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Rassie Erasmus' Autumn Nations Series hangs in balance this weekend
By Chris Jones
South Africa's director of rugby Rassie Erasmus will this weekend be the subject of a World Rugby misconduct hearing having criticised referee Nic Berry's performance in an online video after July's first Test defeat to the British and Irish Lions
Subject to any verdict from the hearing, Erasmus will be alongside head coach Jacques Nienaber and the rest of the management for the Autumn Nations Cup matches and that will be crucial for the Springboks according to Handre Pollard, their goal kicking outside half.
Pollard helped Montpellier defeat Racing 92 in front of his fellow Springbok squad members who were watching in the stands as they prepare for the European players to join up after this weekend’s domestic fixtures. Erasmus will not be reprising his waterboy role following a change in World Rugby rules and if he avoids any action for his comments,
Pollard said: "Rassie hasn't been as hands on, with the World Rugby court case and all that referee stuff. But it's going to be great to have him back, we really missed him. He's got a funny way of getting the best out of us.”
With regular scrumhalf Faf de Klerk recovering after hip surgery Montpellier’s Cobus Reinach, who scored an amazing solo try against Racing, faces a battle for the Springbok No.9 jersey with Stormers' Herschel Jantjies and Sharks' Grant Williams.
Reinach, Pollard told AFP, had "played an unbelievable game, showing all the X-factor that he's got” against Racing. He added: "We know what we've got in Herschel, we know what we've got with Cobus, and with Grant the new guy coming through. Luckily it's not my decision to make, I'll leave that up to the coach. We're very blessed to have them playing scrumhalf for us.”
South Africa play Wales on 6 November, Scotland a week later before a replay of the 2019 Rugby World Cup final against England on 20 November. "We haven't beaten Wales in a very long time in Cardiff, so it's going to be one of our big objectives," said Pollard. "Scotland are always a difficult side to play. We want three out of three, that would be perfect. I really can't wait to get stuck in.”
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Latest Comments
I was at this match. Jordie Barrett earned his money with a massive hit to slow a connaught attack to win the math when Leinster had 14 in the last few mins. Mack Hansen had a real go at the refereeing after citing a serious head hits on Iaone and Aki.
connaught were up for this. Snyman tried a trademark dirty after, and the onnaught 4 and the onnaught pack absolutely laid into him.
Leinster hose to kick to the corner when only winning by 5 with 10 left and qith only 2 tries scored. onnaught should have punisihed them for that utter stupidity after they broke out and Leinster yellowed to stop the attack.
13 changes from last week. It seems teams are scoring about 10 points less against Leinster this year. With Neinaber in his second year, the new attack coah established, surely they will be a bigger threat in champions up? Or will the attack recgress further.
They must adopt the SA philosophy of take your 3 pointers and the bonus points will come.
connaught back line inluding Iaone, Murphy, Aki, Forde, cordero is the seond best in Ireland surely. Leinster were lucky here
Go to commentsShould have played more for England but he jumped ship just as he was breaking through.
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