SA Rugby director of rugby Rassie Erasmus. Photo: Getty Images.
Twitter reaction to Rassie ban: ‘The dude is out of control’
There were varying responses from Twitter users following news that World Rugby has suspended Rassie Erasmus again.
SA Rugby director of rugby Rassie Erasmus. Photo: Getty Images.
There were varying responses from Twitter users following the news that World Rugby has suspended Rassie Erasmus as a result of recent social media posts.
Rassie has been talk of the town, so speak, after he posted a series of tweets seemingly highlighting inconsistent refereeing decisions by Barnes in the highly-charged encounter between the Springboks and France in Marseille.
The SA Rugby director of rugby has been on the receiving end of widespread criticism and is being branded a sore loser, for what people say is a degrading attack on referees.
Rassie has vehemently denied that his tweets are directed at referees, saying it is shared solely for the benefit of South African people and anyone else who has a problem with his posts should either block, mute or unfollow him.
World Rugby have been notably silent on the matter, but on Thursday the organisation issued a statement confirming a two-match ban imposed on Rassie.
“”He [Rassie] may not take part in any match day activity in relation to the two upcoming Test matches against Italy and England. The ban includes engagement with media and social media in relation to match officials.”
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Meanwhile, the Springboks have named their side for the match against Italy in Genoa, which kicks off at 3pm on Saturday afternoon. This will be the first game that Rassie is suspended from.
SPRINGBOKS TEAM
15 – Willie le Roux (Toyota Verblitz) – 81 caps, 65 pts (13t)
14 – Cheslin Kolbe (Toulon) – 22 caps, 61 pts (10t, 1c, 3p)
13 – Damian de Allende (Wild Knights) – 68 caps, 45 pts (9t)
12 – Andre Esterhuizen (Harlequins) – 10 caps, 0pts
11 – Kurt-Lee Arendse (Vodacom Bulls) – 5 caps, 20 pts (4t)
10 – Damian Willemse (DHL Stormers) – 25 caps, 25 pts (1t, 4c, 4p)
9 – Faf de Klerk (Canon Eagles) – 44 caps, 30 pts (5t, 1c, 1p)
8 – Jasper Wiese (Leicester Tigers) – 19 caps, 5 pts (1t)
7 – Franco Mostert (Honda Heat) – 61 caps, 15 pts (3t)
6 – Siya Kolisi (captain, Cell C Sharks) – 73 caps, 45 pts (9t)
5 – Marvin Orie (DHL Stormers) – 8 caps, 0 pts
4 – Salmaan Moerat (DHL Stormers) – 2 caps, 0 pts
3 – Frans Malherbe (DHL Stormers) – 56 caps, 5 pts (1t)
2 – Bongi Mbonambi (Cell C Sharks) – 53 caps, 55 pts (11t)
1 – Ox Nche (Cell C Sharks) – 17 caps, 0 pts
Replacements:
16 – Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears) – 57 caps, 65 pts (13t)
17 – Steven Kitshoff (DHL Stormers) – 69 caps, 5 pts (1t)
18 – Vincent Koch (Stade Francais) – 40 caps, 0 pts
19 – Eben Etzebeth (Cell C Sharks) – 108 caps, 15 pts (3t)
20 – Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs) – 29 caps, 15 pts (3t)
21 – Evan Roos (DHL Stormers) – 1 cap, 0 pts
22 – Cobus Reinach (Montpellier) – 22 caps, 40 pts (8t)
23 – Manie Libbok (DHL Stormers) – 1 cap, 0 pts
