Rassie Erasmus has already established himself as one of the greatest – and most popular – coaches to ever lead the Springboks.
Back in 2018 and 2019, Rassie Erasmus famously served as head coach as he masterminded the Springboks’ charge to World Cup glory, while subsequently guiding the side to success in the British & Irish Lions series in 2021.
He then continued to work hand-in-hand with Jacques Nienaber as the team went on to retain the Webb Ellis Cup in historic fashion last year.
Although Erasmus shifted into a role as director of rugby for the previous four years, he remained very much at the helm of the Springboks, and his influence was as instrumental as ever as South Africa became the first team in history to win the Webb Ellis Cup for the fourth time in their history.
With Erasmus resuming duties as head coach until 2027, he oversaw the Springboks recently claiming the Rugby Championship for the first time in a ‘full’ double round format.
During this run to the title, the Springboks recorded a historic fourth consecutive win against the All Blacks for the first time in 75 years, and lifted the Freedom Cup for the first time in 15 years.
There is no doubt that this success has placed Erasmus in a position where numerous clubs and countries would love to secure his services in the future. However, he has made it clear that he would never turn his back on South Africa.
“If you don’t know a culture of a team and their heartbeat, you don’t understand why they are playing and how their fans are,” he told BBC Sport.
“I did consider it once and I loved my time at Munster as it was very Bloemfontein-like. But I wouldn’t know what makes another country tick.”
Springbok ‘genius’ Rassie Erasmus is a one-of-a-kind coach
During his first two years with the ‘head coach’ title, Erasmus only returned a 65% win ratio over 26 Tests, but far greater context is required considering how he successfully rebuilt the team culture, game-plan and selection policies, while leading South Africa back to the summit of the world rugby rankings.
This season, the Springboks’ eight wins out of 10 Tests with Erasmus back as ‘head coach’ has seen his win percentage increase to 69.4% (in 36 Tests), just behind Nick Mallett.
Erasmus said he remains highly motivated by the unique challenge of coaching the Springboks and trying to inspire the nation.
“That pat on the shoulder for winning the World Cup, it’s nice and you enjoy that, but it is more the South Africans. If you see the South African people and the gratitude on people’s faces…” Erasmus explained.
“People talk about hope and that everyone can become a Springbok – that’s nonsense. There have only been 900 Springboks in the history of the game.
“But I think it is the working together of South Africans. It doesn’t matter what you are – if you are Christian, Muslim, Black, English, Afrikaans, Xhosa, Zulu.
“If you use the best of everybody, that’s what gives me a kick. It gives me a kick when people see what can be done. And the players are understanding that.
“It comes with a hell of a lot of pressure, but I would rather lose and keep on fixing it and [trying to] evolve.”
Who do you think the 51-year-old is already the greatest Bok coach of all time?
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