South Africa national rugby team coach Rassie Erasmus, in an interview with BBC Sport, stated that he does not want to coach any other national team.
For him, South Africa holds a very special place, and it would be impossible for him to form such a bond with another country. The coach, who has won the World Cup twice, is among the most beloved figures in the country.
Since taking over the Springboks in 2018, he has proven his tactical intelligence and innovation to the world. Erasmus, who also coached Munster in the past, mentioned that coaching a national team is a different situation.
“If you don’t know a culture of a team and their heartbeat, you don’t understand why they are playing and how their fans are. I did consider it once and I loved my time at Munster as it was very Bloemfontein-like. But I wouldn’t know what makes another country tick.”
At the same time, he noted that one of the things that motivates him the most is the unique challenge of coaching the team and adding value to the country.
“That pat on the shoulder for winning the World Cup, it’s nice and you enjoy that, but it is more the South Africans. If you see the South African people and the gratitude on people’s faces…”
“People talk about hope and that everyone can become a Springbok – that’s nonsense. There have only been 900 Springboks in the history of the game.”
“But I think it is the working together of South Africans. It doesn’t matter what you are – if you are Christian, Muslim, Black, English, Afrikaans, Xhosa, Zulu.”
“If you use the best of everybody, that’s what gives me a kick. It gives me a kick when people see what can be done. And the players are understanding that.”
“It comes with a hell of a lot of pressure, but I would rather lose and keep on fixing it and [trying to] evolve.”
Erasmus stated that the South African national team is viewed incorrectly abroad and that he will do everything he can to change these perceptions.
“We aren’t just a bunch of bullies who want to bully their way right through.”
“There are much deeper things in this team, some serious, intelligent guys who have business brains, farmers and guys who have had tremendous struggles.”
“We want [the media] just to see we aren’t just about fight and hate – and all of those kind of words.”
