South Africa head coach Rassie Erasmus fiercely defended his team's scrummaging techniques after New Zealand counterpart Dave Rennie accused the Springboks of illegal practices. The heated exchange followed the second Test in Cape Town, which ended in a 33-16 victory for the Springboks, leveling the Rugby's Greatest Rivalry series at 1-1.

Rennie had previously claimed that the Springboks benefited unfairly from their scrummaging during the first Test at Ellis Park, where South Africa dominated. He suggested that the Springboks were not driving straight, leading to a series of penalties against New Zealand.

In response, Erasmus expressed frustration over what he termed Rennie's “moaning” impacting the officials' decisions. He stated:

It’s the first time in history that people are talking about us walking around. The first six scrums New Zealand had, every single one collapsed and it was reset. Why is it only on their ball that the scrum collapses every single time?

Erasmus emphasized that the Springboks are not guilty of the accusations, asserting:

We’re not f****** walking around. We are scrumming through.

Despite the tensions, Rennie acknowledged improvements in officiating during the match, noting that referee Angus Gardner was effective in managing the scrum. Rennie remarked:

The scrums were better tonight. Angus was pretty strong around setting a mark.

Both coaches highlighted the ongoing competitive spirit and the need for clear communication regarding the scrummaging rules as they prepare for future encounters.