VIDEO - Rassie: 'I can't pronounce their names, but they are super fast'

KENSINGTON, LONDON: The rivalry between Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus and Brave Blossoms coach Eddie Jones is emblematic of top-level rugby, but it isn’t a full-time feud.

It is more something that resurfaces when their paths cross, and that has been the case this week in the build-up to the game at Wembley on Saturday.

Their rivalry is often portrayed as something that is more than just what happens on the pitch.

Matches involving their sides carry extra narrative: when England v South Africa was on, the story wasn’t just players but also these two figures.

Their approaches also vary dramatically in the way they manage their teams. Erasmus is very culture-driven with a strong strategic edge, while Jones is heavily media-driven, wants quick turnarounds, and is very outspoken.

While they challenge each other openly, there are also acknowledgements of each other’s achievements.

Despite their jabs, there’s mutual admiration. After Jones was dismissed as England coach, Erasmus even shared a message of support – a gesture that showed how rivalry in rugby can still coexist with respect.

This week, in the build-up to the game, Erasmus once again faced questions, this time by Japanese media, about his relationship with Jones.

“My first interaction with Eddie was when I was with the 2007 World Cup team before they were leaving, and I was working with them.

“Then I got the Stormers job, and Eddie took over from me. I was with them for three or four warm-up matches in a training camp in Cape Town.

“And that was the first time we started trading rugby talk,” Erasmus reminisced.

“I know a lot has been said about Eddie. He is a guy who speaks his mind. I enjoy people who do that.

“When I got that ban, he was one of the guys who picked up a phone and called me and supported me,” Erasmus said, adding, “He told me in so many words, ‘Don’t do stupid things’.

“I always had a lot of respect for him, and I think people always try to build up a thing between coaches, but he is one of the coaches I really respect.”

*Article continues below…

In a recent interview with Rugby365, Jones was asked what they would share when they have their traditional get-together before the fixture in London. Jones had a very specific requisition.

“I am going to make sure I remind Rassie that he always brings a nice bottle of red wine for me. He has to bring that.”

This week, Erasmus responded with a big smile, saying: “We have a bottle of wine, but we can only give it away if we are winning, so if he wants it, he must let us win.”

Looking ahead to the game and how Japan has improved over the years, Erasmus was adamant that they are starting to become a real threat to the top-tier teams in the world.

“What we know about Japan is that they were always this super fast team all over the field that ran away from set phases.

“They are still super fast and really speed up the game. Tony Brown coached them for eight years.

“Eleven or twelve of our players are playing in the Japanese league, and they know the players that we are playing against.

“They’ve shown us on clips how well they can play – I can’t pronounce almost any of their names or surnames because we don’t often see them on TV.

“Losing by four points to a team like Australia…I know it was a wet game, but they are a team that we feel is now competitive, stopping mauls, they are in the scrums, they are certainly physically up there.

“They also have this kicking game that they are playing all of a sudden, not just running from everywhere.”