Former All Blacks winger Jeff Wilson has chimed in with his two cents on the Springboks' latest trick play, predicting a swift ban by World Rugby. The South African team's coach, Rassie Erasmus, unveiled a 'lineout' maul in midfield that led to two tries in their rout of Italy, a move inspired by a schoolboy team's playbook. Erasmus admitted, "It worked for us twice, so obviously now people will be alert for it. We won’t be able to do it for a few games."
On The Breakdown, Wilson praised the Boks' performance but raised eyebrows over their unconventional tactics. He particularly pointed out the midfield maul, remarking,
"I reckon that’ll last a week."
The tactic proved effective, with both instances leading to tries, causing a stir among rugby pundits and fans alike.
Justin Marshall, also weighing in, highlighted how even a collapsed maul drew in defenders, paving the way for Grant Williams and Canan Moodie to break through and score. "Then they did it again and scored. So it works – and they’ll be a bit annoyed if World Rugby actually rules it out," he added.
The discussion also turned to the upcoming clashes between the All Blacks and the Springboks, with former All Black flyhalf Stephen Donald expressing optimism about New Zealand's chances. "Yes, if we stick to how we’re playing and build on that, sort out the defensive things," Donald stated, emphasizing the need to adapt their game to match the physicality and tactics of the Springboks.
Wilson also expressed confidence in the All Blacks' adaptability and depth. "I like the direction we’re heading. But I also start looking at the profile of how we can play and what our strengths are. Because we know we won’t be able to play all of our game against South Africa – at some point we’ll have to play the percentages," he explained.
However, when pushed for a prediction on a hypothetical match happening tomorrow, Marshall was candid: "No, if we played South Africa tomorrow, South Africa would win." This admission underscores the perceived gap between the two sides, despite New Zealand's recent series win over an understrength French team.
As the rugby world gears up for these high-stakes matchups, all eyes will be on how both teams adjust their strategies and whether the Springboks' controversial ploy will see the light of day again on the international stage.
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Former All Blacks winger Jeff Wilson has chimed in with his two cents on the Springboks' latest trick play, predicting a swift ban by World Rugby. The South African team's coach, Rassie Erasmus, unveiled a 'lineout' maul in midfield that led to two tries in their rout of Italy, a move inspired by a schoolboy team's playbook. Erasmus admitted, "It worked for us twice, so obviously now people will be alert for it. We won’t be able to do it for a few games."
On The Breakdown, Wilson praised the Boks' performance but raised eyebrows over their unconventional tactics. He particularly pointed out the midfield maul, remarking,
"I reckon that’ll last a week."
The tactic proved effective, with both instances leading to tries, causing a stir among rugby pundits and fans alike.Justin Marshall, also weighing in, highlighted how even a collapsed maul drew in defenders, paving the way for Grant Williams and Canan Moodie to break through and score. "Then they did it again and scored. So it works – and they’ll be a bit annoyed if World Rugby actually rules it out," he added.
The discussion also turned to the upcoming clashes between the All Blacks and the Springboks, with former All Black flyhalf Stephen Donald expressing optimism about New Zealand's chances. "Yes, if we stick to how we’re playing and build on that, sort out the defensive things," Donald stated, emphasizing the need to adapt their game to match the physicality and tactics of the Springboks.
Wilson also expressed confidence in the All Blacks' adaptability and depth. "I like the direction we’re heading. But I also start looking at the profile of how we can play and what our strengths are. Because we know we won’t be able to play all of our game against South Africa – at some point we’ll have to play the percentages," he explained.
However, when pushed for a prediction on a hypothetical match happening tomorrow, Marshall was candid: "No, if we played South Africa tomorrow, South Africa would win." This admission underscores the perceived gap between the two sides, despite New Zealand's recent series win over an understrength French team.
As the rugby world gears up for these high-stakes matchups, all eyes will be on how both teams adjust their strategies and whether the Springboks' controversial ploy will see the light of day again on the international stage.