Since the Springboks’ world title at the Stade de France last October, there was little doubt that Rassie Erasmus would retain a central role for South Africa. His Federation confirmed this Tuesday that the man who was coach during the 2019 title in Japan, then director of rugby during that of 2023, would extend the adventure until 2027 and the Australian edition.
In the Boks organization chart, Erasmus regains the title of coach, after the departure of Jacques Nienaber to Leinster. A quartet of faithful will continue to surround him, consisting of Mzwandile Stick (attack), Deon Davids (forwards), Andy Edwards (physical preparation) and Daan Human (scrum).
Nienaber and Felix Jones – who joined the staff of the XV de la Rose – gone, the South Africa staff will be reinforced by several arrivals. A New Zealander, Tony Brown, familiar with the international circuit, arrives to supervise the attack. The former All Black with 18 caps has been in charge of this same sector with Japan since 2016.
Erasmus also returned to draw from a breeding ground that is familiar to him: Munster. He who took care of the Irish province just before taking charge of the Boks in 2018, had met Jerry Flannery there. The former Ireland hooker (41 caps) cut his teeth there as a young coach, dabbling in the scrum and then the forwards. Since 2020, he has taken care of the touchline and defense of Harlequins, and it is for this last sector, defense, that he joins the Boks staff.
South Africa will return to competition on July 6 when they host Ireland in Pretoria. In 2024, the world champions will also face Portugal for the first time, in Bloemfontein (July 20), host the All Blacks twice for a repeat of the last World Cup final (August 31 and September 7 in Johannesburg then in Cap), before, in the fall, delivering several tests in Europe, notably against England and Wales.
