Rassie Erasmus, coach of the Boks, countered these allegations, emphasizing that no official complaints have been made about his team's pace in their games this year.
"Over the five games that we’ve played [this year], we’ve not had one feedback that we slowed down the game."
Erasmus humorously noted the language diversity within his team:
"We have 11 languages to make sure everyone understands the lineout call."
Lewis pointed out the stark differences between the officiating styles expected in the series. He compared Matthew Carley, who will referee the first match at Ellis Park, to Nika Amashukeli, who officiated last week's All Blacks game against the Bulls.
Amashukeli allowed the game to flow, enabling the All Blacks to perform well, crucial for their strategy. His decision to uphold a try against the Bulls despite the TMO’s intervention was particularly noteworthy.
In contrast, Lewis described Carley and his colleague Karl Dickson as meticulous, akin to 'council inspectors.' He criticized northern referees for their leniency with game delays, which could play into the hands of the Springboks as they attempt to disrupt the All Blacks' rhythm with various stalling tactics.
The series will also see Amashukeli return for the second test, with Australia’s Angus Gardner and Karl Dickson officiating the third and fourth tests, respectively. This mixture of referees from different hemispheres will certainly add another layer of intrigue to the rivalry.
As the series progresses, it will be interesting to see how the different refereeing styles impact the games and whether the All Blacks can adapt their high-tempo game to overcome the strategic play of the Springboks.
