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.
