Rassie Erasmus hints at 'parking' scrum battle for RGR finale

The Boks went 2-1 up in Rugby's Greatest Rivalry courtesy of a 29-24 victory at a packed FNB Stadium on Saturday night.

Much had been made of scrumming techniques in the lead-up to Saturday's clash, with All Blacks coach Dave Rennie accusing the Boks of walking around to gain advantage. It mattered little come scrum time in Soweto, as the Boks earned several scrum penalties, including a penalty try.

But in the wake of the result, Erasmus was complimentary of Rennie and his charges.

"He definitely coaches a very brutal way, and it's sometimes difficult to get around the smart things that he coaches," he said as per Rugby Pass.

"And I don't think we were dominant in the scrums. I think there were times when it was pretty equal, and things could have gone against us, but I'm just glad the narrative of 'games' at the scrums is really not a South African thing.

"I mean, hell, I can tell you we like high balls and we like a kicking game and we like mauling, but we would never pick a scrum. So I hope that we park that. We park that now because they scrummed flippin' well tonight.

"There was a few scrums where we were under the pump, we were glad they got the ball out, and they didn't keep on scrumming.

"So, you know, the changes he made really made a hell of a difference. And yeah, if we can if we can park that and just concentrate on, he calls it 'footy', have some good footy next week."

The Springboks face the All Blacks in the final Test match of Rugby's Greatest Rivalry in Baltimore, USA, on Saturday.