Revered prop Allan Alaalatoa has quashed recommendations popping out of South Africa the Wallabies intentionally went to uncontested scrums by faking accidents throughout their Rugby Championship defeat final month in Perth.
South African newspaper Rapport not too long ago reported that SA Rugby formally requested World Rugby to research the Wallabies’ sequence of front-row accidents, which decreased the contested to uncontested scrums for the ultimate half-hour of the second TRC fixture.
The requests occurred regardless of the Springboks comfortably beating the Wallabies in successive weeks on Australian shores for the primary time in additional than half a century.
It’s reported that eyebrows have been raised when beginning props Angus Bell (facial harm) and Allan Alaalatoa (concussion) didn’t return after half-time, whereas substitute loose-head prop James Slipper left early within the second half following one other concussion.
Angus Bell heads to the dressing sheds at half time throughout the Wallabies’ loss to the Springboks at Optus Stadium on August 17, 2024 in Perth. (Picture by Paul Kane/Getty Photos)
The sequence of accidents and comically-long nature of the uncontested scrums, which noticed lock Angus Blyth attempt to pack down within the front-row, led to Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt perplexed by what he witnessed.
“It’s most likely one of the weird video games I’ve ever been concerned in,” Schmidt mentioned. “In over 100 Check matches that I’ve been concerned in, I’ve by no means had a state of affairs like that earlier than.”
Though legal guidelines exist to try to preserve the integrity of scrums if ill-discipline or accidents happen, a spate of concussions means groups aren’t punished and, subsequently, uncontested scrums come into impact.
Regardless of World Rugby using unbiased docs for all internationals to evaluation head accidents assessments, former Springboks captain Jean de Villiers questioned the timing of the accidents.
Talking on the South African Rugby podcast The Verdict, de Villiers mentioned if the injured trio returned instantly from the 12-day stand-down interval in time to tackle Los Pumas in Argentina simply two weeks later, purple flags ought to be waved.
“The top accidents are an enormous speaking level,” de Villiers mentioned.
“With Australia going to non-contested scrums and two props [off the field], are we now saying that if we see these guys taking part in within the subsequent three to 4 weeks, that it was a plan, or how will we go about it?
“How do we are saying it was accomplished on goal or it really occurred within the recreation?”
The Wallabies have been compelled into uncontested scrums in opposition to the Springboks at Optus Stadium on August 17, 2024 in Perth. (Picture by Paul Kane/Getty Photos)
Injured Springboks lock Lood de Jager didn’t straight accuse the Wallabies of adopting such an method, however the towering second-rower did query the timing and the shortage of concussion incidents from the Check in Brisbane every week earlier, received 33-7 by the Springboks.
“I believe it’s a troublesome one with them going off with concussion, there’s a sure protocol, it’s 12 days earlier than you may play once more if you happen to go off the sector with concussion,” de Jager responded.
“So I believe possibly that’s why they didn’t do it final week as a result of they wouldn’t have guys accessible now [in Perth], however now with the week break after which one other Check possibly they thought now’s the time to do it.
“I don’t know as a result of it’s so troublesome to show that they really did it, however I did simply suppose the timing can be type of superb if it was the case.”
Alaalatoa, the 73-capped Wallaby, took umbrage on the allegation when requested by Australian media concerning the reviews.
“Do they suppose I used to be attempting to faux a HIA or one thing?” Alaalatoa mentioned.
“That’s the primary I’ve heard of that. However what I do know is that if somebody comes off injured, after which we have now HIA like we did on the weekend for myself and Slips [Slipper], then my understanding is that they’ll’t return again to the sector.
“I bear in mind Joe on the finish of that recreation saying he’s by no means been part of that recreation the place issues like which have occurred, and I don’t suppose I’ve as properly.”
Allan Alaalatoa has hit again at claims the Wallabies faked head accidents in opposition to the Springboks to make sure the match went into uncontested scrums. (Picture by Matt Roberts/Getty Photos)
The recommendations suggest the Wallabies have a comfortable underbelly and might’t match the Springboks on the scrum.
“Mate, we wish to scrum,” Alaalatoa mentioned. “That’s what we wish to do. Particularly as front-rowers and that’s a recreation the place you wish to tackle that problem. You don’t wish to shrink back from that.
“We’re at a stage in our workforce the place we wish to continue to grow and preserve fronting up in opposition to one of the best, so that you by no means wish to shrink back from that.”
After beating properly crushed on the scrum by the Springboks in Brisbane, the Wallabies shaved Argentina’s scrum throughout their dramatic 20-19 win in Buenos Aires over the weekend.
