The Springboks were a shambles in September 2017. Seven years later they’re back-to-back Rugby World Cup kings and Rassie Erasmus has been a mainstay.
RASSIE ERASMUS IS THE GREATEST COACH IN HISTORY
It’s crazy to observe how much value Rassie Erasmus adds as a head coach or Head of Rugby. We all know about his infamous ability to get into the heads of opponents. It’s so legendary that the Springboks even made a song about it, to the tune of The Cranberries’ song “Zombie” which they serenaded him with after their epic Rugby World Cup triumph in Paris. It wasn’t always going to be this way though. In September 2017, South Africa was mauled 57-0 by New Zealand on one of their darkest days. Just two years later they pulverised England into submission with a scoreline of 32-12 in the World Cup final in Yokohama. This team was moulded in Rassie’s image and they are a formidable group of human beings. The scale of this achievement can’t be put into words. What a team of men.
HIS PSYCHOLOGICAL EDGE IS THE SEPARATOR
Rassie Erasmus is an expert in opposition analysis, psychological mind games and precise man-management. He has no issue getting under the skin of the Springboks’ adversaries, but more crucially, he’s a consummate professional on a human level, taking an interest in the lives of his players and their families. He makes everyone feel included, special and valuable. That is a gift. Always innovating and improving, the 51-year-old had seemingly clocked the game of rugby but he’s got one more massive destiny to fulfil.
A new Springboks chapter beckons for the great man
With Jacques Nienaber embarking on his Leinster journey (there are some conspiracy theories about that too, but we won’t go into that now), Rassie is back at the helm until 2027. The mastermind of epic 2019 and 2023 successes is desperate to make it a three-peat. If he pulls that off, it will only cement his status in the pantheon of great rugby minds. He might just stand alone in his own category.
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