Bok coach reveals Rassie's role against Wales
SPOTLIGHT: South Africa Director of Rugby Rassie Erasmus will not retain the role of ‘water boy’ in this Saturday’s Test against Wales in Cardiff.
Erasmus and SA Rugby are currently awaiting the verdict of World Rugby’s misconduct hearing for his actions during this year’s Lions tour.
The former Springbok coach and SA Rugby appeared before a World Rugby-instituted disciplinary panel at the weekend.
The hearing followed the leaking of an hour-long video produced by Erasmus after the first Test between the Springboks and the British and Irish Lions.
The Director of Rugby pointed out mistakes made by Australian referee Nic Berry and his officiating team in the Springboks’ 17-22 loss in Cape Town in late July.
During that game, he fulfilled the role of the team’s water carrier, which drew loads of criticism.
The B&I Lions camp suggested that he was acting as an on-field coach.
#SPOTLIGHT! @Springboks coach Jacques Nienaber sheds light on his team selection for the Test against @WelshRugbyUnion
💢 All about the plan and experience
🗣️ “Jesse played wing for us before, so it’s not an experiment,”#WALvRSA https://t.co/etl9gXbkyw— rugby365.com (@rugby365com) November 2, 2021
Erasmus didn’t travel with the Springboks squad to Australia for the Rugby Championship in September and October.
However, he is now with the squad in Cardiff as they prepare for next Saturday’s opening game in their three-match November tour which also features fixtures against Scotland and England.
Fronting the media on Tuesday, Nienaber revealed the outcome of the verdict is still unknown.
“I don’t think there is a verdict yet,” Nienaber said.
“I still think it is in recess or whatever they call it from a legal term.
“I don’t know,”
Nienaber added the Boks are fully focused on breaking their losing streak in Cardiff, which dates back to 2013.
“In all fairness from our side, our track record against Wales in Cardiff speaks for itself. Thus, I am trying not to think too much about that [the possible Erasmus verdict] and probably focus on the rugby side of things because we will have to have our ducks in a row if we want to look to be competitive with Wales on the weekend,”
#⃣TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: @Springboks coach Jacques Nienaber has made a number of changes to his backline for #SouthAfrica‘s opening #Test on their year-end campaign
🤩Still a very strong team💢#Rugby 🏉#WALvRSA🏴V🇿🇦#StrongerForever 💪
🔗https://t.co/uFq1tmmMNb pic.twitter.com/4fYA7niJoC— rugby365.com (@rugby365com) November 2, 2021
Regarding the role Erasmus will have for Saturday’s match at the Principality Stadium, Nienaber said: “Rassie will be in the coaches box with us,”
Meanwhile, World Rugby said the disciplinary committee will publish a ‘full written decision’, following the completion of the entire proceedings.
However, a spokesman for World Rugby on Sunday told @rugby365com that they are not anticipating an outcome for a ‘few days’ yet.
@rugby365com
