Rassie Erasmus ‘like a small town American gangster’ at World Rugby meeting as All Blacks great can’t fathom Springboks boss’ ‘problem’
Springboks head coach Rassie Erasmus and former All Blacks star Israel Dagg.
Ex-All Blacks star Israel Dagg is confused by the stance the Springboks and their head coach, Rassie Erasmus, have taken to New Zealand’s desire to change the game.
The Kiwis, alongside their Tasman neighbours Australia, have looked to speed it up and increase the ball-in-play time, claiming that they being more ‘fan-centric’.
Various law amendments have been trialled with some, such as the 20-minute red card, being adopted globally.
World Rugby have also made some alterations, including the law which prevents a scrum being taken following a free-kick sanction.
‘Rassie’s running the game now, apparently’
It has duly led to accusations that some key power brokers, led by the Antipodeans, are attempting to depower the scrum and make it more like rugby league.
Feeling that the traditional elements of the game are under threat, South Africa and France have banded together to push back at Australia and New Zealand.
According to Kiwi pundit and presenter Scotty Stevenson, who was speaking on Sport Nation’s Scotty and Izzy show, that point was made rather forcefully by Erasmus and his team at World Rugby’s recent Shape of the Game conference.
Stevenson claims that “Rassie Erasmus turns up to this meeting basically like a small town American gangster with a posse” and then “proceeded to tell World Rugby that whatever their report says into what fans want, he doesn’t put any stock in and he won’t be changing, saying: ‘We’re going to play rugby our way and we’re not going to listen at all to anything you have to say’.
He added: “Rassie’s running the game now, apparently, and France and South Africa look to have formed a cosy little alliance.
“Rassie will have his way and the French will do what the French do.”
That prompted Dagg to chime in and insist that Rugby Australia and New Zealand Rugby are not trying to take away the fundamentals of the sport.
Scrum is here to stay
“Scrums, rucks, mauls and lineouts will be what separates our great game from other games… no one’s taking it out,” the Rugby World Cup winner said.
“We’re taking out the dead time, the dead play, when your players are on their knees asking for a bit of water because you’re tired.
“That’s what we’re trying to get out of the game. We want more action, we want more opportunities for these players to be under fatigue, for players to come and out and play absolutely fantastic rugby, and there’s more ball in play.
“That’s what we’re trying to do.
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“I don’t even know why he’s got a problem. South Africa are fit, they are playing a fast-paced brand of rugby.
“They’ve got an unbelievable set-piece, they’ve got a great lineout, but now they can actually use the ball and play really well – the same as France. I don’t know what their concern is, why are they even doing this?”
