South African Director of Rugby Rassie Erasmus. Photo: @Springboks/Twitter
Kolisi, Boks excited to welcome Rassie back
Siya Kolisi says it will be ‘special’ to have Rassie Erasmus back at the Boks’ match-day venue in Dublin on Saturday night.
South African Director of Rugby Rassie Erasmus. Photo: @Springboks/Twitter
It certainly shouldn’t go unnoticed that Rassie Erasmus will be making a long-awaited return to Bok ‘match-day activities’ against Ireland. At the end of September, the South African director of rugby officially came to the end of his infamous World Rugby ban, and headed straight to DHL Stadium to watch the Stormers take on Edinburgh.
It was a significant moment after finally serving out the portion of World Rugby’s suspension from ‘match-day activities’ in relation to the punishment for his 62-minute video in which he criticised the governing body’s match officials – in particular Australian referee Nic Berry – after the first British & Irish Lions series Test in July 2021.
ALSO READ | TWITTER REACTION: FANS BRACE FOR BOKS V IRELAND JERSEY CLASH
Erasmus was able to resume most Springbok job-related activities from the beginning of this year, but has only recently been able to return to any match-day venues.
It was around this time last year that World Rugby found Erasmus guilty of six charges of misconduct, and made it public just 72 hours before the Springboks faced England at Twickenham on 20 November.
The last Springbok match he had been able to attend at the stadium was the clash against Scotland on 13 November 2021.
Bok captain Siya Kolisi said it would be great to have Erasmus back.
“It’s really good to have someone like him who has played the game, who can not only advise you in rugby, but also in life as well. He can see when we are going the wrong way and put us on the right path again. He is somebody who will back you when everybody is against you.
“He sees stuff on the field that we don’t see. It’s important to get those messages immediately, but when he wasn’t with us, it was difficult. For me, he is more of a people’s person. He knows how to read the room.
“He knows when we are going off-course or if we are moaning for nothing. He is direct with us as a group and we like that. That experience is going to help us, because it gives us some security, to know that we have an extra eye if we have missed anything. It allows the other coaches to focus on what they have to do.
“He does far more for us as a group. He knows when players are going through something and gives you comfort when you are going through the toughest of times. We are excited to have him back. It’s always been special having him around.”
Erasmus has also explained his role as he will now be able to be present in-person as South Africa take on Ireland.
“I will now be back in the coaches’ box on Saturday with the coaches,” Erasmus confirmed. “I love rugby and I love match-days. I like being with the guys in the change room. I missed that a lot.
“It’s not nice to be with the guys during training in the week and then on match day the bus leaves with the players, but you have to go back to your room. It’s nice to be back!”
It’s certainly a significant factor as Erasmus will be able to add immense value with his input during the team’s warm-ups, in the changeroom before kick off and at half-time, while he will also be able to share insights in the coaches box during the game if he so chooses.
Soon after Rassie served out the entirety of his ban earlier this year, he memorably took to Twitter with another vintage video showing him dancing to famous Eminem song “Guess Who’s Back”.
ALSO READ | RASSIE ‘CELEBRATES’ BAN ENDING WITH TIMELY TWEET
You can watch the video below, which quickly racked up the likes, retweets and comments.
OPINION: MASSIVE BOK TOUR AWAITS DAMIAN WILLEMSE AT 10
Notably, Erasmus – who had been largely silenced by World Rugby – responded to a post on the 1st of October that highlighted some of the contradictions about the punishment he served.
With the matter now considered close from both parties, you can recap on the convoluted timeline of events that evolved into one of the biggest officiating controversies the game has seen.
READ | WORLD RUGBY TO REVIEW ROLE OF ‘WATER CARRIERS’
Timeline to recap how Rassie Erasmus case unfolded:
Thursday, 22 July 2021 – World Rugby appoints Marius Jonker as TMO for the Test series after Brendon Pickerill is forced to withdraw because of Covid-19 disruption.
