Erasmus oversees dramatic turnaround in South Africa’s national rugby team–from also-ran to world champ!
Last Saturday in Japan, South African rugby coach, Rassie Erasmus, once again opted against public sentiment that he drop experienced full-back, Willie le Roux, in the Rugby World Cup final against England.
Erasmus knew the stakes were high, no matter what he did. His Springboks had scaled the heights of the rugby world after having experienced its depths, humiliated as they were by world champ, New Zealand, 57-0, in September 2017.
But in his short time at the helm, Erasmus has turned the tables for the South African national club. The ultimate triumph came when these Springboks copped the championship of the World Rugby Cup in Japan last weekend, beating the English convincingly, 32-12, before 70,000 fans and with 13 million fans watching in England alone–the most-watched TV event in England this year.
Rassie Erasmus (photo, TimesLive)
Even though his record spoke volumes in favorable terms, Rassie is often at loggerheads with Bok fans, including during the tournament. Case in point was playing le Roux, who had been experiencing a dip in form. His dropped catches, in particular, had often forced the Boks into tight situations with mistimed passes (that should have been converted into tries), and cost the team.
But last Saturday, at least, Erasmus was right, the fans wrong. Le Roux could have been penciled into any lineup without question as he left opponents grasping at his shorts in exasperation and dismay.
Erasmus stuck to his guns by keeping the familiar team intact–the same team that made it through the knockout stages into the finals, including getting revenge against New Zealand, 19-7, in the semis. Then it was on the final game where South Africa became king of the rugby world, dismantled England.
Hail, Rassie Erasmus! Hail, Springboks! Glory to South Africa!
