Nigel Owens defends Rassie Erasmus over ‘unfair’ criticism after Springboks boss ‘didn’t break any rules’
Former Test referee Nigel Owens and Springboks head coach Rassie Erasmus.
Former Test referee Nigel Owens has leapt to the defence of Springboks boss Rassie Erasmus, who has been accused of going against the ‘spirit of the game’.
Just an hour before the second Test against New Zealand in Cape Town, the South Africa head coach decided to switch his entire front-row.
While it would have been illegal at a Rugby World Cup, it is not in the laws for Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series.
Rassie Erasmus’ loopholes
However, there has been a debate around whether it was gamesmanship from Erasmus, who is known for trying to find any sort of loophole to exploit.
But in Owens’ mind, if it does not break the rules, then he is happy to see any coach push the boundaries of the sport.
“I have seen plenty of people accusing Erasmus of going against the spirit of the game for his actions ahead of the second Test, making several tactical alterations to his starting team ahead of kick-off, having announced it days earlier,” he wrote in his WalesOnline column.
“I can understand why such accusations have been made, but I don’t agree with them myself. Ultimately, he didn’t break any rules.
“While he couldn’t get away with such a move at competitions like the Rugby World Cup or the Nations Championship, this Test series has been organised by the two teams and neither coach is bound by the normal rules that dictate sides must be named at least 48 hours before kick-off, with changes only allowed afterwards in the event of injuries.”
Erasmus is always looking at where he can get a little advantage over the opposition and is widely regarded as the most innovative coach of his generation.
The Springboks famously introduced the ‘Bomb Squad’ during his tenure, while South Africa have looked at doing other ingenious things such as midfield lineouts.
‘Entitled to do it’
“You can argue that it might not be in the spirit of the game, of course you can. But Erasmus is a world-class coach and if you can find a way to get an upper hand for your team within the rules of a given fixture, he’s entitled to do it,” Owens added.
“It’s the same as when people complained about the Springboks’ ‘bomb squad’ tactic, where they name a 6-2 or even 7-1 split on their replacements bench to allow them to bring on nearly a full fresh forward pack in the second half.
“That tactic has also been accused of going against the spirit of the game, with many arguing that it creates safety concerns. But again, it’s within the laws of the game and, at the end of the day, you’re going to play to your strengths in order to win.
“So, while I understand why such accusations are made, I think they are perhaps a little unfair.”
