Rassie Erasmus happy to take Springboks fans’ ‘criticism’ after having ‘a little laugh’ at Manie Libbok’s expense
Rassie Erasmus says the Springboks are happy to take on criticism after the defeat to Argentina.
Rassie Erasmus says that the Springboks are happy to take on the fans’ criticism in defeat while revealing that the squad had a ‘little laugh’ at Manie Libbok’s expense.
Libbok has been handed the starting number ten jumper for the final Rugby Championship clash against Argentina despite missing the clutch kick last time out.
The fly-half came off the bench replacing Handre Pollard and had the opportunity to kick the Springboks into the lead in the final minute of the match which would have put his side 29-31 ahead, alas his effort went wide.
Following the match, Libbok and the Springboks have faced fierce backlash from supporters and fans with many posting memes about the fly-half after the missed kick.
Laughing at the memes
Speaking ahead of the rematch in Nelspruit, Erasmus defended his fly-half yet again and revealed that the squad is making a plan to solve Libbok’s place-kicking woes this weekend.
“We as a team had a little laugh at a few of the memes and stuff that went around,” Erasmus admitted.
“But we see it as people who haven’t gone through that, who haven’t felt that kind of pressure and who don’t know how tough it is.
“We totally understand that people will criticise him and he takes it on the chin and we all as a management team and as a coaching staff – we take it on the chin too.
“But the only way to get a guy like him through this is for him to get back onto the horse and ride it until it’s flat again.
“We certainly have made some plans and the way we want to play, Manie is integral this weekend and then we’ve made some other plans with the goal kicking as well, which hopefully will work.”
Following Erasmus’ admission that the Boks had plans to relieve the pressure on Libbok, a video was shared online of the fly-half practising his kicking along with the likes of starting winger Cheslin Kolbe and scrum-half Jaden Hendrikse.
Kolbe has previously kicked for the Springboks while Hendrikse has done so at the youth level too but neither are regular kickers for their respective clubs.
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🗣️ Rassie on Manie’s kicking: “It’s not just up to him to find solutions for his goal-kicking, it is something we have to do as a team, and we are working on a plan.” #RSAvARG
Cheslin Kolbe, Jaden Hendrikse and Manie Libbok all practicing their kicking. pic.twitter.com/l2QKWICrdI
— Jared Wright (@jaredwright17) September 24, 2024
“Much worse than missing a kick”
The Bok head coach added that the team are happy to take on the criticism of the performances of the fans as they welcome the praise when it comes their way.
However, he felt that the team did not lack effort in their defeat to Argentina but again conceded that Los Pumas were the team that played better and deserved the victory.
“We totally understand that when we play well we take the credit, we smile, we’re happy and the guys love the positivity and how people praise them and we take that,” he said.
“So when we’re not playing well and when we’re not doing things as well they have the right to criticise especially if we did not put in all the effort in a specific game. I did not think that was the case last week, I thought Argentina played really well but then when it comes to individual things, if you take that game Argentina missed three kicks at goal and we missed two.”
The missed kick from Libbok was not Erasmus’ biggest concern as he believed that the Springboks blew too many scoring opportunities.
“We missed four or five try-scoring opportunities which is much worse than missing a kick like that but Manie is a professional, we are all professionals and we are all around him.,” he added.
“He’s starting again this weekend. It’s another chance with a guy like Handre on the bench and there are 18 World Cup winners in the team.”
