RWC 2023
Erasmus accuses France of ‘simulation’ tactics as heat builds ahead of Saint-Denis showdown
Rassie Erasmus shelved diplomacy as he accused France of using ‘simulation’ in games to influence matches, upping the ante for Sunday’s Rugby World Cup quarterfinal.
Springbok director of rugby Rassie Erasmus was at his passive-aggressive best in his main media appearance before Sunday’s Rugby World Cup (RWC) quarterfinal against hosts France on Tuesday.
Erasmus gave a masterclass in praising France in one breath, calling them “intelligent and steady”, and then, virtually in the next breath, accusing them of “simulating” incidents.
There is no doubt both teams are under severe pressure for obvious but different reasons. France, as the hosts, are desperate to stay in their home tournament.
The Boks, as defending champions, are trying to create history by becoming the first team to win the RWC four times and the second back-to-back champions.
Someone is going to leave Saint-Denis in the early hours of Monday morning unhappy.
Read more in Daily Maverick: Rugby World Cup 2023
Almighty battle
The Springboks know they will be in an almighty battle at Stade de France on Sunday night. Not only do they have to overcome a very good French team, they have to ensure that referee Ben O’Keeffe stays as neutral as possible while dealing with a hostile and very partisan crowd.
“I think if we want to achieve something great, it will never be in ideal circumstances,” Erasmus said.
“We’re definitely up against it, not just on the defensive side … it’s the crowd and the improvement that France has shown the last four years.
“What Fabien [coach Fabien Galthié] has done with the team, not just with Shaun [Edwards – defence coach], but with every department makes this one of our biggest challenges.
“He’s definitely brought a matureness to this French team. They don’t have high emotions and low emotions, it’s just a steady, brainy, intelligent team.”
High praise, indeed, but almost immediately, Erasmus pointed out that France aren’t beneath simulation and trying to influence the referee.
“The French do not play a reckless game where they are on the edge of being too physical with high hits,” Erasmus said.
“But what I think they do well is when they get hit close to the high [tackle] line, they really show that to the referee. They do simulate sometimes a little bit, which is clever, you know.
“Sometimes, when the referee comes, they go down or, you know, the TV [replays] doesn’t work at that specific time [in reference to last year’s match between the sides in Marseille when the big screen suspiciously stopped working when the referee wanted to review a crucial call against France].
“I think they’re very clever at that … they’re very good at that.”
Head coach of France Fabien Galthié looks on during the prematch warm-up ahead of the Rugby World Cup France 2023 match between France and Italy at Parc Olympique on 6 October 2023 in Lyon, France. (Photo: Craig Mercer / MB Media / Getty Images)
Ejected from sideline
Erasmus also revealed that he was ejected from the sideline before South Africa’s opening match of the tournament against Scotland last month.
He was set to sit with reserves as coach from the sidelines, but a World Cup match commissioner removed him.
“A very nice match commissioner, I’m sure of his name, came to me and said I couldn’t sit there,” Erasmus explained. “I replied that I didn’t want to cause trouble, but I’ve sat there in all the other matches.
“He said to me there was an addendum to the participation agreement that stopped me from sitting there. I really didn’t know. He said he didn’t know either until that day.”
That led to Erasmus’ move to the coach’s box where the flashing light system consequently debuted at the World Cup.
Team naming delay
In another unusual situation, the Springboks will name their team only on Friday, just over 48 hours before the match.
In the six years Erasmus and head coach Jacques Nienaber have been involved with the team, they have always named it early in the week. This is a deviation from their usual approach.
“The decision to delay the team naming is without a doubt tactical,” Erasmus answered candidly.
“We have been mixing and matching for the last year and making sure that in almost every single position we have two almost equally good players.
“In some cases, we are not even sure which one is the best, so we’re keeping our options open for a seven-one, six-two or five-three split [between forwards and backs on the bench].
“With both Handre [Pollard] and Manie [Libbok] being available, and Lukhanyo [Am] fully fit, we have sort of made up our minds.
“We want to see what the French team looks like too. That might also have an influence on us going seven-one or six-two.” DM
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Stop the moaning Rasie, you’re becoming an embarrassment.
Not at all. This seems like a smart, well-timed wind-up.
Moaning? Wait for France when they lose the game. Rassie is just being very strategic. Very.
He’s not ‘moaning’, he’s playing a mind game.
Nope, you are. If of course you’re actually a Bok supporter. Rassie is by far and away the best thing that has happened to rugby in one moer of a long time. And I mean the game as a whole, not just the Boks or SA rugby.
Steve 100%, if you want a real embarrassment to Rugby look no further than the tool in charge of NZ
Or BB
Where did he moan? He made it clear that they are very clever in doing the simulation thing. He is also making it clear to them that he knows that this is a tactic they use. He is making sure the referee is aware that he knows this.
no moaning just playing a brilliant strategic mind game
Thank heavens you are not the coach!
I’m just worried about the neutrality of the New Zealand ref. Both teams have beaten The All Blacks but their (AB) recent form is impressive, not the same team that France beat a few weeks back. I’m sure they could have found a ref with, lets say, less potential for bias?
Oh for FFS – go make a video.
Rassie brings a lot to the game, if you don’t enjoy the entire journey don’t get on the bus.
fully agree – its all part of the game
Rassie is right. The French are masters of simulation, just look at their past football games. This scourge of football must not be allowed to creep into rugby.
Soccer tendencies making their way into French rugby – he’s right to call it out. If they want to be actors they should be in the theatre.
My mild comments have been held for ‘moderation and approval’ 🙈. It seems that others hold a similar view. I don’t think you’d see Andy Farrell making similar comments. That’s all.
Nothing wrong with Rassie calling out the French for simulation, if he feels it’s relevant. Unfortunately it is starting to creep into the game more (hello Nick! How’s the moustache?) Hello? Hello? Oh, obviously can’t hear me back down in Australia! There’s actually a five minute clip on Youtube of rugby players acting like footballers, including Bryan Habana going down like he’d been shot with a blunderbuss coming over the trenches after being brushed and obstructed.
I digress. Loads of coaches dig at the Boks about scrumming, or the offside line in order to get the ref to blow it more in their favour, it’s part of the game. Rassie also said a lot of very nice things about the French, as have all the SA coaches and players who’ve been interviewed so far.
Rassie is a strategic genius! Rassie saying all the right things about French rugby and at the same time reminding the officials of their previous convictions! This is just in case its a cliffhanger! Hats off to Rassie!