2023-09-11 07:00:00
LE SCAN SPORT – To remedy the distance and noise, the Springboks staff communicated with the field via light signals against Scotland on Sunday.
The South African staff surprised everyone this Sunday in Marseille with the use of strange light and circular signals. During the victory against Scotland (18-3), director of rugby Rassie Erasmus lit these lights several times towards the field. Secret boot? Sophisticated tactics? Attempt at destabilization?
In reality, it is a simple means of communication with the players and staff members present at the edge of the pitch, to transmit instructions despite the distance and noise. “I don’t know if you went to the edge of the field or nearby, but the noise is so phenomenal that you can’t hear yourself. It’s difficult to speak directly to our staff», Explained coach Jacques Nienaber, who put the thing in place against France during the November tour, at a press conference. In Marseille, already.
Nothing tactical
The former Munster player said he was already using the system with the Irish team. Particularly at the time of injuries, “red meant a replacement, orange meant we could wait a bit and green meant everything was fine.» Against Scotland, we could see the signal when Eben Etzebeth was injured in the shoulder and replaced in the first half.
The system would also have been used at the time of penalties, to ask the South African scorer, Manie Libbok, to take the points. Is this legal? “Communication can be done by hand signals. I don’t think we need World Rugby’s permission for that.», affirms Jacques Nienaber.
Rugby Rama reports that Rassie Erasmus, director of rugby for the Springboks, used colorful signs and disco lights on the roof of the stadium to send his instructions when he was in charge of the Bloemfontein Cheetahs. Which earned him the nickname “DJ Rassie» by the South African press.
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