Rassie Erasmus insists that the Springboks aren’t out to make enemies, however that the world champions method each opponent and Check fired as much as “defend South Africa”.
Quoted in an article by UK newspaper The Guardian, the double World Cup-winning coach is on a mission to alter international perceptions of the Boks, whereas sustaining the bodily edge that has made them one of many world’s most profitable rugby nations.
The 52-year-old Erasmus, who guided South Africa to World Cup glory in 2019 and 2023, believes his staff is commonly misunderstood past their borders, regardless of their unprecedented success.
“It has been years, from the Bakkies Botha period, that we’re bullies who don’t actually care what individuals assume,” he mentioned. “However we do. I care what individuals take into consideration the gamers as a result of they’re excellent guys.”
The Boks’ current achievements are outstanding: back-to-back World Cups, a British & Irish Lions collection victory in 2021, and their first Rugby Championship title since 2019. But Erasmus feels the staff’s picture wants refinement.
MORE: Mapimpi emptying his Bok tank
“If anyone doesn’t agree with one thing you might be doing, you do hearken to it and it doesn’t upset you however you assume: ‘Sh**, so long as South Africans are completely satisfied,’” he defined. “However you don’t wish to make different individuals sad. You don’t need individuals to not assume you might be cussed. You don’t need individuals to assume you might be smug, particularly if you understand the characters within the staff.”
Erasmus acknowledges the staff’s use of exterior criticism as motivation however emphasises this shouldn’t be misinterpreted as hostility.
“It is going to at all times be private,” he mentioned. “A rugby match will at all times be private for us. Why it’s private is as a result of we’re representing South Africa. If anyone needs to problem South Africa in a rugby match, it’s our job to guard South Africa in that sense.”
The previous Bok free ahead is especially eager to deal with misconceptions about their bodily method: “When it turns into private, the match, the person problem, our guys thrive. I don’t need this to sound like we wish to make each facet the enemy.
“That’s what we are literally attempting to not do. We play a extremely bodily model, however the gamers are undoubtedly not these guys who simply wish to hate individuals.”
Photograph: Juan Jose Gasparini/Gallo Photographs