Put the shenanigans aside and let the Springboks-All Blacks rivalry shine

It is time for rugby to take centre stage in Rugby's Greatest Rivalry and for less off-field antics like the scrum complaints New Zealand head coach Dave Rennie had about the Springboks after two Tests.

It is time for the off-field antics in Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry to take their place on the side of the field and let the rugby between the Springboks and All Blacks be the main attraction ahead of the third and pivotal Test on Saturday afternoon in Soweto.

There has been plenty of noise away from what is supposed to be the spectacle between two of the greatest rugby-playing nations and with the series 1-all after two riveting contests, it is only fair that the duel starts getting more prominence.

From the mudslinging that started ahead of the first Test, which ultimately overshadowed the 100th-cap build-up of Damian de Allende, to accusations from the New Zealand camp that the Springboks were scrumming illegally , the noise has continued well beyond that series-levelling victory in Cape Town.

Then there was Rassie Erasmus changing his team, within the laws, ahead of a clash that caused more fall-out, followed by more accusations from the All Blacks camp about illegal scrummaging that finally saw Erasmus react and attempt to shut the issue down.

There was also the particular flyover over DHL Stadium by two Airlink jets, a tradition in South Africa, that was almost spoken about more than the actual contest on Saturday in the Mother City. It even made international news, especially in the US, where there has been little said about the fourth Test between the two sides happening in Baltimore next week.

I can’t help but think that this battle has become more about what happens in the lead-up to a Test and the fallout from it than the actual rugby. And it is time for that to be put to bed.

The series is delicately balanced at 1-all ahead of Saturday’s encounter at FNB Stadium in Johannesburg. It is all to play for in the four-match series, with the winner assured of not being able to lose the inaugural challenge. But that has almost been overshadowed by the antics outside the four lines, and it is time to show a bit more respect for this historic rivalry between the two sides.

There is already enough at stake on the field. The Springboks and All Blacks do not need manufactured drama, accusations or distractions to make this rivalry compelling. The history, the rivalry and what is at stake should be more than enough.

It is time to shut out the noise alongside the field and set the focus on what is happening between the four lines. This is the final Test on South African soil, and it should not be overshadowed by more off-field shenanigans.