Respected prop Allan Alaalatoa has quashed suggestions coming out of South Africa the Wallabies deliberately went to uncontested scrums by faking injuries during their Rugby Championship defeat last month in Perth.
South African newspaper Rapport recently reported that SA Rugby formally requested World Rugby to investigate the Wallabies’ series of front-row injuries, which reduced the contested to uncontested scrums for the final half-hour of the second TRC fixture.
The requests occurred despite the Springboks comfortably beating the Wallabies in successive weeks on Australian shores for the first time in more than half a century.
It’s reported that eyebrows were raised when starting props Angus Bell (facial injury) and Allan Alaalatoa (concussion) didn’t return after half-time, while replacement loose-head prop James Slipper left early in the second half following another concussion.
Angus Bell heads to the dressing sheds at half time during the Wallabies’ loss to the Springboks at Optus Stadium on August 17, 2024 in Perth. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)
The series of injuries and comically-long nature of the uncontested scrums, which saw lock Angus Blyth try to pack down in the front-row, led to Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt perplexed by what he witnessed.
“It’s probably one of the most bizarre games I’ve ever been involved in,” Schmidt said. “In over 100 Test matches that I’ve been involved in, I’ve never had a situation like that before.”
Although laws exist to try and keep the integrity of scrums if ill-discipline or injuries occur, a spate of concussions means teams aren’t punished and, therefore, uncontested scrums come into effect.
Despite World Rugby employing independent doctors for all internationals to review head injuries assessments, former Springboks captain Jean de Villiers questioned the timing of the injuries.
Speaking on the South African Rugby podcast The Verdict, de Villiers said if the injured trio returned immediately from the 12-day stand-down period in time to take on Los Pumas in Argentina just two weeks later, red flags should be waved.
“The head injuries are a massive talking point,” de Villiers said.
“With Australia going to non-contested scrums and two props [off the field], are we now saying that if we see those guys playing in the next three to four weeks, that it was a plan, or how do we go about it?
“How do we say it was done on purpose or it actually happened in the game?”
The Wallabies were forced into uncontested scrums against the Springboks at Optus Stadium on August 17, 2024 in Perth. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)
Injured Springboks lock Lood de Jager did not directly accuse the Wallabies of adopting such an approach, but the towering second-rower did question the timing and the lack of concussion incidents from the Test in Brisbane a week earlier, won 33-7 by the Springboks.
“I think it’s a difficult one with them going off with concussion, there’s a certain protocol, it’s 12 days before you can play again if you go off the field with concussion,” de Jager responded.
“So I think maybe that’s why they didn’t do it last week 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.
“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.”
Alaalatoa, the 73-capped Wallaby, took umbrage at the allegation when asked by Australian media about the reports.
“Do they think I was trying to fake a HIA or something?” Alaalatoa said.
“That’s the first I’ve heard of that. But what I do know is that if someone comes off injured, and then we have HIA like we did on the weekend for myself and Slips [Slipper], then my understanding is that they can’t return back to the field.
“I remember Joe at the end of that game saying he’s never been a part of that game where things like that have happened, and I don’t think I have as well.”
Allan Alaalatoa has hit back at claims the Wallabies faked head injuries against the Springboks to ensure the match went into uncontested scrums. (Photo by Matt Roberts/Getty Images)
The suggestions imply the Wallabies have a soft underbelly and can’t match the Springboks at the scrum.
“Mate, we want to scrum,” Alaalatoa said. “That’s what we want to do. Especially as front-rowers and 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, so you never want to shy away from that.”
After beating well beaten at the scrum by the Springboks in Brisbane, the Wallabies shaved Argentina’s scrum during their dramatic 20-19 win in Buenos Aires over the weekend.