Rassie’s stock keeps rising
BOK COACH: HE’LL TAKE TIME OUT AFTER EUROPEAN TOUR
Erasmus now has another opportunity to beat the Pumas.
Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus’ stocks continued to rise yesterday, following the national team’s heroics against the All Blacks last week, after he was named as coach of the Barbarians for their end-ofyear tour.
Erasmus will guide the Barbarians against Argentina in the Killik Cup match at Twickenham on December 1.
“It’s a terrific honour to be invited to coach the Barbarians later this year and it should be a great occasion at Twickenham,” Erasmus said.
He will coach a squad full of internationals, including three Springboks, with Handré Pollard (flyhalf), Eben Etzebeth (lock) and Tendai Mtawarira (prop) already confirmed in the Baa-Baas squad for the London clash, to be held after the SA team’s outgoing tour against England, France, Scotland and Wales in November.
“The Barbarians are renowned for bringing together great individuals, and the challenge for coaches is moulding them into a team that plays wonderful rugby, which they certainly showed earlier this year against England,” Erasmus said.
“There’s a lot of important games for South Africa between now and then, but the chance to work with a new group and take on Argentina once more will be a great end to the year.”
Eight Bok players, meanwhile, had been released to their provinces this weekend, and they were set to rejoin the rest of the squad on Sunday, in the buildup to the Rugby Championship match against the Wallabies in Port Elizabeth next weekend.
They were scrumhalf Ross Cronje (Lions), prop Thomas du Toit (Sharks), flank Marco van Staden and scrumhalf Embrose Papier (Blue Bulls), and prop Wilco Louw, hooker Bongi Mbonambi, No 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe and fullback Damian Willemse (Western Province).
Two overseas-based players – fullback Willie le Roux (Wasps) and loose forward Francois Louw (Bath) – will also return to their clubs in England and are available for selection for matches this weekend.