The mind games began on Sunday night. South Africa had just booked their place in the last four of the Rugby World Cup, pipping France in an instant classic in Paris, and the Springboks’ director of rugby, Rassie Erasmus, was straight on social media to start his game week stirring.
As Erasmus searched for England Rugby’s account on X, formerly Twitter, and clicked the follow button, he knew he would be noticed. At the time of writing, South Africa’s opponents on Saturday are the only account that Erasmus follows. The 50-year-old has form – before Ireland and Scotland’s decisive Pool B encounter, the two Celtic nations were the sole occupiers of the coach’s ‘following’ feed.
Such social media tomfoolery will matter little come Saturday but speaks to Erasmus’s unique approach to life and rugby. The architect of South Africa’s World Cup triumph four years ago as head coach, Erasmus has since stepped up into a directorial role, with former assistant Jacques Nienaber taking on head coach duties.
He continues to use social media spin as a tactic, calling out Irish journalists during the course of this tournament and poking at New Zealand counterpart Ian Foster when the All Blacks head coach suggested that he had found the Springboks’ “stop-start” defeat to Ireland dull. Certainly, at times, it can seem like he craves attention.
The former Munster coach refutes the portrait oft painted of him. In his book, Rassie Erasmus: Stories of Life and Rugby, he describes himself as “quiet” and “uncomplicated”: “I may come across as a loudmouth, opinionated, arrogant, unrepentant … people think I’m extroverted, but I’m not. I find social occasions difficult.”
So which is the true Erasmus: the Machiavellian mastermind making the marionette dance with a win-at-all-costs mentality? Or the reserved big-stage manager hidden in the wings, using his natural coaching intuition and attention to detail to get the best out of his group?
The truth probably falls somewhere between the two. Previous Springboks players have described he and Nienaber as a bad cop, good cop pair, with the director of rugby a stern taskmaster. Despite that, Erasmus is able to remain popular, knowing when to show a gooey centre beneath the tough exoskeleton. A group of senior leaders within the squad have been given significant responsibility during this tournament; the trust extends both ways.