Rassie speaks about possibility of coaching another Test nation

10/31/2024 08:51 AM

Rassie Erasmus has revealed he considered coaching at Test level in a different country, but ultimately decided against any such move because he’d unable to understand the culture of the team.

Erasmus is arguably the single greatest figure in the history of Springbok rugby, having played 36 Tests for his country before leading the nation Test team to two consecutive Rugby World Cup titles in 2019 and 2023.

Erasmus is currently stationed in Jersey with the Springboks in preparation for their three-Test tour of the UK, which will see South Africa take on Scotland at Murrayfield, England at Twickenham and Wales at the Millennium Stadium.

WILL HE OR WON’T HE COACH OVERSEAS?

Speaking to BBC Sport's Rugby Union Weekly podcast, Rassie Erasmus opened up about how he contemplated taking up potentially coaching another nation’s Test team, but revealed how he ultimately admitted to himself that it won’t work because he wouldn’t understand how foreigners think and operate in the same way as he understands South Africans.

"If you don't know a culture of a team and their heartbeat, you don't understand why they are playing and how their fans are," Rassie told BBC Sport. "I did consider it once and I loved my time at Munster as it was very Bloemfontein-like. But I wouldn't know what makes another country tick.

"That pat on the shoulder for winning the World Cup, it's nice and you enjoy that, but it is more the South Africans. If you see the South African people and the gratitude on people's faces…" Rassie added.

"I love it when they give commentary. When they criticise, it is because they are interested. They have got a point and I really listen to them. The people will get upset with me. And that's the thing I love about South Africans."

"It doesn't matter what you are – if you are Christian, Muslim, Black, English, Afrikaans, Xhosa, Zulu. If you use the best of everybody, that's what gives me a kick," Rassie concluded.

WHAT TO DO THINK OF RASSIE ERASMUS’ DECISION?

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