Rassie Erasmus. (Photo by Clement Mahoudeau/Gallo Images)
- Springbok manager Jacques Nienaber explained Rassie Erasmus’s role within the Bok camp as he is prohibited from performing match day duties.
- Erasmus was suspended by World Rugby last week on Thursday for his tweets highlighting refereeing inconsistencies in the Boks’ losses against Ireland and France.
- Nienaber said he’s happy with the team’s growth, but feels they need a little more consistency.
In London
Springbok manager Jacques Nienaber said SA Rugby director of rugby Rassie Erasmus’ matchday roles and responsibilities have been delegated to the rest of the coaching staff since his two-match suspension last week.
Erasmo, who coached the Boks to the 2019 Rugby World Cup title, was awarded the World Rugby book for his tweets highlighting refereeing inconsistencies in their two tour losses to Ireland in Dublin on 5 November and France one week later in Marseille.
Erasmus remains with the Boks and attended Monday’s training session at the Lensbury Resort in Teddington ahead of their test against England at Twickenham on Saturday.
Erasmus was banned from media duties and on match day for the upcoming Test and missed last week’s Test against Italy in Genoa.
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Nienaber said they had long adjusted to doing things without Erasmus in training, something they adjusted to when Erasmus was first suspended over leaked video of Nic Berry stemming from his refereeing in the first British & Irish Test. Lions from last year.
“During the week, it’s normal and he can be with us,” Nienaber said.
“The roles and responsibilities that he fulfilled on game day have been absorbed into us on the coaching staff.
“We did that for a year.”
gazelle team:
15 Willie le Roux, 14 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Damian Willemse, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Franco Mostert, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ox Nche
Substitutes: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Steven Kitshoff, 18 Thomas du Toit, 19 Marco van Staden, 20 Kwagga Smith, 21 Jaden Hendrikse, 22 Manie Libbok, 23 Canan Moodie
The Springboks head into Saturday’s test thanks to a comprehensive 63-21 thrashing of Italy in Genoa last week.
The Springboks will enter their 45th game against England in a space where they are still adding and subtracting from their rugby equation, but also have much more clarity on how they want to approach the game.
Nienaber said the growth on his team was welcome, but they need to add consistency to their arc.
The Boks have only won three consecutive Tests once this year and lost two consecutive games twice.
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“There’s probably some growth that needs to take place throughout,” Nienaber said.
“We are building very well, but we need consistency and that is probably the most important thing we need to develop.”
“We have to be more consistent.”
The test on Saturday begins at 19:30 (SA time).
