Springboks Seek Clarity on Refereeing Ahead of Second Italy Test

Ahead of their second Test clash with Italy in Gqeberha this Saturday, the Springboks have raised concerns about the officiating during last weekend’s encounter in Pretoria. South Africa’s laws and discipline advisor Jaco Peyper confirmed that the team has reached out to World Rugby’s refereeing panel. They seek clarification on certain decisions at the breakdown.

Springboks Struggled at the Breakdown

Despite a commanding 42-24 win in the first Test at Loftus Versfeld, the Springboks were noticeably outplayed at the breakdown. Italy consistently flooded the rucks with numbers. This disrupted South Africa’s ability to generate quick ball and hampered their attacking rhythm.

Peyper noted that while the match was officiated by a competent and respected team led by Scottish referee Hollie Davidson, the Boks felt it necessary to seek alignment. They aimed to clarify some of the decisions that unfolded during the match.

Constructive Dialogue with Officials

“We have great respect for Hollie and the entire officiating team. They’re open to communication and feedback, which World Rugby encourages,” said Peyper. “However, after the game, we had a few points we wanted to understand better. It’s really just about aligning with the referees so we can prepare and execute our game plan accordingly.”

The Springboks are expecting a response from the referees’ department. This will help the team adapt their approach for the upcoming fixture.

Owning the Grey Areas

Peyper emphasized that it’s not just about the officials. It’s also up to the Springboks to take responsibility for the parts of their performance that fell short.

“When your ball carries and tackles are dominant, the benefit of the doubt often goes your way. We have to clean up those grey areas ourselves. We must make sure we present a clear picture to the referee to avoid ambiguity,” he explained.

He also acknowledged Italy’s preparation and execution, crediting them for having a clear, well-drilled strategy that challenged the Boks. “They are really well-coached, and if we need to adjust to how they approach the breakdown, we will. That’s the beauty of this sport, it’s a constant learning process,” said Peyper.

Building Toward a Stronger Performance

Looking ahead, Peyper confirmed that the Springbok coaches have closely reviewed the team’s performance. They are determined to lift their standard. With a demanding season ahead, the team is eager to build consistency. They aim to eliminate the kind of individual errors that hindered them in the first Test.

“The coaching group reviewed everything, planning, execution, the full package,” he said. “We’re facing a motivated and technically strong Italian side. This week is all about preparing thoroughly and delivering a performance that reflects our standards.”

“We’re a proud group. That’s why there was frustration after the last game, too many small mistakes that accumulated. We’ve addressed that and are focused on putting it right.”

As the Springboks gear up for their second showdown with Italy, the spotlight is firmly on the breakdown. With open communication with World Rugby and a renewed internal focus, the Boks aim to bring more structure, clarity, and intensity to the clash in Gqeberha.

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