World Rugby rules on deliberate Springbok infringement in kick-off against Italy

It has taken World Rugby a week, but the governing body has predictably ruled against the Springboks for their controversial start to the second Test against Italy, when a premeditated kick-off ploy resulted in a scrum.

The Boks wanted to impose themselves in the set scrums from the kick-off after Italy had employed dubious tactics in the first Test to avoid going toe-to-toe with the powerful South African scrum.

Flyhalf Manie Libbok kicked the ball less than 10 metres with centre André Esterhuizen catching it three metres in front of him and in an offside position.

As it turned out, an early shove from the Boks in the resulting scrum resulted in referee Andrew Brace awarding Italy a free kick.

Italy coach Gonzalo Quesada was annoyed at the tactic, and a letter was sent to World Rugby by the Italian Rugby Federation. They protested the action and requested clarification on what had happened.

The Italians highlighted Law 9.7(a), which states: “A player must not intentionally infringe any law of the game.”

World Rugby have now ruled that a penalty should have been awarded to Italy for a deliberate infringement by the Springboks.

The governing body said: “The actions seen in this example show an intentional violation of the kick-off and restart laws.

“Laws 12.5 and 12.6 set out the sanctions where the ball unintentionally fails to go 10m or a player overruns their teammate at the kick-off/restart. However, if match officials believe this is done deliberately, then Law 9.7(a) should be applied.”

World Rugby have not announced any censure against the Springboks.

No doubt, also under scrutiny by World Rugby is the Springboks’ open play “lineout” mauls, where scrumhalf Grant Williams passed high to a forward who, upon landing, had players packed around him to form a maul. The Boks scored tries on the two occasions they employed this tactic.

The Boks have former referee Jaco Peyper as part of their coaching staff, and no law was broken by these innovative mauls.