What Joburg rugby coaches think of Rassie Erasmus

Coaches from rugby clubs in Joburg have given the new Springbok rugby coach, Rassie Erasmus, the thumbs up.

It was announced on 1 March that Erasmus would coach the national team for the next five years, if his contract is not cut short, like that of his predecessor, Allister Coetzee, who was fired on 16 February.

Coetzee saw his side only win 11 of the 25 test matches during his reign, with two draws and 12 losses. This equated to a 44 per cent win record.

Erasmus played 36 test matches as a player for the Springboks and is currently the director of the South African Rugby Union.

He was also awarded Coach of the Season last year when he coached Munster to the top of the table in the Pro12 tournament.

Pirates Rugby Club chairperson, Brad Guymer said lengthy debates were held at the club about who should take the reins after Coetzee’s departure, but no candidate was as obvious for the role as Erasmus.

“This is a step in the right direction but he [Erasmus] has a big ship to turn around,” he said.

Johannesburg Police Rugby Club (Bobbies) vice president, James du Toit said Erasmus’ experience as player and coach, as well as his approach to ‘take no nonsense from players’, will help him bring South African rugby back to its former glory.

“As long as there is no political interference from government, we will do well because we have an excellent team he can work with,” he said.

Diggers Junior Rugby Club coach, Alan Baddeley likewise believes Erasmus’ power to decide exactly who his coaching staff will be, and his ability to govern the players effectively will help the side get back on track.

“I think he will be able to get us back in the top three again,” he concluded.

The Wanderers Club rugby section chairperson, Lindinhlanhla Mngadi admitted that the Springboks needed a new coach after Coetzee’s two years in charge, but said he had not seen Erasmus enough to say whether it was a good decision to appoint him or not.

“I think that South Africa’s rugby problems are not as much a coaching problem as a problem with developing talent at a grassroots level,” he said.

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