Friday, 23 July – One day before the first Test, reports emerge simultaneously in all major British & Irish news outlets that Gatland is ‘furious’ about Jonker’s appointment.
Saturday, 24 July – First Test. A number of controversial refereeing decisions and inconsistencies go against the Springboks. Siya Kolisi later admits he felt disrespected by referee Nic Berry.
Sunday, 25 July – Springbok management attempt to contact World Rugby and Nic Berry for clarity. WR doesn’t respond, while Erasmus later states that Nic Berry was “asleep” at the time he tried to get hold of him the Sunday after the first Test.
Monday, 26 July – The new training week starts for the Springboks but World Rugby has yet to provide any feedback from Saturday’s game.
Tuesday, 27 July – With only three on-field training sessions remaining before the second Test, World Rugby provides its feedback from the first Test. Erasmus makes the now infamous video in response to what he deemed to be insufficient clarity.
Thursday, 29 July – Rassie Erasmus’ video to World Rugby is leaked online.
Saturday, 31 July – Second Test. The Springboks bounce back with a convincing victory in an ill-spirited affair with plenty of off-the-ball incidents.
Monday, 2 August – World Rugby confirms that both Erasmus and SA Rugby will face a disciplinary hearing as a result of the leaked video.
Saturday, 7 August – Third Test. Springboks seal the series with a 19-16 victory in the final Test.
Tuesday, 24 August – Erasmus’ disciplinary hearing commences. His lawyers maintain that he did not leak the video.
Thursday, 26 August – Springboks release a media statement saying that Erasmus would not be travelling with the side to Australia for the Rugby Championship to allow the players to remain focused.
Saturday, 6 November – With the case dragging on, Erasmus appears in the coaches box as the Boks fight back to claim a win over Wales in the opening game of the end-of-year tour.
Saturday, 13 November – Rassie returns to his role as a water carrier for the game against Scotland, with some criticising him for his sideline ‘coaching’.
Wednesday, 17 November – Erasmus receives a double suspension from World Rugby, with SA Rugby stating they will appeal the verdict.
Thursday, 25 November – SA Rugby and Erasmus withdraw their appeal, and apologise publicly to the officials. The matter is considered closed.
Saturday, 1 January 2022 – Erasmus takes to Twitter once again to reiterate that it’s time to “forget 2019 and focus 100% on 2023”.
Saturday, 15 January 2022 – Erasmus’ 60-day ban officially draws to a close, opening the door for him to resume the majority of his duties from Monday, 17 January.
Sunday, 6 March 2022 – In an exclusive interview with the Daily Mail, Erasmus reveals that he was left ‘crying in his room’ after his controversial officiating video was ‘leaked’. “I want people to know that I’m not this monster that I’ve been portrayed as,” he commented. “People think I leaked that video. I didn’t. Who leaks something like that? Why would I screw up my whole career to do that?”
Saturday, 9 March 2022 – Former Scotland coach Matt Williams comes out in support of Erasmus, stating his belief that the South African director of rugby would never have deliberately leaked his infamous referee video.
Tuesday, 17 May 2022 – World Rugby confirm protocols and behaviours relating to team support staff, including water carriers, will be revised. Erasmus first drew plenty of attention when he served as a ‘water boy’ during the British & Irish Lions series, but he was seen as the ‘scapegoat’ after World Rugby opted to limit such influence.
Sunday, 24 July 2022 – Rassie shares what he has struggled with the most as a result of the suspension handed down by World Rugby. Taking to Twitter, he explained how much he missed the first-hand experience of the national anthem and the overall matchday experience.
Friday, 30 September 2022 – The extensive ban officially came to an end, with Erasmus able to resume all activities as the Boks’ end-of-year tour to the UK looms on the horizon.
READ | FULL 80-PAGE RASSIE ERASMUS MISCONDUCT HEARING VERDICT
ALSO READ | KOLBE COULD BE SEEN AT FLYHALF FOR BOKS
