'He sounded like he had about 25 bottles of wine responsibly…'

Rugby Pod co-hosts Jim Hamilton and Andy Goode have reacted with delight over the voice note they were recently sent on social media by Rassie Erasmus, the currently banned Springboks director of rugby. The 2019 World Cup-winning coach was suspended on November 17 from all rugby activity for two months following his criticism of the first Test referee in the July 2021 defeat to the Lions. 

Erasmus has been passing his time away from the Springboks and rugby by posting a series of videos on his social media about his dog Frank and it resulted in the South African winning the award for best social media in The Rugby Pod’s review of 2021. The award was followed by Erasmus recording an unprompted acceptance speech and posting it to his Twitter feed. 

His comments were well received by Hamilton, the ex-Scotland lock, and Goode, the former England international, who kicked off this week’s show by giving their thoughts on Erasmus and what he had to say in his voice note.   

“Absolutely loved it,” chimed Hamilton about the unexpected message from Springboks director Erasmus. “He mentioned my name, mentioned the pod, he couldn’t work out whether we were taking the p*** or not. Lovely little thumbnail as well. His digital creative nous as well as being one of the best coaches in the world and the fact that he sounded like he had about 25 bottles of wine responsibly made my week.”

“He is in some sort of media lockdown yet he is still out on a limb, posting him and his dog and all that stuff,” enthused Goode. “A serious media interview in the sphere that we live in, he is blanketing everything at the minute. He is not doing it but he has said he will come on at some point.”

In the one-minute, 49-second voice note posted to the backdrop of the South African flag, Erasmus explained that he and dog Frank wanted to wish the pair a Happy New Year for 2022. “It’s Rassie here. I just want to thank you. I am not sure if you are chugging my chain or if you are being serious, but it doesn’t really matter. I just wanted to thank you for the award, for having some fun with me, with my dog and so on. Both of you are trying hard to get me onto your podcast. Unfortunately, I can’t do it right now...

“But it is good to see you guys bring some humour into it. I like the way you conduct yourselves and the way you talk when you have your interviews. I wasn’t sure if you were pulling my chain or having a bit of fun with me… it’s a world where we should just say what we feel and without being afraid and nervous. I am delighted to see you guys doing it and having some fun. A big shout out to you guys. I appreciate it a lot.” 

On replaying the recording on their show, Goode added: “He listens to the pod. He likes the fact that we are able to say what we want and we are honest and we have a bit of fun with it. That is how he wants to be but actually, there is a load of constraints on the top coaches on what they can and can’t do. 

“He is having a bit of fun at the minute within the freedom of his ban. He is not in the mainstream media, he is just doing it on social media, basically having a laugh, taking the p*** and it is fun to see.”