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I am a big fan of South African rugby. It is a mystical place, nestled in one of the future social and economic boom markets. Despite appearances, I think South Africa, like Nigeria, is one of the foundations of continental stability and prosperity.
South Africa is also the most innovative place for rugby. Firstly, they are the first nation to trial eight points for converted tries.
Australian’s National Rugby Championship follows this innovation to reward a power game for attackers that score in the middle.
It also rewards excellent kickers who can convert from the sideline. It also removes the boring penalty kicks. As shown in the NRC, it greatly increases the amount of set piece action, both scrum and lineout.
South Africa are the first country in the SANZAR to allow foreign-based players to play for their national team. Recently, the Wallabies have adopted a similar stance and are now enjoy the benefit of tapping in to the best Australian player pool on the planet.
Other innovations that have not yet been adopted are: double referees. This enables the second referee to manage offsides, and keeping an eye on the other side of the ruck. Most critically it allows the scrum to be inspected on both sides, which assures a smoother engagement.
My favourite innovation are the prop shirts with grips for scrum bindings. This has to be introduced by World Rugby, pronto! This facilitates safe and legal scrummaging where the referee can clearly see where the grips are. It is also safe for props to hold without getting their hands stuck.
One other South African innovation also involves hands. But I do not think anyone is happy with it. I call it the ‘low-five’.
The low-five, which is a low act, must stop now.
Everyone knows about the original high-five/low-five trick. You say ‘high-five’, then do a high-five slap. To the side. Then ‘down-low’ for a low-five slap. The South African rugby low-five slap is a different kind of innovation. It is an abhorrent low act.
This is an act by Springbok level players who punch the opponents with an open hand, to the face or head. Because it is not technically punch, they can effectively hand thump another player’s head without referees handing out punishment. A neat innovation, isn’t it?
The first example happened last Saturday. James Horwill arrived in the ruck too late, and crunched Eben Etzebeths head between his shoulder and David Pocock’s body. Eben gets up and does a low-five on Kev’s head. A sucker shot.
The good thing here is captain Stephen Moore’s reaction. Instead of going for retaliation, he calmly but sternly stared and talked Eben down.
The second example was from the Sharks’ Jannie du Plessis, who low-fived an unwitting Laurie Weeks at the back of the head last month. Weeks’ offence? For bumping accidentally into Du Plessis. While Weeks’ reaction is inexcusable, it is punished appropriately. Jannie? Nothing. The result? More low-fives are delivered in other games.
If this practice does not stop, the Aussies, Kiwis, and English will adopt the same innovation and start slapping back in retaliation. Maybe even pre-emptively. This slapping contest, on a highlight reel, with Benny Hill music background, will be fodder for soccer fans around the world.
So, I think this will be a no-brainer for rule markers to sort out. Or maybe their priority is to deal first with boring mauls, scrums and turn rugby gradually into rugby league.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.