Rassie Erasmus on potentially coaching another test team
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Rassie Erasmus has commented on his plans after SA Rugby, and whether he would be willing to coach another test team.
In a wide-ranging interview with the Daily Mail, Erasmus weighed in on the potential addition of South Africa to the Six Nations, as well as whether he would join World Rugby or coach another test team.
In December last year, England prop Joe Marler talked Erasmus up for a position in World Rugby saying that if he was elected as World Rugby chairman he would appoint SA Rugby director of rugby Rassie Erasmus as his right-hand man.
‘I’m 50. I’m too old for World Rugby! There are things in rugby that I think need to change.' Erasmus said.
‘There’s too much microscopic stuff in the game now. We worked out that a referee needs to make between 800 and 850 decisions in one match. It’s impossible, man. It leaves the referee open to criticism — I would know! — and that’s not fair.
'There are too many grey areas to let the game flow. You are always going to get one team that’s p***** off, whether they say it publicly or not. Did you know there are 58 things you can be punished for at a scrum and 38 in a lineout?
‘There are simple solutions but we need to be open-minded. World Rugby need to take control and simplify it. But me with World Rugby? Come on! I’ll leave that job to the younger guys like Joe!’
In December 2020, Erasmus posted a clip of his per-game team talk ahead of the Rugby World Cup final on Twitter with the caption: 'Not Sure I would know what to say to any other team before a W Cup Final. Not Happening !!!'
Not Sure I would know what to say to any other team before a W Cup Final. Not Happening !!! pic.twitter.com/eCyiMQDRkc
— Rassie Erasmus (@RassieRugby) February 9, 2020
This was in response to reports that he was being offered the England head coach role with Eddie Jones' contract expiring at the time.
When quizzed about the prospect of coaching England by the Daily Mail, Erasmus' answer differed.
‘I don’t think the English people would ever want me there now. Maybe I am wrong. I hope I am wrong. Would I coach another country? If my own people were cool with it and the other country’s people were cool with it then why not?
'But if my own people are going to hate me for it, then I would never do it. I hate the fact that so many people hate me in rugby right now. I’m not a confrontational guy. I like to get on with people.
‘South Africa has my heart but coaching England would be amazing because I think they can win. I would love to coach Ellis Genge.
‘Any prop that looks the other prop in the eyes before a scrum, you know he’s a dog. You don’t want a prop that’s looking at his toes, scared. I want guys like Genge on my team.
‘If South Africans accepted me doing that, like when Nick Mallett went to coach Italy, then of course I would love it. If I felt like South Africans were not going to hate me on the street then I would consider it.
‘A couple of years ago, people would have said, “Go over there now, make a few pounds and be successful”. Things changed last year. Life is a bit different now.’
