Wallabies head coach Joe Schmidt has thrown some light-hearted envy towards Rassie Erasmus’ groundbreaking strategies with the Springboks, who continue to stretch the rugby rulebook to its limits. Last season's 'Twin Tower' lineout against Australia is just the tip of the iceberg, with this year's tactics sparking more debate and raising eyebrows across the rugby world.
In a recent clash with Italy, the Springboks kicked off with Manie Libbok sending the ball to an offside Andre Esterhuizen, a move that created immediate controversy and was later addressed by World Rugby. The match also saw the introduction of open play lineouts, directly leading to tries for Canan Moodie and Malcolm Marx. While these tactics were within the laws, they drew criticism for their fairness, prompting discussions about the spirit of the game.
As the Rugby Championship looms, Schmidt couldn't resist commenting on his counterpart's ingenuity, expressing a mix of jest and genuine curiosity. "I’d like to get my hands on the recordings of the Springboks coaches' meetings," Schmidt remarked, highlighting his intrigue and respect for Erasmus' boundary-pushing approach.
"Rassie is a great man for testing the boundaries, isn't he? And if you could test the boundaries and get a tactical advantage, why not?"
Despite his admiration, Schmidt maintains that his current focus with the Wallabies is more foundational. "I guess for us, we are a little bit earlier in our time as a coaching group with this group. So we’re probably still trying to get the fundamentals right and not stretch things to the boundary too much," he explained, signaling a more conservative approach in their strategic development.
Respect for Erasmus and his coaching team, including Tony Brown and Felix Jones, was evident as Schmidt prepares for a formidable encounter at Ellis Park. He acknowledged the strengths of the Springboks, particularly in set-pieces and their kick-chase game, and noted the challenges posed by dynamic players like Arendse, Van der Merwe, and Jesse Kriel.
"As for Esterhuizen, I remember two years ago, I was working for the All Blacks, but I watched this game, and gee, he was a colossus and was really difficult for the Australians to contain. So that poses a similar problem on Saturday," Schmidt concluded, setting the stage for what promises to be a tactically intriguing battle.