Rassie Erasmus has attributed the surge in tries during the Nations Championship's first round to the newly implemented maul law guidelines by World Rugby. Across six games, teams notched up a total of 54 tries, with the Springboks contributing seven in their 45-21 win against England at Ellis Park. Erasmus pointed out that these law modifications have played a significant role in increasing scoring opportunities.
Erasmus highlighted the impact of the revised rules on the maul, noting, "Interesting thing, I think there were more maul-drive tries scored in this opening round than altogether in the [2026] Six Nations, if I have my stats correct." He extended his appreciation towards World Rugby for these changes, stating,
"I want to give World Rugby credit there."
The Springbok coach had previously expressed dissatisfaction with how mauls were managed, feeling that teams were hindered from effectively using driving mauls from lineouts. With the new guidelines effective from June 1, which address how players join mauls, Erasmus believes the playing field has been leveled. "I think what people thought is, it’s going to just be all mauling, but because you can’t drag in a maul anymore – you have to put more numbers into a maul – the guys who stop the maul now have to get out and defend after that," he explained.
Furthermore, Erasmus praised the improvements at scrum time, particularly the requirement for the hooker to hook, which prevents skewed feeds. "I think the scrum feed, which World Rugby has introduced, is getting rewards where there’s a good contest there," he commented. He also mentioned the rule requiring loose forwards to stay bound to aid their props.
The tournament also introduced the first Nations Championship standings, with separate tables for teams from the northern and southern hemispheres. Despite not focusing on bonus points, the Springboks achieved both a victory and a bonus point, which is awarded for scoring four tries. "I do think when you see a table after a first round, all of a sudden [a bonus point] counts," Erasmus remarked, adding,
"But still, when you go into a Test match, you just want to win the Test match. If you disrespect that, you'll probably lose it."
This opening weekend not only set the tone for the competition but also saw the Boks securing a solid start in their campaign, balancing strategic play with the ambition to top the leaderboard.