Rassie on videos: It’s not having a go at the referee
RASSIE Erasmus joined coach Jacques Nienaber at the Springboks’ team announcement press conference yesterday ahead of the Italy Test, and predictably he drew much of the attention because of his perceived war on referees.
Except Erasmus doesn’t see it like that, of course, and says the public are attaching their own interpretations and narratives to his “innocent” clips of passages of play.
Earlier in the day, the former loose forward was heavily criticised by former World No 1 referee Nigel Owens, who said the SA Director of Rugby was bringing the game into disrepute.
In New Zealand, they would say Erasmus is playing “ducks and drakes” with his play on words and concealed messages in that he doesn’t directly have a go at poor refereeing decisions, but the subtext is there …
Still, Erasmus insisted that he is simply helping South African supporters understand what happens on the rugby field.
“People form their opinions, and I understand that,” said Erasmus. “We’ve always been really close to fans. If you go and look at the tweets, it’s actually for South African fans to understand that there is something that some guys are doing really well, which we don’t understand.”
Erasmus explained some of his clips, including one about Cheslin Kolbe needing to adjust his tackling technique following a hand-off from French fullback Thomas Ramos in Marseille, where the Bok No 14 appeared to be struck in the throat area by Ramos’s elbow. He also alluded to Willie le Roux’s long pass in the French game that was incorrectly adjudged forward, but Erasmus said fans must realise that sometimes there is an “optical illusion”.
“If you go and read the tweets, people immediately attach something to the narrative they want to put out there,” he said.
“I don’t tag people or say it’s the referees. I don’t say anything like that. I’m saying that these are the things that we must fix.
“If someone doesn’t want to see that, unfollow me, mute me. But surely there are South African supporters who would like to know where we are going, and where we are getting it right and wrong. It’s not having a go at the referee. I don’t think Wayne Barnes would ever make bad decisions. He is the No 1 referee in the world, the most experienced referee in the world. It’s something on our side that we have to fix. If people put their own narrative to it, I can’t control that. I just want supporters to understand that.”
That is classic Rassie for you! All innocent charm, but the innuendo is there …
The big talking point from the Boks’ 30-26 defeat to France was a double movement in the late try scored by Sipili Falatea, which Barnes allowed and which, strangely, he could not refer to the TMO because their communication link had disappeared.
“If you read the tweets (about that incident), people immediately adjust something to the narrative they want to put out there,” Erasmus insisted.
“Even in that tweet, where we noted that the TMO’S link was off-line, I still won’t believe that Wayne Barnes would let that go and just say the TMO isn’t available.
“I just wouldn’t believe that from him. That’s why we have no qualms.”
Meanwhile, Nienaber has made a few changes to the squad that played in the French Test, with Andre Esterhuizen at inside centre and Damian de Allende replacing Jesse Kriel at No 13.
In the pack, Jasper Wiese is back from concussion at No 8, while Franco Mostert moves to flank for Pieter-steph du Toit, who will face a hearing for his red card today.
Stormers lock pair Salmaan Moerat and Marvin Orie will man the second row. SOUTH AFRICA: Starting XV: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Damian de Allende, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Kurt-lee Arendse, 10 Damian Willemse, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Franco Mostert, 6 Siya Kolisi (capt), 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Salmaan Moerat, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ox Nche. Replacements: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Steven Kitshoff, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Eben Etzebeth, 20 Kwagga Smith, 21 Evan Roos, 22 Cobus Reinach, 23 Manie Libbok