Rassie Erasmus responds to personal attack as pundit issues insincere ‘apology’ for ‘unfair comparisons’ to ‘ruthless’ Springboks boss
Rassie Erasmus has responded to the insincere 'apology'.
Springboks head coach Rassie Erasmus has responded to the comments on SENZ radio comparing him to Dune’s Baron Vladimir Harkonnen and Star Wars’ Jabba the Hutt.
Those comparisons were made on SENZ’s Breakfast show on Friday by commentator and pundit Scott Stevenson with ex-All Blacks fullback Israel Dagg.
Rassie Erasmus criticism
“What is about it with Rassie? Does he just treat the world like his own kind of empire now?” Stevenson said.
“If Eben Etzebeth has been named on the bench a day after saying he’s been ruled out with a knee injury, he was never ruled out – it’s just that that just doesn’t happen.
“The games this guy plays like there’s a part of me that says, well played, Sir but there’s another part of you that just gets sick, and the one thing I noticed the press conferences this week and the video coverage… Is it just me or is Rassie looking every day more like Baron Vladimir Harkonnen, leader of the House of Hakkinen from Dune. Like, seriously, what’s going on?
“How much Klippies [Brandy] and coke has he been on?”
Stevenson’s remarks quickly went viral on social media platform X, formerly Twitter, with Springboks fans slamming the comments.
‘Disgusting’ – Springboks fans slam Israel Dagg and Kiwi pundit after personal Rassie Erasmus attack
SENZ reached out to Planet Rugby over the weekend to confirm that the show would address the comments made on the show about the Springboks coach stating that “the comments aren’t acceptable”.
Stevenson and Dagg’s ‘apology’
And that proved to be the case as Stevenson did address what he had said last but instead of issuing an apology to Erasmus, he instead issued one to the fans of Dune and Star Wars for his “unfair comparison” of the characters to the Springboks coach.
“Well it transpired over the weekend that some people have become rather annoyed with what was said on the show,” Stevenson said.
“We are used that even as trained, seasoned broadcasters, we say things that not everyone agrees with and last week on the show it just so happens that in trying to describe the behaviour of Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus at a press conference, I made some very unfair comparisons between two memorable villains of the cinematic universe and the Springbok coach – who I forgot was treated as God in South Africa – and plenty of people worship at that altar I can assure you – and also worship at the altar of social media, as I’ve found out.
“So, I think an apology is in order and I think some fans have got the wrong end of the stick here and I wanted to be the first to put my hand up and apologise to those who were offended by the fact that I compared Rassie Erasmus’ behaviour and demeanour to that of Baron Harkonnen from June and Jabba the Hutt, the uber-villain from Star Wars.
“So to the fans of and the casting crew and the producers of June and Star Wars, you have my heartfelt apologies for making such an unfair comparison to Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus.”
Sumo apologises to Star Wars and Dune fans for his unfair comparisons between Rassie Erasmus, Jabba the Hut and Baron Vladimir Harkonnen. https://t.co/E9W606cl40 pic.twitter.com/QuRDboKMOT
— Jared Wright (@jaredwright17) September 2, 2024
He added: “I didn’t call Rassie Erasmus, I compared his behaviour to the villainous aspects of Baron Harkonnen and Jabba the Hutt. I didn’t compare his weight to those two characters and that assertion is completely out of line from all of those who believe that Rassie Erasmus is the most untouchable man in rugby.
“He is so untouchable that he is apparently that the Springboks have lodged a formal complaint with World Rugby over the timing of the Wallabies injuries at scrum time during that defeat in Perth.
“So you if you want talk about a team that just will stop at nothing to go after every other team by taking backroom channels and undermining officials and undermining rulings, you’ve got it right there, by the way. I thought the Springboks wholeheartedly deserved to win that test on the weekend, but please don’t tell me that Rassie is a man who’s gone through life as a kind-hearted soul, the man is ruthless. We know that. And if you want evidence, talk to any match official over the last four years and they will tell you. Anyway, that’s my apology to fans of Star Wars and June this morning.”
The Bok coach has since responded to the apology with a brief post on X: “Hi Izzy & Scotty @SENZBreakfast. Hope you guys are doing well. Nice to see Izzy you involved in a podcast man, really happy that the tough times are behind you. Scotty I am not sure if it is the Sumo I knew, If it is, you look great and healthy man. Lekka Rassie”
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