Rassie ready for Baabaa challenge
TOUGH JOB: TO MOULD A TEAM IN A WEEK ISN’T EASY
The chance to work with a new group ... will be a great end to the year, he says.
There has not been much time for Rassie Erasmus to reflect on the disappointing end to the Springboks’ season, which came to a close in Cardiff last week, before taking up the reins as Barbarians coach for this weekend’s showdown against Argentina at Twickenham.
Taking on a role which is not offered to many coaches, Erasmus stressed he was looking for some flavour in the Barbarians side, in line with the club’s rich tradition.
While the Argentines lost their last five matches, including all three on their November tour against Ireland, France and Scotland, Erasmus did not need to be reminded how they defeated the Boks 32-19 in Mendoza in the Rugby Championship, in the national team’s second biggest defeat of their season.
For Erasmus, however, this weekend’s clash is not about the South African team, despite having named 13 Bok players in the Baabaas squad earlier this week.
“It’s naturally a terrific honour to have been invited to coach the Barbarians and it should be a great occasion at Twickenham,” Erasmus said.
The Baabaas scored a record 63-45 win when they were last in action against England this year, while the Argentines secured victory the last time they faced the invitation side back in 2015.
The teams are set to compete for the Killik Cup, putting a final touch on the season after the international window came to an end last weekend.
Erasmus, of course, hasn’t had much time to mould the team into a proper unit and there is a tradition of the squad training hard but also partying hard in the week of a Barbarians match.
“The Barbarians are renowned for bringing together great individuals and the challenge for coaches is moulding them into a team that plays wonderful rugby,” Erasmus said.
He did, at least, have time to consider his plans after being named coach on September 18, albeit at a stage when the Boks were preparing for home Tests in the Rugby Championship against Australia and New Zealand.
“There were a lot of important games for South Africa between [hearing] I was going to coach the Baa-Baas and the game,” he said.
“But the chance to work with a new group and take on Argentina once more will be a great end to the year.”