The All Blacks will want to keep a high tempo in the Test matches during the Greatest Rivalry Series, and the Springboks will do everything they can to deny them that, according to one New Zealand pundit.
South Africa have been accused of slowing down matches and using underhanded tactics to force stoppages to catch their breath and recover, and that narrative has resurfaced ahead of next month’s highly anticipated series.
Springboks accused of underhanded tactics
Ex-Crusaders scrum-half Bryn Hall has already suggested that the All Blacks will look to run the Springboks ‘off their feet‘, while Mark Watson, an outspoken New Zealand radio and podcast host, predicts that Rassie Erasmus’ men will do everything in their power to create stoppages.
In his first three Tests in charge of the All Blacks, Dave Rennie has expressed the desire to keep a high tempo in the team’s performances, and many pundits believe there has been a significant change in the energy and pace the side is performing at since he took over from Scott Robertson.
Previewing the Greatest Rivalry series, Watson took aim at the Boks and their tactics and says that New Zealand will need strong referees to ensure that tempo is maintained. He believes that Andy Farrell’s Ireland team used similar ploys when the two teams faced off at Eden Park.
“We’ve got this tour of South Africa coming up. We play an expansive style of rugby. No side in the world can keep up with us in regards to the way we play, our fitness and our athleticism, and that is our DNA,” he claimed on Sports Nations NZ.
“And that’s what we’re going to rely on to beat South Africa. The problem with it is South Africa will do everything to slow it down. We will see injury being feigned. We will see contact lenses coming out and needing to be put back in, like the Irish did and this will be done purely to give themselves a bit of a break, try and recover, try and get their breath back.
Ex-All Black adamant New Zealand concern can be ‘easily fixed’ with Springboks ‘big boys’ looming
“We are going to need a very good, tough, hard referee who’s going to see through the BS and is going to officiate appropriately and continue the game or allow the game to play on and for the game to flow and tell the South Africans we’re just going to keep playing. So, if you want to have a guy doing up his boot laces, pretending he’s got a head knock, pretending he’s got a hair in his eye and has to change his contacts, you do it to your own detriment.
“A rugby side should not be punished because of a strength and a skill set they bring to a game. You watch the South Africans. They will push the grey. They will be what I describe as legally correct and morally corrupt.”
Dave Rennie’s take
After naming his 44-man squad for the tour of South Africa, Rennie was asked whether the All Blacks will be briefing the match officials about these kinds of tactics. He said that keeping pace in the game is important to the team and how they want to play.
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The head coach did not address the accusations levelled at the Springboks but did confirm that it would be something the coaching team would speak to the match officials about during the series.
“We do that every game,” he said.
“Sides will be aware of the tempo that we want to play at, and so yeah, we are trying to inform the officials of what’s important for us and what that looks like.
“We saw in the Italian Test that we were allowed to play when they had guys down on the field, which was pleasing.”