It seems like the Springboks have been up to their old tricks again, using Italy as guinea pigs in their latest rugby experiment. Legendary All Blacks winger Jeff Wilson is betting that World Rugby will put a stop to South Africa's open play lineout tactics quicker than you can say "try time." Despite the Springboks' resounding 45-0 thumping of Italy, their innovative strategy has stirred up quite the controversy.
The new tactic, making its debut 37 minutes into the game, saw lock Ruan Nortje soaring high to snatch the ball from scrum-half Grant Williams, setting up a maul that Italy quickly sacked. Despite this, Williams cleverly passed to Canan Moodie who darted over the line, while Malcolm Marx later added another try using a similar setup. "They've certainly opened up some conversations about some of their tactics," Wilson noted on Sky Sports' Breakdown show.
"At the moment, it’s a real grey area. I’m going to say that it will last a week of being allowed."
Stephen Donald, former All Blacks fly-half, was left scratching his head at the sight. "I was wondering if I was seeing what I was seeing," he remarked, puzzled by the Springboks' cheeky restart strategy. Meanwhile, Jeff Marshall chimed in, impressed yet cautious, suggesting that while the tactics were effective, the looming specter of World Rugby's rulebook might shorten their lifespan.
Ex-All Black Mils Muliaina also had a few words to share, especially about Italy's role in this spectacle. "How are you feeling if you are Italy right now, they are guinea pigs," he joked, highlighting the experimental nature of the Springboks' gameplay.
Wilson also touched on a contentious issue from a previous All Blacks game, where an obstruction call was made against them, contrasting it with a non-call in the Springboks match. "Just watch what happens to the Italian centre here. Oh, yeah. No, he didn’t get touched. Look, look at this, full speed, play on try," he argued, stressing the need for consistency in officiating.
"That’s knocking a player off his feet onto the ground, which didn’t happen in Dunedin. So, that is clearly more of an offence than the one in Dunedin. So, that should have been officiated. Consistency. That’s all we ask for, lads. Don’t we?"
As the rugby community buzzes with debate, it's clear the Springboks' tactical audacity has once again put the spotlight on the laws of the game. Whether these tactics will become a permanent fixture or a fleeting trick remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: the rugby world will be watching closely.