Rassie Erasmus: Springboks ‘laugh’ at Matt Williams after outspoken pundit’s latest Bomb Squad jibe
Springboks head coach Rassie Erasmus and outspoken pundit Matt Williams.
Springboks head coach Rassie Erasmus insists that they ‘don’t take Matt Williams seriously’ after the pundit’s latest comments on the back-to-back world champions.
Williams has long been a critic of South Africa, stretching back to before the 2023 Rugby World Cup when he slammed the Bomb Squad tactic.
The former Scotland, Leinster and Waratahs coach has often criticised the forward-heavy bench split, claiming that it is dangerous despite scientific evidence from World Rugby stating that is not the case.
Williams’ Springboks praise
On Tuesday, Williams actually praised the Boks following their record victory over the All Blacks, but still had time to make a comment about the 7-1 split with Erasmus ditching it in recent games.
“The 7-1 bench has quietly died. Thank God. No one went to a wake, and no one is saying, ‘Isn’t that sad?’,” he told DSPN.
“They played some absolutely extraordinary rugby and unleashed the talent and athleticism that we all know is in these South African players, and unfortunately, New Zealand saw that the other week.
He added: “Hookers are now three times more likely to score tries off mauls than outside centres are to score in international rugby. That’s terrible, that’s disastrous for our game, we want to see our backs scoring tries.
“What we’re seeing is this change. It’s starting to get back into equilibrium and get to where attack is dominating defences.”
Erasmus was duly asked about Williams in his press conference ahead of their Rugby Championship clash against Argentina this weekend.
The Springboks head coach had a public spat with the pundit recently and mocked the Australian’s coaching record with Scotland.
Williams responded by accusing the South Africa head coach of “bullying” him, but Erasmus states that they simply “laugh” at these comments.
‘We hear it but we laugh at it’
“I don’t think any of our players or management take him seriously, with all respect,” the Boks boss told reporters on Tuesday.
“He’s an elderly person, he’s been around the block and I’m sure a lot of people have a lot of respect for him, but they use him as clickbait and if that’s what he wants to do.
“We don’t comment on other teams, what their team selection is like and how they play, and how they combine their teams.
“I know he’s in Ireland but he’s an Australian, so does he represent the way Australia think or Ireland think?
“We hear it, but we laugh at it.”
READ MORE: Matt Williams: ‘Rassie was just bullying me’
