VIDEO: Will Rassie 'shake the tree' at #RWC23?
Expect the unexpected from South Africa’s Director of Rugby Rassie Erasmus at the World Cup in France this year.
Tendai Mtawarira – in the first episode of the official World Cup 2023 podcast – shared some insights into the mindset of the colourful Erasmus.
Mtawarira, along with fellow internationals Ugo Monye and George Gregan, were joined by host Gethin Jones to discuss their individual World Cup history, as well as look ahead to all of the action to come in France this year.
Mtawarira said Erasmus, Springbok coach at the 2019 World Cup and now DoR, is a ‘disrupter’, the kind of guy who comes in and ‘shakes the tree’.
“That is what he did with the Springboks when things were going pearshaped in 2016 and 2017,” the 37-year-old retired Springbok said of two unforgettable seasons when South Africa managed to win just four from 12 (33 percent) and seven from 13 (54 percent – an overall win percentage of just 44 under former coach Allister Coetzee.
“He had the ‘outside-in’ look, as he was based in Ireland [coaching Munster] at the time.
“He saw all the things that were not going well beyond the playing field.”
The Beast, as he is affectionately known, said Erasmus aligned the franchises to make the Boks a more successful team.
“He is very intelligent in his approach.
“He is very good at analysing other teams and before you face the opposition you know exactly what they re going to bring.”
Mtawarira admitted that Erasmus has had his issues with match officials, especially the hour-long video and some unpopular social media posts, but added that he always does things you don’t expect.
(WATCH as World Cup-winning loosehead prop Tendai Mtawarira shares some insights into the mindset of South Africa’s colourful Director of Rugby Rassie Erasmus … courtesy of @WorldRugby)
“He likes to go against the grain a little bit, shake the tree and make people feel uncomfortable,” the 2019 veteran said.
“He is always been the type of guy who doesn’t accept things as they are.
“If he sees something that is wrong and he doesn’t agree with it, he’s going to speak up.”
Mtawarira also recognized the transformative impact Erasmus had on the team’s culture.
“Before he came, I don’t think the Springboks had addressed some of the stuff that we used to struggle with, with our culture.
“We didn’t really embrace the diversity and landscape of South Africa.
“He’s very good at speaking about the elephant in the room.
“He does that in the media.
“He addresses stuff with the referees.
“It might make a few people uncomfortable, but I think in the end, the end goal is achieved.”
* Source: @WorldRugby
