Erasmus urges referee to avoid ‘preconceived’ ideas over All Blacks

Rassie Erasmus, the South Africa head coach, has increased the pressure on referee Jerome Garces prior to Saturday’s Pool B match against New Zealand, voicing his hope that the Frenchman does not subconsciously favour the All Blacks.

Although Garces has sent off two New Zealand players since 2017, accounting for half of the red cards in their 585-Test history, South Africa have lost nine of 13 Tests with him in charge.

That record comprises both of the Springboks’ defeats at the 2015 World Cup, to Japan in the pool stage and against New Zealand in the semi-final at Twickenham. Erasmus does not want Garces to begin a crucial match in Yokohama with “preconceived” ideas over which team might prevail.

“The thing that makes it special is that if you ask anybody right now who is going to win this Test match, I don’t think anybody could bet on either of the two teams,” he said.

“We want our boys to win and we think we have a really good chance. If you ask Steve [Hansen] and their team, they’ll think they have a really good chance. Hopefully the referee is not too sure.

“That’s the way it should be, the way a World Cup should be. It’s a great opener for us and that’s why it’s special. We are certainly looking forward to see what their team will look like.”

Asked to expand on his reference to referee Garces, Erasmus echoed the comments of his assistant Mzwandile Stick, who on Monday implored the officials to “treat everything equally” this weekend.

“The way rugby has evolved over the past year or so, all teams are so close, currently,” Erasmus said.

With the aggregate scoreline at 82-82 over the past three meetings between the sides, the implication would be that South Africa do not want New Zealand to begin with any favourable treatment.

South Africa will field the same 23-man squad that dispatched Japan 41-7 two weeks ago. It is a side that shows only one change from the one that drew 16-16 with the All Blacks in July, captain Siya Kolisi starting in the back row instead of Kwagga Smith.