How an U14 ‘B' school side inspired yet another Springbok innovation
In that first Test, the Boks were poor in the second half, stuttering from being 28-3 half-time leaders to eventual 42-24 victors.
It was not a performance they were proud of, and while coach Rassie Erasmus made wholesale changes to his side for 'Italy Two', the high-energy, quality performances of some of his players on Saturday will now leave him with a lot to think about.
In the aftermath of his side's victory, however, Erasmus was quickly asked about his side's innovation in the match that started from the first whistle when Manie Libbok deliberately failed to kick 10 metres off the start, gifting Italy a scrum on the halfway line in the hopes of winning a penalty.
READ | Genius or disrespectful? The Bok kickoff that left Italy coach unimpressed
While there was more experimentation at lineout time with some bold options taken, the biggest talking point of the match centred around the Boks – on two occasions – lifting a player from open play in midfield and effectively setting up a rolling maul.
Both plays resulted in tries for the Boks, with Malcolm Marx and Canan Moodie finishing once the Italian defence had been sucked in.
On the surface, this was another Erasmus masterstroke; and out-the-box innovation that only he could have conjured.
But that is the furthest thing from the truth.
In fact, Erasmus and the Boks 'borrowed' the move from a clip they saw on social media a couple of months ago.
'It's a maul in general play where there is a guy that we lift. We actually saw it from an U14 B school side doing it. I think it was Paul Roos, where Willie [Le Roux] was,' said Erasmus.
'We saw them doing that and you just get all the benefits you get from a lineout.
How's this for some innovation from PRG's u19B/C squad against Durbanville this evening? Brilliant to see schools trying interesting things! @MB5Plug @adrian_slabbert pic.twitter.com/OwdSPQPxGt
— Alten du Plessis (@Alten_duPlessis) April 28, 2025
Rassie is a bad-bad man,a maul mid phase and a great try Canan Moodie. #Springboks #RSAvITA pic.twitter.com/g1rPBvJtHl
— TheChosenOne (@_MKNARE) July 12, 2025
'It worked for us twice, so obviously now people will be alert to it. I think it's probably done now for a couple of games, but I'm glad it worked.'
Turning his attention to the kick-off, Erasmus acknowledged that the idea had backfired, somewhat.
'There are a lot of plans we have that don't work; people just see the stuff that works,' said Erasmus.
'That was a typical example of a plan that didn't work; we wanted an early scrum to set the standard.
'But the free kick against us made it a good plan in theory but not in practice.'
The Boks are next in action when they host Georgia in Mbombela, Mpumalanga next weekend.
Kick-off is at 17:10.
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