All Blacks and Springboks agree there is no need for pre-Test referee meeting

All Blacks coach Dave Rennie says neither New Zealand nor South Africa believes a pre-match meeting is necessary before Saturday’s Test at Ellis Park, despite the officiating team proposing discussions between the two sides.

Rennie confirmed that officials had suggested a meeting to address four areas before the opening match of the series. One of those issues was time-wasting, a concern New Zealand has repeatedly raised about the South African teams’ approach to slow play during the opening matches of the tour.

However, after Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus said on Monday that he did not want the meeting to go ahead, Rennie made clear that he shared that view.

“No,” Rennie said when asked whether the meeting would take place.

“For us to do that, we both have to agree.

“They sent out an email last week to just have a chat around four key areas and one of them was around time wasting.

“Rassie didn’t feel there was any need to meet, and I feel the same way, to be honest.”

Although the proposed face-to-face discussion has been abandoned, Rennie said the teams had communicated with the match officials by email and had received clarification on several matters.

“We’ve had conversations via email, and we’ve got a summary sent to us this morning [Monday], so we’re pretty clear.”

The dispute over the pace of play has featured prominently during the Greatest Rivalry series. The All Blacks have criticised the tactics used by South African United Rugby Championship sides in the first three matches of the tour, with the Sharks attracting particular attention.

New Zealand’s players and management have continued to highlight what they regard as excessive delays, ensuring the subject remains central to the build-up to the first Test.

Erasmus and Jaco Peyper addressed the issue at Monday’s Springboks news conference. Peyper attended in place of the player who would usually join Erasmus, with the coach explaining that he would not announce his team until Thursday and therefore did not believe it was appropriate to involve a player in the discussion.

The pair also used the briefing to challenge what they considered to be misconceptions being promoted by the All Blacks management.

Peyper later explained the ruling governing the time allowed for a set piece. Teams have 30 seconds to organise after the referee indicates the mark for a lineout or scrum.

Asked about Peyper’s comments, Rennie said he was not certain which aspect of the explanation had been intended.

“I’m not sure what Jaco will be referring to,” he said.

“We’ve played club sides where it’s been very slow. I think one of the lineouts against the Sharks took 50 seconds to set.

“We found against the Bulls that they had a much more positive mindset. There was a lot more ball on play, and I’m anticipating the Springboks will feel the same way,” Rennie added.

The issue is likely to remain a focus for both camps during the rest of the week, with questions about slow play expected to continue at their media appearances.

But the argument will move from the press conference room to the field on Saturday, when New Zealand and South Africa meet at Ellis Park at 17:10.

With neither side willing to hold a pre-match meeting with the other, the teams will have to settle the contest through their performance in the opening Test.