South Africa traffic light system explained as World Cup tactic divides opinion

21 October 2023 , 17:00

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South Africa's unusual Rugby World Cup tactic splits opinion (Image: ITV)

South Africa's coaching box has been seen raising different coloured lights throughout the World Cup - although their explanation is not convincing everyone.

The Springboks seem to have found a way around communication issues between players and staff in noisy stadiums, with Rassie Erasmus, Jacques Nienaber and Felix Jones caught on camera giving instructions via lights.

It became a talking point in their opening game against Scotland when players were often seen looking up to the stands for a message from the likes of Erasmus and Jones. Nienaber was the man quizzed on it earlier in the tournament and claimed it was centred around injured players and whether they should carry on.

He said: “In terms of the lights, it started here probably when we played France in Marseille [in November 2022]. “I don’t know if you’ve been pitch-side but in this dome, the sound is phenomenal. You can’t hear anything.

“It’s for us, because there are a lot of [radio] channels we are working in and talking in, it’s sometimes tough for us to talk to our support staff. I think a lot of teams will have systems – is it red, is it green – for the extent of the injury or the knock and how serious it is. It’s just for us to communicate with support staff.”

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Nienaber also claimed there was nothing illegal with their methods, which he'd used in previous roles. “I don’t think you need permission from World Rugby," he said. "It’s a method. When I was at Munster, the call was red if it was a serious thing and we must consider a substitution. Amber is ‘listen, let’s give this guy five minutes to see if he’s OK’ and green is ‘it’s OK, he can go on’."

The Springbok coaches have found a clever way to communicate with their players

That explanation has been rubbished by many however, who believe that the coaches are advising the players what decisions they want them to make once penalties are given. Against Scotland the camera panned to Jones, who then raised a red traffic light. South African fly-half Manie Libbok then pointed to the posts to indicate he wanted to have a shot at goal.

Other lights are likely to advise the players to go for other options, either kicking for the corner to apply pressure via a lineout or to go for a scrum, which South Africa have enjoyed huge success from.

The Springboks coaching group are aiming to become back-to-back winners of the World Cup, a feat only before achieved by the All Blacks. Erasmus though is looking to become the only man to retain the trophy as coach having masterminded their 2019 triumph.

Samuel Meade