Eddie Jones has raised eyebrows with his recent comments about Rassie Erasmus, hinting that the Springboks' head coach might have played a smart card in their latest Rugby Championship win. The South Africans edged out the Wallabies 30-22 in Cape Town, a match where the late player swap due to illness, according to Jones, could have been a tactical stroke by Erasmus.
The alteration saw Kwagga Smith replace Jean-Luc du Preez at number eight just before kickoff. Jones, never one to shy away from controversy, suggested in his Planet Rugby column that this move was quintessential Erasmus, known for his knack at exploiting rugby laws to his advantage. “
‘One nuance that I think played into South Africa’s hands was the enforced change before kick-off that saw Jean-Luc du Preez swapped out for Kwagga Smith,’
” Jones noted. He further elaborated on the impact of the switch, especially under wet conditions which suited Smith’s playing style, complemented well by teammates Van Staden and Nche.
Jones also didn’t hold back on his criticism of current rugby regulations, particularly taking aim at the rule requiring early team announcements. “
‘I’d add – I am against the regulation that insists on early named teams without the ability to make changes, and it’s a law I’d remove if I were World Rugby,’
” he declared.
The game itself was not just about the tactical shuffles but also showcased a stark difference in goal-kicking precision. Handre Pollard, for the Springboks, was on target throughout, contrasting sharply with James O'Connor of the Wallabies who left 11 crucial points off the board. Jones highlighted that while O'Connor managed the backline well, failing under scoreboard pressure is a critical error at this level.
Despite the victory, Jones painted the Springboks as a team in flux, hinting at a period of transition with the 2027 Rugby World Cup in mind. He suggested that Erasmus is currently testing waters with new players to determine the optimal squad composition. This strategy, while necessary, might explain some inconsistency in their performance.
As the Springboks gear up for their upcoming matches against the All Blacks, they carry with them both the strategic genius of Erasmus and the critical lens of pundits like Eddie Jones. Only time will tell if these tactical gambits will solidify into a winning formula on the road to the World Cup.
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Eddie Jones has raised eyebrows with his recent comments about Rassie Erasmus, hinting that the Springboks' head coach might have played a smart card in their latest Rugby Championship win. The South Africans edged out the Wallabies 30-22 in Cape Town, a match where the late player swap due to illness, according to Jones, could have been a tactical stroke by Erasmus.
The alteration saw Kwagga Smith replace Jean-Luc du Preez at number eight just before kickoff. Jones, never one to shy away from controversy, suggested in his Planet Rugby column that this move was quintessential Erasmus, known for his knack at exploiting rugby laws to his advantage. “
‘One nuance that I think played into South Africa’s hands was the enforced change before kick-off that saw Jean-Luc du Preez swapped out for Kwagga Smith,’
” Jones noted. He further elaborated on the impact of the switch, especially under wet conditions which suited Smith’s playing style, complemented well by teammates Van Staden and Nche.Jones also didn’t hold back on his criticism of current rugby regulations, particularly taking aim at the rule requiring early team announcements. “
‘I’d add – I am against the regulation that insists on early named teams without the ability to make changes, and it’s a law I’d remove if I were World Rugby,’
” he declared.The game itself was not just about the tactical shuffles but also showcased a stark difference in goal-kicking precision. Handre Pollard, for the Springboks, was on target throughout, contrasting sharply with James O'Connor of the Wallabies who left 11 crucial points off the board. Jones highlighted that while O'Connor managed the backline well, failing under scoreboard pressure is a critical error at this level.
Despite the victory, Jones painted the Springboks as a team in flux, hinting at a period of transition with the 2027 Rugby World Cup in mind. He suggested that Erasmus is currently testing waters with new players to determine the optimal squad composition. This strategy, while necessary, might explain some inconsistency in their performance.
As the Springboks gear up for their upcoming matches against the All Blacks, they carry with them both the strategic genius of Erasmus and the critical lens of pundits like Eddie Jones. Only time will tell if these tactical gambits will solidify into a winning formula on the road to the World Cup.