Erasmus ban to be extended if he attends Twickenham match

World Rugby will increase Rassie Erasmus’s ban if he follows through on his veiled threat that he could find his way inside Twickenham for South Africa’s match against England tomorrow.

The Springboks director of rugby was handed a 10-month stadium ban after an independent committee found him guilty of six separate misconduct charges related to his disrespectful treatment of Nic Berry, the referee from the British and Irish Lions’ first Test in the summer.

Both Erasmus and the South African Rugby Union have appealed against their punishments. Yet Erasmus’s suspension remains in place until the appeal hearing is held, meaning he is not allowed to enter Twickenham tomorrow.

However on Twitter, Erasmus posted a picture of himself in camouflage, and reports in South Africa suggested he would find a way into the stadium. World Rugby is understood to have made it clear that this would result in a lengthy extension of his ban. Similarly, if the team display a form of public protest, then the SARU can expect its £20,000 fine to be increased.

Yesterday, Erasmus’s win-at-allcosts mentality was condemned by Scotland head coach Gregor

Townsend, an assistant to Warren Gatland on the Lions tour. “I was there at the time so I experienced what was going on,” Townsend said. “Those antics – we can’t fall into that trap of winning at all costs and putting pressure on individuals.”

Dave Rennie, the Wallabies head coach, also voiced his concern for Australian referee Berry. “I think Nic is a fantastic referee, a good man, so I’m disappointed with how he was treated,” Rennie said.

Last weekend, Townsend crossed swords once more with Erasmus, who reprised his role as “water boy” for the Springboks. He was caught on film calling a Scotland wing “kak”, an offensive term in Afrikaans. “I know it wasn’t the only incident over that game,” Townsend said. “If they [coaches] are on the sidelines, they have to live up to certain behaviours and values that we pride in our game, which sadly … have been lost.”