Rassie Erasmus

Rassie Erasmus has insisted his latest tweets highlighting decisions going against the Springboks are not a fresh attack on referees. Photo: Sydney Mahlangu/ BackpagePix

RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP: Rassie will tour with Boks

Director of rugby Rassie Erasmus is set to be on hand as part of the Boks’ management group for their Rugby Championship tour.

Rassie Erasmus

Rassie Erasmus has insisted his latest tweets highlighting decisions going against the Springboks are not a fresh attack on referees. Photo: Sydney Mahlangu/ BackpagePix

The Springboks will head off to Australia this week as they move on to a crucial Rugby Championship tour. A 34-man squad has been revealed a few days ago, while it’s also understood that director of rugby Rassie Eramus will also travel with the team.

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According to Rapport, Erasmus is flying with the team to Australia, and he will be sure to play an important role in the lead-up to the upcoming Test matches.

Rassie was able to resume most Springbok job-related activities from mid-January, but will only be able to be involved on match-days from October onwards.

Earlier this year, he completed the first part of the suspension that prevented his involvement from all rugby activity after his infamous 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.

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Recently, he took to Twitter to share how much he misses the first-hand experience of the national anthem and the overall matchday experience, although he is able to be part of the Boks’ planning and preparation both before and after Test matches.

RASSIE HAS PREVIOUSLY SHARED WHAT A TOLL THE BACKLASH TO THE VIDEO HAD ON HIM AND HIS FAMILY

The widely-circulated Rassie Erasmus video about the officials last year led to one of the biggest controversies the game has seen, while in an exclusive interview with the Daily Mail, he spoke openly about the pain it caused.

“I want people to know that I’m not this monster that I’ve been portrayed as,” Rassie said in an interview with highly-regarded England-based writer Nik Simon.

“Did you know my sister lives in Reading? She’s a social worker for the NHS. Fully invested in the English life. She loves the Royal Family, sings God Save the Queen and would stand outside clapping for the old guy, Sir Tom, who walked up and down his garden 100 times during the lockdown.

“After what happened during the Lions tour, it felt like her family in the UK were the only people outside of South Africa who didn’t hate me. How do you think that makes you feel? It feels awful, man….

“Listen, I have never been a suit-and-tie guy who claims to be a saint. I have never said I will be a life coach. I have never had slogans like ‘better people make better rugby players’. I have never said I’m the world’s greatest father. Yeah, I’ve always been a bit naughty and enjoyed a giggle but I’ve always been an honest guy.

“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? I’ve got twin girls, 18 years old, who are at school and they hear other parents telling them how their dad had f***** it all up. 

“My mum is at an old-age home and they’re showing her articles saying, ‘Rassie’s lost it, he’s got depression, he’s drunk’. They think those things because they are indoctrinated that I leaked that video. I want to tell the world that, swearing on my youngest child’s life, I did not leak that video. 

“Many people have already made up their mind. How do you change people’s perception when World Rugby have found me guilty and banned me for 12 months? I don’t want people to feel sorry for me. I just want them to know what really happened.”

The Boks have unveiled a 34-man squad for the Australian leg of the Rugby Championship, with the uncapped Canan Moodie earning a call-up for his first tour in a settled national squad.

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Moodie, who was called up to the squad as utility back cover following the suspension handed to wing Kurt-Lee Arendse for a dangerous tackle, is the only uncapped player in the group and will travel with the Springboks for the first time, providing cover at wing and fullback.

His presence also fills the void left by Cheslin Kolbe, who is on the road to recovery from a broken jaw, which will see him only return for the last Test against Argentina.

With Bongi Mbonambi (hooker) ruled out for four weeks after suffering a knee injury at training last week, Deon Fourie will serve as back-up to Malcolm Marx and Joseph Dweba, while Damian Willemse’s versatility in the backline will see provide cover at flyhalf, centre and fullback.

Notably, Stormers star Evan Roos has not been included in the touring group, while Cobus Reinach has recovered from injury and will add another option at scrumhalf.

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BOKS TOURING SQUAD:

Props

Steven Kitshoff (DHL Stormers)

Vincent Koch (Wasps)

Frans Malherbe (DHL Stormers)

Ox Nche (Cell C Sharks)

Trevor Nyakane (Racing 92)

Hookers

Joseph Dweba (DHL Stormers)

Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears)

Locks

Eben Etzebeth (Cell C Sharks)

Lood de Jager (Wild Knights)

Salmaan Moerat (DHL Stormers)

Loose forwards

Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz)

Siya Kolisi (Cell C Sharks)

Elrigh Louw (Vodacom Bulls)

Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs)

Jasper Wiese (Leicester Tigers)

Duane Vermeulen (Ulster)

Utility forwards

Deon Fourie (DHL Stormers)

Franco Mostert (Honda Heat)

Scrumhalves

Faf de Klerk (Canon Eagles)

Jaden Hendrikse (Cell C Sharks)

Herschel Jantjies (DHL Stormers)

Cobus Reinach (Montpellier)

Flyhalves

Elton Jantjies (NTT Docomo Red Hurricanes)

Handre Pollard (Leicester Tigers)

Midfielders

Lukhanyo Am (Cell C Sharks)

Damian de Allende (Wild Knights)

Andre Esterhuizen (Harlequins)

Outside backs

Makazole Mapimpi (Cell C Sharks)

Willie le Roux (Toyota Verblitz)

Canan Moodie (Vodacom Bulls)

Warrick Gelant (Racing 92)

Utility Backs

Damian Willemse (DHL Stormers)

Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles)

Frans Steyn (Toyota Cheetahs)