Rassie Erasmus explains Damian Willemse’s scrum call from the mark in the Springboks’ 22

Rassie Erasmus has explained the reasoning behind Damian Willemse’s scrum call after his mark in the Springboks’ 22 during the Rugby World Cup quarter-final against France.

It was a decision that took most viewers by surprise and a truly rare occurrence, as players will usually kick or tap and run from that position.

This is because of the risks associated with the scrum and the field position inside your own 22, with opting for the set-piece.

However, South Africa made the bold call to do so during the 29-28 victory over France, and the Springboks coaching staff have explained the reasoning.

Damian Willemse’s scrum call

The decision came out of the blue, but Erasmus explained that it was pre-planned before the game to negate France‘s kicking tactics and get more scrums in the match after the Boks had just one scrum feed against France in November last year.

“It was something that we discussed,” Erasmus told reporters.

“France don’t give you a lot of scrums, they don’t play a lot of rugby in the half, and you never get time to actually scrum against them.

“I think the previous match [France v South Africa in November 2022], we had one scrum in the whole game.

“They love kicking long kicks that land in your 22, and then you have two options; you kick the ball out, it’s their lineout you, or you try and run it back to the 10-yard line where they stand waiting for you to win a big turnover.”

Rassie Erasmus explains Damian Willemse’s scrum call from the mark in his 22. 🤔

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Fatiguing the French pack

The Springboks would win a penalty from the ensuing scrum, with Manie Libbok able to kick to touch only for a piece of brilliance from Louis Bielle-Biarrey to keep the ball in play.

Erasmus added that fatiguing the French pack was another part of the decision to opt for the scrum.

“We try to get as many scrums, and I think after that, their kicks were much shorter or let it bounce into the 22,” he explained.

“So it was definitely pre-planned and not necessarily because we thought that we would be dominant in the scrums, but just to get into the fatigue side of things and get to scrum against those big boys, who must then run across the park and not standing in the middle of the field.

“I wouldn’t say it was there to make a statement [about the Springboks scrum], definitely not that; it was more to let them engage with us into areas of the game which we enjoy doing.”

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