After the Xerox Golden Lions demolition of the Cell C Sharks scrum in the Currie Cup Semi-Final last weekend and the average performance of DHL Western Province in the scrums against the Vodacom Blue Bulls in the other Semi-Final, this week’s hottest debates has raged about what will happen in the scrums in the Final and how the referee, Craig Joubert, will officiate this aspect of the game.

Balie Swart, adviser to SARU and to the Referees on scrumming in South Africa, came under heavy bombardment from DHL Western Province and in particular Gert Smal and Allister Coetzee. They are unhappy that SARU’s man is not impartial, when he declared that the Golden Lions scrum is ahead of all other South African scrumming units.

It is the last thing referee Craig Joubert would have wanted, but his performance at scrum-time has been put into the spotlight ahead of the Currie Cup Final.

Western Province coach Allister Coetzee was spitting mad about suggestions that his team will not be able to hold their own in the scrums against the Golden Lions – their opponents at Newlands on Saturday.

Coetzee described Joubert as the best referee in the World and said he won’t be swayed by public opinion, while he implored the media to ‘look at the facts’ and not who said what.

It started earlier this week when World Cup-winning former Springbok prop Balie Swart spoke out about the perceived weakness of the Province set piece.

Swart, who coaches South Africa’s top referees on scrum techniques and tactics, also helps out at the provinces from time-to-time.

He was quoted in the media as having said that the Lions are “a step ahead” of the rest of the teams he worked it.

The report found its way from Johannesburg, where Swart helped the Lions this week, to the Cape Town-based Afrikaans daily, Die Burger.

“Johan Ackermann ensures his players are doing everything correctly,” Swart was quoted as saying.

“He is close to his players and they know exactly what is expected of them. Look at their scrum – all 16 feet are working together when they push.”

It was a report that raised the ire of Coetzee, who seemed to take exception when questioned about his decision to select just one prop on the replacement bench – for a game against the competition’s most highly-rated scrumming unit, who in turn have a full front row on the bench.

While initially his jovial self, Coetzee became more and more animated as the pre-match media briefing at Newlands dragged on.

“One has to take the emotion out of it,” Coetzee said when asked if he considered having an extra prop on the bench, given the quality of the opposition.

“I don’t think we should do that,” Coetzee continued.

“This competition requires us to use 22 player and you have to make sure you cover all your basis. Going with a four / three split gives us the best possible cover.

“I know we are playing against the Lions, but we also have a very good scrum.”

Coetzee hinted that he may employ some tactical front row substitutions to counter the Lions’ perceived strength – should his team struggle.

“A prop can go back before you have to go to uncontested scrums,” the WP mentor said, adding: “It is not necessary to have a second prop, like in a 23-man squad in Super Rugby.

“You might sit with an extra player on the bench that you might not play and I don’t want to take that chance.

“I would rather make sure that everyone on the bench will get game time, because we will need some fresh legs towards the end.”

Later in the media briefing the scrum issue was raised again and this time Coetzee was a lot more pronounced and discomposed.

“This scrum issue, this is FACT, not hearsay or emotions,” he said, adding: “Just on Craig Joubert, he has refereed our game against the Lions here (a 27-14 win at Newlands back in August) and Jaco Peyper blew the game away (a 35-33 Lions win at Ellis Park in September).

“In those matches we had 25 scrums, the two teams together. We conceded four penalties and they conceded two.

“I don’t know what the issue is.

“Fortunately we have the best referee, who will never be put under pressure by opinions out there. That is why he is No 1 and he will look at the scrum processes, whether the alignment is solid and legal, and he will reward dominance.”

Coetzee warned the media that they get dragged in by who says what.

“For us it is just to look at the facts, how many penalties we have conceded, who is legal and illegal, and it is a matter of watching both sides.

“That is how I know Craig Joubert is. He’ll want the process to be followed, shoulders out, giving enough space.

“No preconceived idea by some ref assessor, that he has to appease and say: ‘Watch this person, he is at an angle.’

“He will make sure everyone’s shoulders are out, square, he will give them a fair chance and the one that is then dominant will be rewarded.

“Please people, let’s make sure that we are fair and look at both sides and then it is game on. Don’t tell me one oak is supposedly a ‘no nonsense’ approach and they scrum better that the other side.

“Like I said, the facts are: twenty-five scrums, we conceded four penalties and they conceded two.

“That was a game where Craig Joubert mentioned he had the best stability at scrum time and he was pleased that both Mathew Proudfoot and Johan Ackermann bought into the principle of good and fair scrummaging.”

The Golden Lions have targeted the engine room – and more specifically the scrums – as they prepare for Saturday’s Currie Cup final against Western Province at Newlands.

Coach Johan Ackermann has named a full front row of replacements, with Jacques van Rooyen coming in for loose forward Kwagga Smith. He joins Julian Redelinghuys and Armand van der Merwe on the bench and the trio is expected to be sent on in the second half.

“I consider the importance of fresh props in a match quite high,” Ackermann said. “And it also gives you the best of both worlds.

“When things are tough and competitive, you are given the opportunity to approach the scrum in a different manner. Our props also complement each other well which allows us to maintain our intensity if we’re on the front foot.”

Ackermann also expects more scrums than usual on Saturday. “Conditions at Newlands is always a bit more damp, especially the playing surface. It’s a final and there will be nerves. You’ll see more handling errors.”

The last time Western Province and the Lions met in a Currie Cup final was way back in 1986, when the hosts beat the then Transvaal 22-9 at Newlands.