‘We want to scrum’: Wallabies reject South African injury rort ploy

Veteran prop Allan Alaalatoa has rejected suggestions the Wallabies were trying to avoid scrummaging against the Springboks in Perth after South Africa reportedly requested evidence behind injuries that led to uncontested scrums.

The second half of the Wallabies’ defeat against the Springboks at Optus Stadium last month saw the scrum become uncontested for safety reasons after three props came off, with Angus Bell injured, and Alaalatoa and James Slipper removed following HIAs.

Under World Rugby regulations, if there are not enough trained props left to safely continue then the scrum must be de-powered. The last 32 minutes of the Perth Test - which South Africa won 30-12 - was played with uncontested scrums.

A report in South African newspaper Rapport claimed South Africa had formally asked World Rugby to see evidence of the legitimacy of Australia’s three injuries, indicating a suspicion that the Wallabies had lied to move to uncontested scrums.

World Rugby declined to comment on whether they’d received a query from SARU, pointing only to the World Rugby regulations on uncontested scrums, and Rugby Australia said they had not received any enquiries. SARU were also approached for comment.

Speaking from Argentina, Alaalatoa had not heard of the report but said: “Do they think I was trying to fake an HIA or something?”

Angus Bell leaves the field against the Springboks in Perth.Credit: Getty Images

“That’s the first I have heard of that. What I do know is if someone has come off injured, and then we have an HIA, like we did that weekend for myself and ‘Slips’, then my understanding is they [the injured player] can’t return back to the field,” Alaalatoa said.

Starting loosehead prop Angus Bell suffered a head cut and left the field, and after getting treatment and cooling down at halftime, the Wallabies replaced him with Slipper as a full injury, due to the high risk of him re-injurying his foot. Bell was playing in his first game back after a second bout of surgery - and a long rehab - on his troublesome foot.

Alaalatoa was also replaced at halftime due to a head knock, but then Slipper left the field with a head knock in the 48th minute. Schmidt said post-match they knew at halftime they would be “skinny” with two props already off but they didn’t expect to lose Slipper as well.

“I’ve been involved in over 100 Test matches, and I’ve never seen that before,” he said.

The Wallabies and Springboks went to uncontested scrums in Perth.Credit: Getty Images

Under World Rugby regulations, the loss of the final front rower to a HIA meant the Wallabies were able to continue with 15 players, not reduced to 14 men as occurs under other scenarios. Permanent injury at Test level is ticked off if “it is the opinion of a doctor that it would be inadvisable for the player to continue.”

But suspicious South Africans questioned whether Australia had faked the injuries to negate the impact of the Springboks’ “Bomb squad” bench players.

“How do we say it was done on purpose, or it actually happened in the game?” former Springbok centre Jean De Villiers said on a podcast.

On the same podcast, Springbok lock Lood de Jager indicated the Boks also thought Australia’s injuries were convenient, pointing to the 12-day stand down after a concussion.

Allan Alaalatoa after the Wallabies’ loss in Perth.Credit: Getty Images

“So I think maybe that’s why they didn’t do it last week [in the first Test in Brisbane] because they wouldn’t have guys available now [in Perth], but now with the week break and then another Test, maybe they thought now is the time to do it,” de Jager said.

“I don’t know because it’s so difficult to prove that they actually did it, but I did just think the timing would be kind of ideal if it was the case.”

The online discourse of South African rugby fans has been rabid, accusing Australia of cheating.

But Alaalatoa rejected the basic premise that Australia would even want to de-power the scrum. The Wallabies scrum has been strong in the competition, with SANZAAR stats showing Australia are ranked second behind New Zealand for scrum wins, with 92 per cent. South Africa are fourth with 75 per cent.

“Mate, we want to scrum. That’s what we want to do - especially as front rowers,” Alaalatoa said.

“That’s a game where you want to take on that challenge. You don’t want to shy away from that. We’re at a stage in our team where we want to keep growing and keep fronting up against the best. You never want to shy away from that.”

The Wallabies’ scrum contributed to a victory over Argentina at the weekend, a nation renowned for their set-piece strength. They play a second Test in Santa Fe on Sunday.

Sports news, results and expert commentary. Sign up for our Sport newsletter.