South African-born former France international Antonie Claassen talks about Rassie Erasmus’ latest ban, how the Boks will look to overcome Italy after a physically-taxing test against France and Evan Roos getting a crack off the bench
The 45th test between France and the Springboks was a cracker. I haven't seen such a physical and intense battle in a test in a long time, but after the match refereeing decisions were again in the spotlight. After his recent posts on Twitter, I felt Rassie Erasmus was walking a tightrope and he has been banned for the remainder of the tour.
RASSIE MUST SET THE RIGHT EXAMPLE
There has been so much said at the moment with the whole Rassie thing and trying to influence the referees, and I think it does have a part to play. There is a fine line between trying to relay a message and turning the rest of the world against you. I have found some of Rassie’s videos amusing but, at the end of the day, you have to set the right example for the rest of your team. When your director of rugby does that, it perhaps rubs off on the team and playing group. If you look at the Springbok players’ body language in the French test and how they approached Wayne Barnes, as a player you turn the referee against you when you constantly run up to him and shout. If you want those 50/50 calls, you need to keep your slate clean and present a good image to the referee. And when calls go against you, you must take it on the chin and move on.
TOO MANY LAWS KILLING THE GAME
In rugby these days, I believe there are too many laws and it’s so difficult for the referee to look at everything and try to make the best calls. Red cards can ruin a game but it has to be counterbalanced against player safety which is a concern. It’s a fine line but we mustn’t kill the game. Rugby is a contact, intensity and physical sport that has to be played to the very limits. We want to keep rugby as it is but also manage player welfare.
The Boks have selected the new lock pairing of Salmaan Moeraat and Marvin Orie. I think it’s important to give those youngsters more experience at test level to see what they can offer. South Africa are so reliant on Eben Etzebeth, Lood de Jager, who is injured now, and Franco Mostert. I’m also looking forward to seeing Evan Roos because there is so much being said about him. If you look at the games he has played – he’s been in great form, brings physicality to the play and is a very exciting prospect.
AM IS ONE OF THE WORLD’S BEST
Against France, the Boks showed signs that they wanted to play with the ball a bit more and not just employ a one-dimensional kicking game. There is a place for it in certain parts of the field but it’s about trying to exploit the opposition’s weaknesses as well, so it’s important to keep the ball in hand a bit more. The Boks have got the pack to do it – they boast physical blokes in the front
– and it’s about wearing the opposition down and then getting the ball into the backs’ hands. Lukhanyo Am, who has been nominated for World Rugby Player of the Year, is one of the players sorely missed in that Bok backline at the moment. He’s such a ball player and I rate him as one of the best centres in the world. He creates something whenever he plays and has a great vision for the game. It's a pity that Am isn’t playing at the moment because it would have helped his cause.
Coming back to the pack, once the Bok forwards get go-forward it takes two or three defenders to bring them down and that opens up the space in the back. I was not too surprised to see the Boks running more from the back against France because the French would have studied them and thought they would do a lot of kicking, so they mixed it up. If the teams are going to meet again at next year’s World Cup in France, it’s going to prove an absolute humdinger because they have now set the playing standard.
BATTERED AND BRUISED BOK BODIES
Against Italy on Saturday, it’s not going to be an easy game physically – on the third game of tour, bodies are battered and bruised – but the Boks would be intent on returning to winning ways. They have a lot more to lose than to gain from a test like this.
There are seven survivors from the team that lost to Italy in 2016 and those guys will have memories from that game. But six years on, it’s not the same squad or team environment. It may be in the back of their minds but far more emphasis will be placed on looking to dominate Italy physically and getting the best possible score on the board.
*** Claassen debuted for France against England in 2013 and played the last of his six tests in 2014. He won the under-19 World Championship with South Africa in 2003 and went on to play for Brive, Castres and Racing 92.