Former England prop Joe Marler has weighed into the growing debate surrounding the Springboks scrum following their 33-26 victory over the All Blacks in Cape Town.
Scrum-time has become one of the biggest talking points of the series, with New Zealand head coach Dave Rennie questioning South Africa’s technique and suggesting they are “walking around” rather than driving straight. Rennie has indicated the All Blacks will again provide feedback to World Rugby.
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Rassie Erasmus responded angrily after Saturday’s victory, dismissing the accusation as “nonsense” and insisting his forwards were scrummaging through New Zealand rather than illegally moving around them
Now Marler, one of the most experienced looseheads of the professional era, has offered his own rather less technical assessment.
Rugby analyst Ben Smith posted footage appearing to show Ox Nche using the “crown of his head” to move All Blacks tighthead Tyrel Lomax on the engagement, claiming it gave the Springbok leverage to bore in or wheel the scrum.
Marler reposted the analysis with three sleepy/yawning emojis before simply writing:
“Not a clue x”
It was a typically tongue-in-cheek intervention from the former England and Harlequins prop, and one that appears to suggest he wasn’t particularly convinced by the analysis.
The debate is unlikely to disappear before next weekend, with Nche himself insisting the Springboks have always attempted to scrum “right through the pack” and that ultimately the referee’s interpretation is what matters.
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