Rassie Erasmus. Photo: ©BackpagePix
Rassie Erasmus takes to Twitter: ‘We understand the deserved negativity’
SA Rugby director of rugby Rassie Erasmus has taken to social media to confirm that he understands the “negativity” that has been dished out at the Springboks.
Rassie Erasmus. Photo: ©BackpagePix
SA Rugby director of rugby Rassie Erasmus has taken to social media to confirm that he understands the “negativity” that has been dished out at the Springboks.
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The world champions have lost their last three matches in the 2021 Rugby Championship – two against the Wallabies and one against the All Blacks – and have come under fire from supporters in recent weeks.
At the centre of the criticism has been the Springboks’ new game-plan of seemingly to kick away possession at every opportunity.
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In last weekend’s Test against the All Blacks in Townsville, the Springboks kicked a massive 38 times compared to New Zealand’s 18.
Scrumhalf Faf de Klerk and flyhalf Handre Pollard were the main ‘culprits’.
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Head’s up to all fans, the Springbok camp confirmed that they had no intention of changing their style of play in this weekend’s second clash against the All Blacks in Gold Coast.
Taking to Twitter on Tuesday evening, Rassie Erasmus posted the following message: “When we were winning with 2 or 3 points we were not complaining about the credit and positive comments we received, so please be sure that we understand, agree and wont complain when we get the deserved negativity when we lose with a few points.”.
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The Springboks didn’t play a single Test for exactly 20 months after winning the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan.
They returned to action in a home Test against Georgia before going on to beat the British & Irish Lions 2-1 in their three-match series.
The Springboks then beat Argentina in back-to-back Tests in South Africa, but have come unstuck in their first three matches away from home.
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Rassie Erasmus has had an ‘interesting’ 2021 to say the least.
He performed water boy duties for the Springboks earlier this season and then released an extraordinary video highlighting – in his opinion – errors (among other things) made by match officials in the Springboks’ opening British & Irish Lions Test which they lost.
World Rugby predictably didn’t take kindly to his actions and Erasmus is still awaiting a date for his disciplinary hearing.
Erasmus did not travel to Australia for the Springboks’ Tests against the Wallabies and All Blacks.
Kick-off on Saturday is at 12:05 SA time.
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