He will have the task of doing better than Jacques Nienaber, winning the World Cup twice in a row. Rassie Erasmus, current director of rugby for the South African team, will take over as coach of the Springboks. The departure of Jacques Nienaber had been known for a long time, despite the World Cup victory won in France against New Zealand in the final (12-11).
“I can confirm that Rassie Erasmus will combine his roles as director of rugby and coach of the Springboks,” said a senior SA Rugby official, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Former third row of the Springboks (36 caps between 1997 and 2001), already keen on statistics and video at the time, Rassie Erasmus formed a tandem with Jacques Nienaber at the head of South African rugby. Appointed director of South African rugby in October 2017, he had already regained the post of coach of the adrift Springboks in March 2018.
It was the beginning of the epic and fame for Erasmus who appointed Siya Kolisi as captain and won the world champion title in 2019 while his team languished in 6th place in the world a year and a half earlier. At that time he left his position to his deputy Nienaber. It is ultimately a fair return of things for Rassie Erasmus, true leader of the selection.
The man is a funny character, unmistakable, communicating on social networks where his messages are always imbued with frankness, an unparalleled genius when it comes to blackboards and figures to talk about. A bit contemptuous too sometimes, as when he blurted out, after the quarter-final victory against France: “The South African federation was so close to obtaining the organization of the 2023 World Cup! This account has been settled. Cool. » Fabien Galthié’s team can already meet at Erasmus in 2027.
