Rassie Erasmus’ Bold Springbok Tactics Keep South Africa One Step Ahead

Tactical Genius or Rugby Heretic? The Debate is Heating Up

Say what you want about Rassie Erasmus, but the Springbok coach has never been one to follow the crowd. Whether he’s hoisting the World Cup or finding new ways to bend the rules (within the law, of course), Erasmus is always several phases ahead. And this past weekend in Gqeberha, he reminded the rugby world of that fact once again.

In a match that saw the Boks power past Italy, Erasmus’ fingerprints were all over two tactical surprises that got social media buzzing — and not everyone was impressed.

A Short Kick Off With a Big Reaction

Early in the game, the Springboks went for a short kick-off to deliberately concede possession and force a scrum. It didn’t quite work — the Boks ended up conceding a free kick. But that wasn’t the point.

Erasmus revealed after the game that the intention was to unsettle Italy at set-piece time. The Azzurri had been getting quick ball from scrums in their previous matches, and South Africa wanted to apply pressure early.

Instead, what followed was a wave of online chatter, particularly on X, with critics accusing the Boks of finding new ways to exploit the grey areas of the rulebook. Traditionalists scoffed. But local fans? They loved it.

From Stellenbosch Schools to the World Stage

If the short kick-off didn’t stick, the open-play rolling mauls certainly did. Twice, the Boks formed mauls not from a lineout but from open play — a move reportedly borrowed from a school rugby team in Stellenbosch. Both times, the Italians were caught completely off-guard.

The first resulted in Canan Moodie scoring off the advantage after Italy illegally sacked the maul. The second ended with Malcolm Marx crashing over directly.

It’s not often we see international coaches borrowing plays from schoolboy rugby, but Erasmus has never been one to ignore a good idea — no matter where it comes from.

The law vs the loophole

These clever plays have reignited a familiar argument: is Rassie revolutionising rugby, or simply gaming the system?

Detractors in both the Northern and Southern Hemisphere have already started calling for rule changes to shut these tactics down. But the Springboks insist everything was done within the letter of the law — and they’ve got former referee Jaco Peyper on their side as a full-time laws advisor.

In today’s elite rugby environment, innovation doesn’t come from brute strength alone. It’s about brainpower too. And with Peyper on staff, the Boks are navigating the legal grey zones better than anyone.

What’s next for the Springbok playbook?

Expect countermeasures in the Rugby Championship. Teams will prepare for the open-play maul now that the Boks have made it a weapon. But that doesn’t mean South Africa should stop using it — it means they should use it smarter.

And as for the short kick-off? Expect to see that one again too. If the scrum holds firm next time, it might just become a new trend in world rugby.

Local Pride, Global Conversation

Across South Africa, fans have responded to Erasmus’ tactics with pride, humour, and the usual dose of online banter. Memes, praise, and even conspiracy theories about “Rassie’s rugby lab” flooded timelines after Saturday’s match.

But love him or loathe him, Rassie Erasmus is doing what great coaches do — keeping rugby interesting, unpredictable, and undeniably South African.

Source:IOL

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