‘Biggest fear’ driving Rassie Erasmus ahead of World Cup three-peat bid
Springboks captain Siya Kolisi with the William Webb Ellis Cup and an inset of head coach Rassie Erasmus.
Rassie Erasmus admits that it is fear that continues to motivate him to succeed as the Springboks head coach.
The former flanker signed a contract extension last year which will see him remain in charge of the South African national team through to the 2031 Rugby World Cup.
That would take him to 13 years involvement with the team since returning from Munster as the side’s head coach, moving to director of rugby before returning to the former role.
Erasmus returned to the Springboks set-up in 2018, taking over from Allister Coetzee, making his international head coach debut against Wales in Washington DC before returning to South Africa for a three-match Test series against England.
The feeling of the Springboks camp
He has since overseen the most successful period in the Springboks‘ history, winning three Rugby Championships, two World Cups and a British and Irish Lions series. With this weekend’s clash against England also being a year out from the World Cup, it’s a timely for Erasmus to reflect on what has not only been a successful spell with the Boks but one filled with controversy too.
For Erasmus, being in the Springboks camp is where he feels ‘safe’, particularly after a rest and planning period since the November internationals last year.
“When we finish in November, December and January is off-time for us, and we watch a lot of rugby and do a lot of online and virtual meetings and go around in franchises and do succession planning and road maps on players,” he explained ahead of the clash against England.
“You’re not in camp, and you’re not around the players, not in a team talk or meeting. So you get lots of time to think about the year that comes, and then it gets long here from February. Then you want the season to come, and the nice feeling is here and not specifically here [in the press conference] being back in the camp.
“I don’t know if this will sound funny, but it’s some place where you feel safe because you’ve gone through good and bad times here.
Want more from Planet Rugby? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list for world-class coverage you can trust.
“You think you know the players and the personalities and your coaching staff, and even get to know you guys better since. I mean, there were ups and downs with the media, with the referees, and there were certainly some really, really tough times and some really, really great times. So hopefully the great times get better.”
Rassie Erasmus rejects Springboks’ ‘soft underbelly’ notion but rues ‘big loss’
What motivates Rassie Erasmus
It’s uncommon, particularly in the modern era, that a coach remains in the set-up and in the role of head coach; sometimes the decision to step away is theirs, but more often than not, it’s one made for them.
With Erasmus committed long term to SA Rugby, having already held the position for an extended period, the question was what keeps him motivated to be successful with the team.
“My biggest fear is not losing; we must lose games; we lost two last year, and the previous year we lost,” he said.
“We will lose games, obviously, but their biggest fear is probably the feeling of what it means for South Africa. My biggest fear is not stopping coaching or us losing a game or two; it’s that feeling that we currently have as South Africans: togetherness is something that really gives me an adrenaline rush, and I enjoy that, love that. So I’ve got a fear of that going away, and that’s why we work so hard, because we love that.”
READ MORE: Schalk Brits questions Rassie Erasmus’ Springboks bench logic and gives Manie Libbok verdict
