The Springboks are too good a team to be playing games with the All Blacks, writes DEVIN HERMANUS.
It started Monday, with Rassie Erasmus and technical adviser Jaco Peyper fronting a press conference for Saturday’s opening Test in the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series. Erasmus explained away the delayed team announcement as respect for New Zealand, then pushed back on All Blacks claims the Boks are deliberately slowing matches down.
He also raised concerns about new referee protocols creating communication gaps for coaches. Peyper used the platform to unpack timing laws and referee responses, insisting there was no go-slow strategy at play.
MORE: Peyper shuts down ‘slow down’ talk
By Tuesday, assistant coach Felix Jones was relaying complaints from the Stormers, Sharks and Vodacom Bulls about the All Blacks’ cleanout work and potentially illegal breakdown techniques from their tour matches.
Grant Williams and Malcolm Marx did their media duties alongside him, both hedging with “if selected” despite being among the 15 players held back from the Argentina Test two weeks ago specifically to prepare for this series. Marx is the world’s best and SA Rugby Player of the Year. Suggesting he might miss out was never convincing.
WATCH: Boks flag brutal All Blacks cleanouts
The genuine uncertainty sat with Siya Kolisi and Ox Nché, both nursing injuries serious enough that Erasmus flagged them as doubts on Monday, only for Jones to say less than a day later that both were “tracking well” with “nothing majorly negative” in their recovery. He also tried playing down the idea of Damian de Allende becoming the 10th Bok centurion this week, as if that team news hadn’t already been decided.
Even Nick Mallett has weighed in, the former Bok boss praising Rassie and co for cleverly using the media to counter New Zealand’s accusations and pushing his own line about policing the Kiwis’ breakdown work.
MALLETT: Boks’ mind games cleverly done
None of it was necessary. The Boks have the pedigree, form and track record to let their rugby do the talking.
Since winning the 2019 World Cup, South Africa have beaten the All Blacks seven times in 11 meetings. Last year in Wellington, Cheslin Kolbe scored twice as the Boks triumphed 43-10, their biggest-ever win over New Zealand, claiming the Freedom Cup and the world No 1 ranking in the process.
There’s also Joost van der Westhuizen’s memorable tackle on Jonah Lomu in the 1995 final, Ricky Januarie’s solo try in Dunedin in 2008, Pat Lambie’s long-range penalty in 2014 and Handré Pollard’s title-defending 12 points in the 2023 World Cup decider.
WATCH: 10 of the best Bok wins against All Blacks
The Boks don’t need mind games to walk into Ellis Park with the upper hand. History already gives them that.
What undercuts the gamesmanship is that Erasmus has also shown real respect for this fixture. He has asked supporters on Saturday to stay silent for the haka, and admitted he modelled his own game on All Black greats Zinzan Brooke and Murray Mexted.
That’s the version of Rassie and the Boks this series deserves, not the smoke and mirrors.
The theatre is already built into this rivalry. It doesn’t need any extra scripting.
Photo: Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images
The post Rassie, Boks should just talk rugby appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
The Springboks are too good a team to be playing games with the All Blacks, writes DEVIN HERMANUS.
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