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'It is not our role to have input on selection or gameplan' - Erasmus explains Super Rugby duties
By Ben Spratt
South Africa director of rugby Rassie Erasmus and his backroom staff will be made available to assist the country's Super Rugby teams in the 2019 season.
SA Rugby announced on Tuesday that Erasmus, assistant coaches Matt Proudfoot, Mzwandile Stick and Jacques Nienaber and head of athletic performance Aled Walters can be utilised by the nation's franchises.
The Bulls, the Lions, the Sharks and the Stormers can invite the coaches to join them, with Erasmus believing this will assist South Africa ahead of the 2019 Rugby World Cup.
Erasmus will join the Bulls for pre-season and said: "We will assist in generic areas, such as skills and conditioning, mauling, scrumming and line-outs.
"It will also give the national coaches a chance to discuss individual players with the franchise coaches and work on specific areas for specific individuals.
"But it is not our role to have input on selection or gameplan - that can only be determined by the franchise head coach.
"We believe this is an approach that can work for South African rugby in its broadest sense at the start of a very important Rugby World Cup year."
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The Bulls also finally confirmed their new Super Rugby head coach to replace John Mitchell, who left to take a defence coach role with England alongside Eddie Jones.
Former Springboks lock Victor Matfield had been heavily linked to the role, but it’s believed he turned down the chance, forcing the Bulls to look elsewhere.
Southern Kings coach Deon Davids was also rumoured to be a contender, but instead they’ve chosen Pote Human, who led the Bulls during this years Currie Cup.
He will step up for the new 2019 Super Rugby season, looking to improve their disappointing 12th-placed finish, with only the Reds, Blues and Sunwolves below them.
Watch: Bulls coaching announcement
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Latest Comments
The New Zealand performance in the return fixture in 2016 was filthy. A lot of Irish supporters were pretty shocked by it, viewed it as de facto cheating just to avoid another defeat.
Also shocked by the abuse to Ireland, captain, vice-captain and spectators after the full time whistle in Paris defeat, last match.
Sledging is sledging, but that happens during the game and targetting spectators should be completely out of bounds.
The Irish public used to enjoy these matches, even in defeat. Now they are necessary but unpleasant, because NZ apparently cannot accept or respect successful challengers.
Go to commentsThanks for the analysis Nick, thought provoking as usual. Couple of queries though, in the pic where you've circled Williams bind , I'm pretty sure it shows Stuart's knee on the ground, surely that's a NZ penalty? Also having had the chance to watch it again the All Black scrum seeems to improve after halftime, but before either England or the All Blacks replace their props. Not sure if that was the result of Tuipolutu coming on or some halftime tips. Either way this is only Williams second international season, so he'll be better for the experience.
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