Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus has transformed South African rugby in weird and wonderful ways“His commitment to inclusivity and transformation in sport has not only revitalised rugby but has also served as a powerful symbol of reconciliation and unity in a nation with a complex history.
Craven, like Erasmus, was a Bok hero on the playing field before turning his energies towards coaching. He piloted South Africa to a whitewash of the All Blacks in 1949 and on their historic Grand Slam tour of Britain and Ireland in 1951, before becoming president of SA Rugby for almost 40 years. With his intimate knowledge of the game and tactical acumen never in question, Erasmus has become renowned the rugby world over for his innovation, which often seems to defy reason.From unleashing his infamous Bomb Squad to inflict decisive damage in the second half to the extravagant use of “traffic lights” to signal messages to his charges on the field, Erasmus has never been scared to boldly go where no coach has gone before.
Akin to his nerve when it comes to innovation, Erasmus is also fearless in his pursuit of justice and, in true Donald Trump fashion, has no hesitation in taking to social media to vent his frustrations. This has landed him in hot water, such as the two-month ban he copped from World Rugby for posting a video that exposed Australian referee Nic Berry’s handling of the first Test between the Boks and British & Irish Lions in 2021.