VIDEO: Rassie admits being wrong about Willie
WATCH as Springbok head coach Rassie Erasmus speaks about his early impressions of fullback Willie le Roux.
The 35-year-old Test veteran is set to make his 100th appearance in green and gold when the Boks face Italy in the second of their two-match series.
Le Roux made his debut against Italy in 2013 as a Cheetahs player, after stints with the Boland Cavaliers, Griquas, and Western Province – the latter of which Erasmus was Director of Rugby at the time.
Erasmus admitted that he made a mistake not to keep Le Roux on the Stormers’ books, and he assumed his character before getting to know the person behind the player.
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“Willie is an interesting character,” a smiling Erasmus said.
“I understand that when people who don’t know him that well personally, such as myself, when I didn’t know him well at the Stormers, I basically said he couldn’t make the Stormers squad.
“Because his emotional involvement in the game is visible. He’s a guy who shows how he feels.
“I remember once talking to a coach overseas where he played, and I said, ‘I don’t understand why Willie is doing these actions’.
“And then he said something that stuck with me, he said, because he cares so much, he doesn’t hide his emotions.
“You can ask anyone in the team, the way Willie looks sometimes [on the field] when he’s a bit down or unhappy – it’s not a reflection on how he feels about the rest of the team.
“It’s just how much he cares for the team. I’m very happy [for him].
“I definitely made a mistake in the beginning, not keeping him at the Stormers, and now he’s on the brink of 100 Test matches.
“He’s won two World Cups, he’s done some things with Wasps, and played for the Cheetahs. He’s been around the block, and we’re proud of him and we hope we can help him make it a memorable game.”
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