According to Mike Tindall, the Springboks have "cracked the code" of rugby by mastering both attrition and expansiveness. Yet, the former England center voiced curiosity over how South Africa would handle any potential scrum law modifications. Speaking on The Good, The Bad & The Rugby XTRA podcast, Tindall dissected the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series, which the Boks clinched with a decisive 43-28 victory over the All Blacks in Baltimore.
The scrum emerged as a particularly thorny issue during the series. Accusations flew from ex-Springbok hooker Hanyani Shimange, who suggested that opponents aimed to weaken South Africa's dominance in the set-piece. In the midst of these disputes, Tindall emphasized the sheer physicality that distinguished the teams throughout the four matches.
"The games were great. The best team in the end won, and they just showed that they can get the job done. You've just got this sort of big beast that just keeps leaning on you, and it leans on you a bit harder in scrum time … and eventually you just can’t take the weight of it."
Despite the dominance, Tindall gave a nod to the All Blacks' moments of brilliance. "In bits, I thought New Zealand looked outstanding – some of the tries they scored – but then South Africa get a 5m lineout and just wear you down and beat you up," he observed. The discussion about the scrum continued, highlighting its critical impact on the game's dynamic.
Tindall noted the strategic shifts in South African rugby under Rassie Erasmus, questioning how adversaries might overcome the world champions. The conversation touched on the series' off-field drama, with critiques lobbed from New Zealand pundits urging a faster gameplay pace which Tindall dismissed, stressing the importance of controlling the game.
"South Africa have cracked the code of rugby being attritional and doing it both ways. You've got that unbelievable try from [Kurt-Lee] Arendse [in the fourth Test]: turnover, New Zealand on the back foot, boom – gone."
Speculating on the implications of potential rule changes, Tindall mused about the game's evolution. "It would be interesting if there was a law – it wouldn’t be interesting for South Africa and they’d hate it, because the scrum is a contest – but if you took away a penalty at scrums and it was a free kick and you had to just play it, it changes the focus of what’s needed." Nevertheless, he acknowledged, "the scrum is a skill set and an art form, and they’ve just got it smashed at the moment."
On the horizon for the Springboks is a high-stakes encounter with the Wallabies in Perth. As the teams prepare, the rugby world will be watching closely to see if the Springboks can continue their winning ways or if the Wallabies will rise to the formidable challenge presented by the South African juggernaut.
