Rassie Erasmus’ Springboks should be lauded for becoming world rugby’s great innovators, writes SIMON BORCHARDT.

Against Italy in Port Elizabeth, Erasmus pulled a couple more tricks from his seemingly bottomless bag.

The match began in bizarre fashion when the Boks manufactured a scrum opportunity straight from the kick-off.

Manie Libbok’s kick went a metre before landing in the hands of Andre Esterhuizen, who had purposely run ahead of him.

It didn’t go to plan, as the Boks conceded a free kick for early scrum engagement, but I loved that they were thinking outside the box again in an attempt to maximise their greatest strength.

They did the same in the 2023 World Cup semi-final against France, when fullback Damian Willemse called for a mark – and then a scrum – inside his 22. That prompted a rule change from World Rugby. It remains to be seen whether the Boks’ latest kick-off ploy will do the same.

When asked about it in the post-match press conference, Erasmus joked that Libbok had made a mistake, before explaining that the Boks had simply wanted a scrum to get into the game.

“Last week [against Italy at Loftus] we found that they quickly played channel one in the scrum and the ball was out,” he added.

The Springboks manufacture a scrum opportunity in the first minute! INSANE! 🤯 #RSAvITA pic.twitter.com/R7wDGGobvH

— Jared Wright (@jaredwright17) July 12, 2025

Italy coach Gonzalo Quesada, however, felt the move was disrespectful and claimed the back-to-back world champions didn’t need to resort to such tactics to beat the 10th-ranked Azzurri. I’d be surprised if Erasmus didn’t have a word with him afterwards to clarify that this wasn’t the case.

There was another trick to come – although Erasmus admitted it came from Paul Roos’ 14B team.

Just before half time, with scrumhalf Grant Williams acting as the hooker, the Boks set up a “lineout” maul in the middle of the field from which centre Canan Moodie carved up the Italian defence.

😂🙌 Midfield lineout from the Springboks before Canan Moodie carves up! #RSAvITA pic.twitter.com/TH8hb8YgL7

— Jared Wright (@jaredwright17) July 12, 2025

They repeated the move 10 minutes into the second half and this time hooker Malcolm Marx scored from the maul.

The Springboks are having fun out there! #RSAvITA pic.twitter.com/rAucgr4wsi

— Jared Wright (@jaredwright17) July 12, 2025

Again, I loved the innovation (even if it came from outside the Bok camp) and Erasmus’ willingness to try it in a Test match.

“You get all the benefits that you get in a lineout if you support a guy [like that] in general play,” he explained, adding that because it had worked twice, other teams would now be on the lookout and the Boks wouldn’t be able to use it again for a few games.

Yet the man who invented the Bomb Squad still copped criticism, with one social media expert calling the midfield lineout “pointless and creating unnecessary risk for the player being lifted” – ignoring the fact that it twice resulted in a try.

The tactic probably gave former Scotland coach Matt Williams – who believes the Bomb Squad is against the spirit of the game – heart palpitations too.

ALSO: Boks treated Italy to a show

You’d expect a sport that was born when William Webb Ellis picked up the ball during a soccer match and ran with it – and regularly introduces “law innovations” – to embrace the kind of creativity Erasmus brings. As he said, not everything the Boks try will work, but at least they’re regularly trying something new to stay ahead of the pack.

Such innovation will also help boost stadium attendances and TV audiences, as fans around the world tune in to see what Rassie pulls out of the bag next. I know I will be.