It\u2019s no secret that the Springboks love a good scrum, so much so that Rassie Erasmus\u2019 charges manufactured a set-piece in the first minute of the game against Italy.<\/b><\/p>\n
In a truly bizarre and never-before-seen ploy, fly-half Manie Libbok lined up the kick-off with centre Andre Esterhuizen and flanker Marco van Staden right next to him.<\/p>\n
Latest Springboks innovation<\/p>\n
Instead of kicking the required 10 metres into Italy<\/a>\u2018s half, Libbok instead chipped the ball up and Esterhuizen pounced to snap it up.<\/p>\n This led to referee Andrew Brace awarding a free kick to the Italians, with South Africa<\/a> getting an opportunity to scrum in the first play of the match.<\/p>\n The cameras panned to the Bok coaching box where Erasmus<\/a> wore a sly smile but the head coach wouldn\u2019t have been too pleased with the outcome of the match.<\/p>\n As South Africa conceded a free-kick and Italy tapped quickly and went on the attack. The Boks would turnover the ball and launch an attack of their own.<\/p>\n Springboks v Italy: Five takeaways as Rassie Erasmus continues to \u2018innovate\u2019 but still left frustrated by stupid \u2018brain fade\u2019<\/a> <\/strong><\/p>\n The Springboks manufacture a scrum opportunity in the first minute! INSANE! \ud83e\udd2f #RSAvITA<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/R7wDGGobvH<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Jared Wright (@jaredwright17) July 12, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Springboks player ratings: Star forward causes \u2018utter mayhem\u2019 as Salmaan Moerat fails to \u2018quash\u2019 question marks <\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n This is not the first time that the Springboks have come up with a ploy to force a set-piece, as full-back Damian Willemse famously called for a scrum after calling a mark inside his own 22 during the Rugby World Cup quarter-final against France.<\/p>\n South Africa would use the ploy again in the semi-final victory against England, but World Rugby changed the laws in 2024, removing the scrum option from free-kicks.<\/p>\n While the first scrum did not go the Springboks\u2019 way, they did get purchase from the set-piece soon after as Grant Williams finished off a stunning try that was sourced from the restart after a superb break from Edwill van der Merwe \u2013 playing just his second Test match for South Africa.<\/p>\n READ MORE:\u00a0<\/strong>Springboks: Rassie Erasmus left dumbfounded as Jasper Wiese sees red after mindless act<\/strong> <\/a><\/p>\n\n