Rassie Erasmus, a rugby visionary often met with criticism for pushing boundaries, stands on the cusp of orchestrating consecutive World Cup victories for South Africa through his tactical ingenuity and exceptional understanding of the game.
The Springboks are set to face their old rivals, New Zealand, in the final in Paris this Saturday. While his long-time friend and colleague, Jacques Nienaber, serves as the head coach, Erasmus’ influence is unmistakably woven throughout this campaign.
Revered in South Africa as a tactical genius who has unified a racially diverse team into the world’s top-ranked side, Erasmus is sometimes regarded with skepticism outside the country due to his audacious demeanor and, at times, provocative use of social media.
There is a prevailing view, especially in the northern hemisphere, of how rugby should be played, but Erasmus’ Springboks defy conformity to that standard. After their World Cup victory in 2019, they were criticized for playing “boring” rugby. Former England coach Clive Woodward even stated that if other teams emulated their style, the sport would be “dead within five years.”
However, since then, many teams have adopted elements of their game, including England, who emulated the Springbok playbook during their journey to the semi-finals this year, nearly upsetting South Africa in Paris just recently.
Former Springbok assistant coach Matt Proudfoot explained Erasmus’s approach, saying, “Where Rassie is very skilled is in identifying the root of the problem and determining what needs fixing. He is driven by this process, constantly seeking that edge. Rassie possesses a unique ability to identify the core of the matter, the one thing that will make a difference.”
Erasmus tends to irk traditionalists, but he consistently operates within the bounds of the laws. However, outside South Africa, he may be best remembered for his video critique of Australian referee Nic Berry, which became public following a first-test loss to the British & Irish Lions in 2021, a series the Springboks eventually won 2-1.
This incident revealed another facet of Erasmus, the combative spirit who refuses to fade quietly into the background. He is willing to do what he believes is right for the team, even if, in this instance, it led to a 12-month match-day ban.
Reflecting on the video critique, Erasmus said, “It was very painful, but I still believe the video was one of the best things I could do for the Springboks at that time. It was never intended for public release, but the words in the video implored officials to take us seriously before the second Test.”
Erasmus clarified, “I wasn’t guilty of distributing the video. I was found guilty of not preventing the video from entering the public domain. The purpose was never to embarrass anybody.”
