John Kirwan’s criticism of Rassie Erasmus misses the bigger picture

John Kirwan believes Rassie Erasmus deliberately held back key Springbok players and instructed South Africa’s provincial sides not to replicate the national team’s tactics during the All Blacks’ opening matches on the Greatest Rivalry tour.

The All Blacks defeated the Stormers 38-21 in a competitive first fixture, scoring several late tries after the Cape-based team began to tire. They then recorded a 54-0 victory over a young Sharks side before beating the Bulls 50-19.

Kirwan, an All Blacks legend, suggested Springbok coach Erasmus had influenced the way the South African franchises approached the games and had kept players who could have featured out of the squads.

Speaking on the Rugby Rivals podcast alongside former Springbok captain Victor Matfield, Kirwan said: “I think it’s a bit more of a conspiracy theory out there.”

He added: “Rassie has told those provincial sides not to play anything like the Springboks

“We haven’t even seen high kicks. We haven’t even seen kicking to the corner and a lot of mauling. There is no resemblance to what we are expecting.”

Kirwan’s assessment overlooks the fact that all three South African franchises are in pre-season. It also accepts that the club coaches were given guidance on how their teams should play, but does not consider the impact of players’ preparation or the different circumstances surrounding the matches.

After criticising Erasmus, Kirwan acknowledged that he would have made the same decision if he had been in the Springbok coach’s position.

“It’s pretty sad for the relationship and for the tour,” Kirwan said.

“I get it, I would do exactly the same if I was Rassie and not release the players.

“But it is a bit disappointing for the South African public, I believe, because they’re not turning up to watch. You turn up to watch a spectacle.”

However, the South African rugby public’s main priority is not necessarily to see the Springboks tested in warm-up matches against the All Blacks. The overriding objective is a South African victory in the upcoming series.

That perspective is central to the build-up to the first Test, with the match taking place at Ellis Park on Saturday. Kick-off is scheduled for 17:10.

There has been a recurring narrative from the New Zealand camp and from within New Zealand that the All Blacks represent the proper way to play rugby and that other teams should follow their example.

Yet rugby has always allowed for contrasting methods and tactical identities. The first Test is expected to bring together two significantly different approaches, with the South African side seeking to impose the style that has brought the Springboks success while New Zealand pursue their own traditions.

The warm-up results have provided the All Blacks with momentum, but the matches against the Stormers, Sharks and Bulls were played in circumstances that differ from an international Test. The South African franchises are still in pre-season, while the Springboks’ leading players have been protected ahead of the series.

For that reason, the three victories offer limited evidence of how the two nations will compare when the actual contest begins. The focus now shifts to Ellis Park, where the rivalry will be measured under Test-match conditions.