Rassie Erasmus once again tests the limits of rugby's laws

The Springboks' latest match against Italy featured a tactic that blurred the line between smart play and unsportsmanlike conduct. By Craig Ray

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Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has again riled the world of rugby with the use of a particularly questionable tactic during the 45-0 win over Italy on Saturday, 12 July.

At the kickoff to the match, centre André Esterhuizen was clearly offside when he collected the deliberately short kick by flyhalf Manie Libbok. Law 12.5 states: “When the ball is kicked: teammates of the kicker must be behind the ball.” If not, the sanction is a scrum. Law 12.6 states that the “ball must reach the 10-metre line”, and if not, the sanction is a scrum to the opposing team, or the option of the kick being retaken.

The Boks knew this and hoped that Italy would opt for a scrum, which they did. It's also likely that they cleared it with referee Andrew Brace, because the official could have taken a sterner view and imposed law 9.7, which stipulates that “a player must not intentionally infringe any law of the game”.

Or he could have invoked law 9.27, which states: “A player must not do anything that is against the spirit of good sportsmanship.” He did neither and adjudicated the action under law 12, which relates directly to the kickoff. As it turned out, Brace penalised the Boks for early engagement in the scrum and Italy earned a free kick.

As an act of provocation by the Springboks, it was successful. As an act of sportsmanship, it was questionable. Of course, players intentionally infringe laws of the game most of the time - think of any breakdown where players try to slow the ball, or a defensive line where teams steal half a metre.