Rassie Erasmus: Boks’ new hope
The new Springbok coach has his work cut out for him balancing transformation with results
HE’S known for his eccentric approach to coaching – but his “gimmicks” have brought home the silverware. In fact, many rugby aficionados believe if anyone’s going to restore the Springboks to their former glory, it’s Rassie Erasmus.
The rugby powers that be seem to agree, locking the 45-year-old former flank in until the 2023 World Cup – the longest contract awarded to date.
But hauling the boys back to their place in the sun won’t be a walk in the park – the Boks are ranked sixth in the world, having won only 11 of the past two seasons’ 25 Tests. Can Erasmus save them?
THE EXPERTS WEIGH IN
In his roles as coach, strategic manager, coaching director and technical consultant in both national and provincial rugby, Erasmus has cultivated success.
He was crowned best coach of the 2016-17 season in the European Pro12 series, within a year after starting at Irish club Munster.
“He’s the right guy for the Boks right now,” former Bok captain Wynand Claassen says. “He has a lot of coaching experience and he played rugby for a long time. He knows the smell of wintergreen; he’s familiar with bleeding.”
Erasmus was a brilliant player, veteran commentator Hugh Bladen says. “He was forward-thinking and he carried that ability into his coaching career.
“He’s also an extraordinary organiser. Some may think he’s a bit eccentric but it’s a breath of fresh air and we need that in terms of innovation – and motivation – in our rugby.”
Former Bok hooker and SuperSport commentator Owen Nkumane says Erasmus was a phenomenal player in the sense that even then he actively analysed the game and was always thinking of his team’s approach. But, he adds, only time will tell whether Erasmus will be successful within the current rugby system.
THE COACHING TEAM
Erasmus’ coaching team is smaller than that of his predecessor, Allister Coetzee, but it has the experience and expertise, Claassen says. “Defence coach Jacques Nienaber is a great asset, as is forwards coach Pieter de Villiers, who played in two World Cups.”
Mzwandile Stick, who was fired as
Coetzee’s backline coach a year into his term, is back in the job.
Erasmus points to Stick’s contribution as captain of the 2008-09 Blitzbok champs as well as his coaching success with junior teams as evidence of his strengths. “He brings specific skills. He’s going to add huge value.”
Welshman Aled Walters, like Nienaber, worked with Erasmus at Munster and as head of athletic performance he’ll ensure the Bok squad is in top fitness form.
THE CHALLENGES
England. Eddie Jones’ national team will be in SA in June for three Tests. This series will follow an extra game between the Boks and Wales outside their usual “Test window”.
“England is the first major hurdle,” Erasmus acknowledges, “but they’re definitely beatable.”
Bladen agrees. If the right players are chosen, there’s no reason why SA can’t beat England, he says. 2019 World Cup. Erasmus believes South Africa can already mount a serious challenge at next year’s World Cup. “We have 18 Tests until Japan 2019,” he says. “A lot of planning has already gone into our World Cup preparation.”
But Nkumane cautions fans to look beyond Japan. Dreams of a trophy are probably unrealistic, given the state of our rugby over the past two years, he says.
“One should also look at the six-year plan [towards the 2023 World Cup in France]. Perhaps it’s a case of having to lose a World Cup to win one.” New Zealand. Seasoned rugby writer Gavin Rich, author of The Springbok Coaches, believes the real challenge for Erasmus is closing the gap on the All Blacks. “While the Boks might at last have a coach who’s a heavyweight thinker and tactician, the world’s No 1 team never allow the grass to grow under their feet.”
“Changing our players’ mindset regarding teams such as the All Blacks will be a huge task for Rassie,” Claassen adds. “Before the Boks can start winning they need to believe they can win. People also need to understand changing mindsets and getting everyone to understand game plans is a process. It’s not as if you can wave a magic wand.”
THE BIG QUESTIONS
Which players will make the cut? Nkumane believes one of Allister Coetzee’s big mistakes was choosing players based on reputation and not form. According to Claassen SA has good players in just about every position. “Rassie will have to get the best combinations on board as soon as possible,” he says. Who’ll captain the team? Warren Whiteley could be Erasmus’ first choice – his was one of the first permanent Bok contracts he negotiated. The new coach may also look to Eben Etzebeth, Siya Kolisi or Duane Vermeulen to lead the team. Nkumane emphasises Erasmus needs to make rugby decisions consistently when picking his team and captain. “If you’re going to survive the politics of sport you always have to make decisions that benefit the sport. If you make decisions to please people, you’re going to fall short.” What’s the game plan? The Boks need to come up with an innovative approach aimed at taking apart our opponents, Bladen says. Claassen thinks we’ll be seeing more attacking rugby from Erasmus, without neglecting the basics such as line-outs and scrums. “We need to think outside the box – and Erasmus is the right man for that.” What about transformation? It’s possible Erasmus will be expected to choose 50% white players and 50% players of colour for Japan. But Coetzee believes Erasmus’ appointment won’t be conducive to transformation. In a 19-page letter penned shortly before he was axed as coach earlier this year, Coetzee hit out at the appointment of Erasmus as SA’s director of rugby, saying it was “the general view among Saru [South African Rugby Union] ranks that the intention was always to replace [his predecessor] Heyneke Meyer with Rassie, but Saru wanted to avoid any controversy regarding race”. It was shocking, he added, that he’d have been a ceremonial coach if he were to stay on at the Boks this year, and would’ve had to report to Erasmus whom he described as less competent.