Newlands.
Reminded that the ball was in play for just 27 minutes in Johannesburg, Rennie said increasing that figure would suit his team, before pointing to the volume of scrums as the reason the contest stalled.
“We’d like that to be higher, it probably suits our DNA. The fact that there were a hell of a lot of scrums in one spot at various times meant the game was stationary.
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“We need to be really accurate. We need to be disciplined. If we can hang on to a bit of ball, then we have an opportunity to stress them. But if we don’t get that part right, then we play into their hands. Like I said, the expectation is our scrum will be a lot better.”
The former Wallabies tactician believes a more stable scrum will open up territory New Zealand couldn’t access on the Highveld.
“We think if they’re forced to scrum square and not be able to step sideways and walk around us, then we’ll be able to stay in front of that and we’ll be able to get footy going off that.”
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On a late referee change, with Georgian official Nika Amashukeli ruled out after failing to recover from illness and replaced by Australian Angus Gardner, Rennie played down any impact.
“I think those guys have been all over it,” he noted. “Angus was going to be involved on the edge [touchlines] anyway, and so they’ve been having discussions based on, I would imagine, things that South Africa have sent in or questioned, and likewise with us.
“So no, I don’t think it changes much.”
Photo: Floris van Schouwenburg/Gallo Images
The post Kiwis chat to World Rugby about Bok walkabouts appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Dave Rennie expects the All Blacks to be better at scrum-time against the Springboks on Saturday, but has taken issue with South Africa’s approach to the set-piece battle.
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