Rassie Erasmus and Nick Mallett

Rassie Erasmus and Nick Mallett during friendlier times. Photo: Gallo Images.

Rassie Erasmus to Nick Mallett: Stop talking ‘shit’

Rassie Erasmus reacts heatedly to Nick Mallett for questioning his performance and behaviour as SA Rugby’s director of rugby.

Rassie Erasmus and Nick Mallett

Rassie Erasmus and Nick Mallett during friendlier times. Photo: Gallo Images.

Rassie Erasmus has reacted heatedly to former Springbok coach Nick Mallett for questioning his performance and behaviour as SA Rugby’s director of rugby.

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Mallett was a guest on SuperSport’s popular rugby talkshow, The Final Whistle.

During the show, Mallett addressed Erasmus’ role within SA Rugby as a whole, including but not limited to his under development of referees and disadvantaged black players, touched on Rassie’s direct involvement with the Springboks and commented and gave unsolicited advice on his use of social media.

Erasmus did not take kindly to the discussion and particularly to Mallett’s views and on Saturday morning, he issued a lengthy statement on the matter via the voice note feature on his personally Twitter account.

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HERE’S WHAT RASSIE ERASMUS SAID TO NICK MALLETT:

“I struggle to sleep because I was really upset about your comments last week on the Final Whistle. It is actually just some things you said without any substance behind it,” Erasmus said.

“So Nick, I’m just gonna tell you straight, you don’t know that a rugby director is and what his job is. Obviously, I’m not appointing coaches, I have no authority in appointing coaches.

“The second thing is, I do have a programme running called “The fast tracking of elite black players”, for those who hasn’t had the opportunity in Super Rugby and the United Rugby Championship (URC). We’ve got a sponsor for them and we are proud of that program.

“The thing you guys talk about for 20 minutes of players running sideways, we have EPD systems from U15 where players learn it [running lines]. Some learn it great, some not so great. But I would urge you to go and sit with all the EPD managers, who are running those programmes without any budget,” Rassie Erasmus added in his rant to Mallett.

“Then when you start saying things like I must get the referees right and I must stop tweeting about the Springboks. Firstly, the Springboks are the most important thing and that is my first priority and I will do anything to make sure the Springboks win. So please don’t [try to] stop my there.

“You say I must bring referees through [the development ranks]. We are bringing referees through the ranks, but it has to be accepted by World Rugby. If you can help in any way there, it would be really, really great of you,” Rassie Erasmus continued.

“Nick, I’m not gonna fight with you in any way, I’m just saying between what’s happening on the ground and what you guys are showing and saying on SuperSport, somethere in-between there’s the truth. I would suggest you hang close to that truth because currently you are far away from that truth and you’re missing the ball by quite a distance.

“You know me well. I love you and I thought you were a guy with big inbors [quality]. But unfortunately my man, I will have to rectify you and send you some stats to get this [the truth] out there because you can’t talk this shit with the people.”

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Listen to Rassie Eramsus’ rant below:

Nick Mallett and Rassie Erasmus fighting
Nick Mallett and Rassie Erasmus.