UK scribe bashes Rassie Erasmus in scathing article

Jones is a writer for The Sunday Times and has covered every World Cup since the inaugural tournament, while reporting on as many as 10 Lions tours.

MUST WATCH: CLASSIC RASSIE ERASMUS VIDEO EMERGES

In his latest column, he took exception to seeing Erasmus return to a role as a sideline “water carrier” during this past weekend’s Test against Scotland.

The South African director of rugby is still awaiting the verdict of his disciplinary hearing, which took place after World Rugby levelled a charge against Erasmus and SA Rugby after he produced a 62-minute video after the first Test between the Boks and British & Irish Lions.

In the video, which Erasmus has insisted he did not leak into the public domain, he pointed out 26 calls that he suggested were errors in officiating.

The Springboks and England are set to go head-to-head in their final end-of-year Test this Saturday, and it remains to be seen if Erasmus will return to the coaches box or continue as sideline assistant/water carrier.

READ | RASSIE ERASMUS RETURNS TO WATER CARRIER ROLE!

“Previously, he (Erasmus) was regarded as one of rugby’s great men. But in July, he became the man who poisoned a Lions series,” Jones wrote in a scathing column.

“Miscreants accused of the worst kinds of foul play can expect to have their disciplinary cases dealt with within three days. It is now not much less than four months since

“Erasmus, the South Africa director of rugby, appeared alone in a 62-minute video in which, among other treats, he savaged the officiating of the refereeing team — led by the Australian, Nic Berry — in the first Test between the Springboks and the British & Irish Lions…

“In the video, Erasmus also exonerated himself from an accusation that by racing round the field during the Lions series acting as a water-carrier — conducting frequent mini-coaching seminars in breaks in play and generally roaring at his players — he had infringed the spirit of the regulations. In addition, to many of us, he looked a right royal prat.”

Jones went on to question why it was taking so long for a verdict to be reached by World Rugby, while accusing Erasmus and SA Rugby of time-wasting by asking for the proceedings to be held publicly.

The UK scribe also wrote that Erasmus must have known the video could have made it into the public domain, and further stated that he had run through the tape with an international rugby official who suggested that only six of the calls from the video could be deemed as clearly incorrect decisions.

“Erasmus claimed that he did not put the tape out on social media himself and was not speaking in his professional capacity. But he conducted himself dressed in the finest Bok livery and leisurewear as he spoke,” Jones wrote.

“And if he thought that 62 minutes of the national coach rambling angrily in the hour of defeat was going to be kept secret, then he must be the biggest IT numpty in the history of civilisation.

“The Erasmus tape contributed to one of the most embittered of the 10 Lions tours I have followed, and there is no doubt in my mind that he affected play in both subsequent matches, won by South Africa.”

Jones concludes the column by reiterating that Erasmus was “one of the greatest rugby men”, before adding that it was the “most heinous of crimes” for him to have “poisoned” the Lions series.

The full column can be read here

PICTURE | RASSIE ERASMUS BACK ON ‘WATER BOY’ DUTY!