Springboks complimented Jerome Garces to get favorable decisions at Rugby World Cup

An excerpt from a new book looking at how the Springboks won the Rugby World Cup in Japan last year has revealed how the Springboks analysed referees during the tournament.

The book, ‘Miracle Men’ written by News24 reporter Lloyd Burnard, takes an in-depth look at the journey from the lows of 2016 and 2017 to World Cup champions in 2019.

The book details how the Springboks complimented referee Jerome Garces, the man with the whistle in the final, on his physical appearance in order to receive favourable decisions. 

The book revealed that the decision to approach referee's in a different manner came in response to the controversial Owen Farrell tackle during the 2018 end-of-year tour.

Erasmus set a panel to provide feedback on the referees the Boks would have in Japan.

"The research included analysis on how the referees blew games of rugby, from scrummaging to the dark arts at the breakdown and the offside line. But it went much deeper than that," Burnard writes, in an excerpt published by SA Rugby Magazine.

In the excerpt, Burnard went on to explain how different players had different roles when it came to speaking to Jerome Garces and "that he responded well to being complimented on his physical appearance. If the match was fast-paced, the Boks would make a point of praising Garces on his condition and his ability to keep up with the players, hoping to rub him up the right way."

Burnard also revealed that the Springboks would also bend down to tie their shoelaces or place their hands on their knees as their research suggested that referees felt intimidated looking up to bigger players.