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‘We’ll be stupid if we don’t’: Rassie Erasmus on respecting All Blacks
By Finn Morton
Springboks head coach Rassie Erasmus has heaped praise upon his All Blacks counterpart Scott Robertson ahead of this weekend’s clash at Ellis Park. The pair played Test rugby against each other in their playing days and will now do the same as coaches.
What Erasmus has achieved as a coach with the Springboks is nothing short of legendary. South Africa had won the last two Rugby World Cups, including last year’s triumph with ‘Rassie’ as the Director of Rugby, and they’re now the favourites to win The Rugby Championship.
But an All Blacks outfit with a new-look coaching staff will have a thing or two to say about the Springboks’ favouritism when the two traditional rugby rivals go head-to-head this weekend for the first time since last year’s Rugby World Cup Final.
New Zealand have started their new era under head coach Scott Robertson with four wins from five starts, with a shock 38-30 loss to Argentina in Wellington a blip on their record. But, it must be said their wins over England in July weren’t all that convincing.
‘Razor’ Robertson and the All Blacks will be eager to step up to another level this weekend against the world champions. The Springboks are aware of the challenge that awaits, with Erasmus insisting their rivals have “too much class” around the park.
“We’ll be stupid if we don’t respect them. We’ll be bad coaches, we’ll be stupid players, we’ll be an arrogant nation, we’ll be put back in our place,” Erasmus told reporters at the team’s hotel in Johannesburg on Tuesday.
“It’s a team that beat England at home. It’s a team that lost to Argentina – we’ve lost to Argentina… we beat them by only one point in the World Cup.
“I just think people must understand, although Razor is a fantastic coach and even might be the best coach in the world, and New Zealand is a rugby-mad country – if you lose Richie Mo’unga all of a sudden the core of the Crusaders players isn’t there.
“And you’ve got a few injuries and you’re trying this guy at 10 and you’ve got a captain out for the first two Test matches and you strike Argentina on the wrong day… that doesn’t make Razor a bad coach.
“We saw what happened the next week (in Auckland) and now this weekend they’re here.
“He would know this stadium really well… so no, they’ve got too much class all around, too good a coaching system and too good a structure in New Zealand not to get it right somewhere.”
The All Blacks have won three of their last four Tests against the Springboks at Ellis Park but the hosts will be full of confidence after their recent successes. South Africa handed New Zealand a record loss at Twickenham before last year’s World Cup in France.
These two international rugby heavyweights traded blows again with the sport’s ultimate prize up for grabs. Captain Sam Cane was sent off during the first-half, and while the Kiwis fought valiantly in Saint-Denis, they couldn’t prevent the Boks from retaining the Webb Ellis Cup.
This is a rivalry almost unlike any other. These two teams have massive respect for one another off the park but when they run out onto the field at Ellis Park this Saturday, the Springboks and All Blacks will brace themselves for war.
“We’ve played the last 10 times against them; one draw, four losses and five wins for us, the last 10 times and it’s been two points, four points, one point,” Erasmus said. “It’s going to be really, really tight.”
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Latest Comments
Well I didnt see Aus bossing the Wales team around in the forwards let alone SA or Arg. Ill bet NZ dominates the scrums.
Go to commentsOkay, fair points in here. Agree Razor isn't transparent. How quickly the climate changes from one regime to another. I'm sorry but when I refer to "human values" I'm alluding to Razor prancing around like a peacock at the 2023 RWC, knowing he had had the job but going there to smirk while Fozz went about his business. What need was there of that when Razor had already got the nod?
Besides, that's why caring employers don't put their employees through that spin-dry cycle following redundancy, although Fozz would have relished the opportunity to ride the waves to redemption. He had come within a whisker. I'm guessing Fozz's contract wouldn't have allowed him to terminate employment, glory of RWC aside. Now, I'm not saying fora second that Fozz was a fine head coach because he had erred like Razor is with selections across the board.
The captaincy debacle is just that, so agree with that. More significantly for me, Barrett has the unenviable record of collecting two red cards in test rugger — the most anyone has. His 2nd test against the Boks was questionable, considering the lock hadn't carried the ball until after the 60th minute. In both Boks affairs, he was hardly visible as a leader.
DMac is a Hobson's choice. You can have a "unique" kicking game but if the others are not on the same page, is it worth anything? Player, selection, and/or head coaching issue? For me it's all 3. I've not religiously watched Super Rugby Pacific matches but I did see how the Fijian Drua had homed in on DMac at The Tron. He was rattled and even started complaining to the ref. That's where we part ways with "aggression". All pooches are ferocious behind their owner's fenced property. DMac enjoys that when he has the comfort of protection from the engine room. The pooch is only tested when it wanders outside the confines of the yard on to the street to face other mongrels. Boks were going to be the litmus test, although no home fan saw the Pumas coming. At best, a bench-minutes player.
Leon MacDonald. Well, besides debating the merits of his prowess as "attacking guru", it doesn't override one simple fact — Razor chose his stable of support coaches. Its starts and ends there. If MacD didn't slot into the equation, Razor is accountable.
Why appoint a specialist when you're not going to listen to him, especially if you have an engine-room background? Having fired him, Razor looks even more clueless now than ever with his backline, never mind attacking. Which raises the pertinent question? Which of his other favoured coaches have assumed the mantle of backline/attacking coach? (Hansen/Ellison?) If so, why is Razor not dangling them over burning coals?
"His [MacD's] way might be great for some team, maybe in another country, and with the right people." Intriguing because he has led his team in his own country's premier competition to victory against a number of franchise players who are in the ABs squad that had failed to make the cut after a rash of losses and Razor's "home". You see, it's such anomalies that make the prudent question the process. All it does is make Razor look just like another member of the old boys' network. Appreciate the engagement.
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