Rassie Erasmus has taken to social media to defend the Springboks’ highly-effective high-ball tactics.
A key pillar of the Boks’ recent dominance has been their ability to turn the contestable kick into an attacking weapon. Since the outlawing of escorts around the catcher, the aerial battle has become far more competitive – and few sides have mastered it like the back-to-back world champions.
Despite their size, wings Cheslin Kolbe and Kurt-Lee Arendse have excelled under the high ball, while the Bok kick-chase remains among the most organised and aggressive in the world game. Regaining possession from contestable kicks has become a launchpad for quick-strike attack.
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Japan coach Eddie Jones this week suggested the laws favour the attacking side too heavily and hinted that World Rugby could intervene.
“Everything in the game suits [the Springboks] at the moment,” Jones said ahead of World Rugby’s Shape of the Game forum in London. “The disruption with the high ball, they got guys like Cheslin Kolbe, it’s interesting that they got two of the smallest wingers in the world, but they are one of the best teams in the world at regaining the ball kicking wise, and then they’ve got backs who can open up quickly.
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“I think at some stage, World Rugby is going to have to bring in the disruption law in the high ball that, unless you’re making a genuine attempt to catch the ball, you’re going to penalise them, because otherwise we’re just going to encourage high ball kicking too much.”
For Erasmus, though, the issue appears straightforward:
Really dont understand what they saying 🤷🏼♂️ fair contest to gain possession or disrupt? Make up your own mind! pic.twitter.com/cbw3DRludr
— Rassie Erasmus (@RassieRugby) February 13, 2026
Photo: Luke Walker/Getty Images