Rassie Erasmus opens up on what he expects from Scott Robertson’s successor as All Blacks boss
All Blacks coaching candidates Dave Rennie and Jamie Joseph, and Springboks boss Rassie Erasmus.
Springboks boss Rassie Erasmus believes whoever takes over the All Blacks’ coaching reins from Scott Robertson will make a success of the position in the international arena.
Much has been said and written about the All Blacks head coach’s position in recent weeks after Robertson was axed from the role in mid-January.
This, followed a review by New Zealand Rugby (NZR) into the 2025 season headed by the governing body’s chairman David Kirk who decided it was best to part ways with Robertson, who took over the reins as All Blacks head coach from Ian Foster after the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France.
The review was undertaken by Kirk, former All Blacks hooker and NZR board member Keven Mealamu as well as ex-NZR high performance manager Don Tricker.
NZR have subsequently tasked a five-man appointment panel consisting of Kirk, Mealamu, Tricker, interim CEO Steve Lancaster and another ex-All Blacks hooker Dane Coles to decide who the preferred candidate should be, which will then be presented to the board.
Two-horse race for All Blacks coaching job
By all accounts, it has become a two-horse race between Highlanders boss Jamie Joseph and Kobelco Kobe Steelers head coach Dave Rennie with the announcement of the successful candidate set to be made by NZR imminently.
This, after NZR set strict criteria that Robertson’s successor would need to be a New Zealander and have international head coaching experience, with Joseph previously coaching Japan from 2016 to 2023 and Rennie was Australia’s head coach from 2020 to 2023.
Erasmus has coached against both Rennie and Joseph at either club or international level and believes that both men have the ability to succeed if they are presented with the opportunity take charge of the All Blacks.
He revealed that Rennie has a unique way of preparing his teams for matches which could be interesting at Test level.
“I think Dave Rennie coached Glasgow but also the Chiefs. Didn’t he coach the Chiefs for a long time? I can ask Tony (Brown) later, he knows him obviously really well as well,” he said at a press conference in Cape Town on Monday.
“As a South African coaching against him, I think he might get it right at Test level but as far as I understood he had no mercy for guys (his players). Not in a bad way but driven to get them ready for (a) Saturday.
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“I think they called it Rennie’s Time, where they had contact on a Thursday prior to matches. Can you do that in the international squad? I think you can.
‘I don’t know who’s going to get it’
“But I don’t know who’s going to get it (the All Blacks job).”
Erasmus also gave his opinion on former All Blacks loose forward Joseph whose work ethic is something which the Boks mentor admires.
“Jamie Joseph is a little bit older than me, (I) played against him. Tony coached with him, for about nine or 10 years (especially) in Japan, if I’m right,” he said.
“I think if you go (on) aura and Dave Rennie might give me a klap (smack) if I say this, but if you take the coaches in the world and he (Joseph) walks into a room, I’m talking about him, where he’s played and what he’s done, how hard he’s always worked, all the coaches that have worked with him say he works unbelievably hard, players say they feel comfortable under him.
“So, I don’t know which one is the right one, but both will be great (as All Blacks coach).”
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Brown echoed Erasmus’ sentiments on Rennie and Joseph’s abilities as coaches but admitted to being surprised that Robertson lost his job with the All Blacks.
“Obviously, as it played out, it was very surprising that New Zealand Rugby made a change. They obviously felt that it was required. I think they’re looking at appointing a coach this week at some stage,” he said.
“And I only know as much as you guys. It’s obviously between Dave Rennie and Jamie Joseph. They’re both quality coaches, both experienced at international level.
“And whoever gets the job, I can guarantee you the All Blacks will be very good this year.”
