Rennie questions Springbok decision to air breakdown concerns before Ellis Park Test

All Blacks coach Dave Rennie has questioned why South African officials chose to make their concerns about New Zealand’s breakdown tactics public before Saturday’s first Test against the Springboks at Ellis Park.

Rennie responded after Springboks assistant coach Felix Jones said South African management had received feedback from the Stormers, Sharks and Bulls following their matches against the All Blacks.

Among the concerns raised were incidents involving “tucked shoulders” at rucks, with Jones saying the franchises had been unhappy with what they experienced during those games.

The issue has added further edge to the opening Test, which will take place at 17:10 in Johannesburg on Saturday.

Rennie, speaking after naming his All Blacks side for the match, said New Zealand had also provided officials with video footage highlighting areas of concern. However, he indicated that his team did not intend to discuss those clips publicly.

“Yeah, look, we sent in clips of concerns that we’ve got. I am sure they’ve done the same thing,” Rennie said.

“I am not sure why they are trying to air that stuff in the media. I’ve got no plans of sharing any of the clips we’ve sent in with the media.”

His comments followed a detailed explanation from Jones about the matters South Africa had raised ahead of the first meeting between the sides.

“One was around the breakdown, where they experienced tucked shoulders going in, which the franchises weren’t happy with,” Jones said.

The breakdown is an important area of the game, with both teams expected to contest possession aggressively when a tackle has been completed and a ruck forms. The comments from Jones set the scene for an already highly anticipated Test and prompted Rennie to question the decision to take the concerns into the public domain.

South Africa’s management had been informed of the issues after the Stormers, Sharks and Bulls faced the All Blacks, according to Jones. Rather than keeping the matter within the teams and match officials, the concerns were outlined publicly at a press conference on Tuesday.

Rennie said he assumed the Springboks had submitted their own clips to officials, just as New Zealand had done, but made clear that the All Blacks would not release their material to the media.

The exchange has intensified the build-up to the first Test at Ellis Park, with the breakdown now emerging as an early point of focus before the teams meet in Johannesburg.