In the coming weeks, Rassie Erasmus and SA Rugby could seal a deal that ensures a contract extension for the Springbok coach until the 2031 Rugby World Cup.
Erasmus is also agitating for the contract extensions for his coaching staff, though those negotiations are further upstream.
SA Rugby CEO Rian Oberholzer confirmed that talks with Erasmus had commenced but that negotiations needed to be concluded. “We’ve had meetings. We just wait for the incoming tours to be concluded, and him taking a break, before we can sit down and hopefully we’ll finalise it soon. There is a desire on his part to stay and there is support from SA Rugby to negotiate with him.”
There have been suggestions that Erasmus is in high demand elsewhere, with at least two positions lined up if he wished to pursue it. However, SA Rugby is unlikely to be influenced by rumours in negotiations.
Erasmus is seeking coaching continuity for the rest of his group. With several foreign nationals on the coaching staff, job security is understandably a topic close to their hearts. Uprooting families and logistics around long-term planning can bring unnecessary angst.
Irishmen Felix Jones and Jerry Flannery, Kiwi Tony Brown and Englishman Andy Edwards are all on the Bok coaching ticket. Jones has proved adept at filling different coaching disciplines, Flannery takes charge of defence, Brown is tasked with attack, while Edwards plots and tracks the team’s athletic performance.
I know he wants to stay, and I know he wants his coaching team to stay. But that hasn’t been finalised, so I cannot speculate.
— Rian Oberholzer, SA Rugby CEO
The rest of the coaching team consists of Mzwandile Stick (backline), Deon Davids (forwards) and Daan Human (scrum). Jaco Peyper also joined the Boks after his retirement as referee, while former double Rugby World Cup winning No 8 Duane Vermeulen joined the group in his roving role within SA Rugby’s coaching structures.
“The coaches who are there are contracted until 2027,” said Oberholzer.
“We just need to have conversations with Rassie about who will be part of the staff going forward. We can’t decide who his coaches will be. We will have to sit down with him and he needs to tell us what he wants to do post-2027, then we can take the necessary actions.”
This season is a testing one for the Springboks, with two away Tests against the All Blacks, and one each against France and Ireland on their end-of-year tour. Irrespective of what those results hold, Oberholzer is comfortable having contract extension talks at this juncture. “You have to go into this with eyes wide open. You can’t expect this team to continue beating everyone,” he said.
“There will be changes. Other teams are looking at us, and they understand how we play. We are working on a much grander plan. We are busy with planning for 2027 (Rugby World Cup), and the role of the Springboks in the wider South African set-up. That is important to us.
“That is why it is important to have stability over making speculative decisions. If we lose two or three Tests this year, we are not going to get panicky and try and change coaches. These guys won two World Cups. Show me other coaches who can do that.
“Why will we question their ability if you were to lose against the second and third best teams in the world? We have faith in the coaching team Rassie has assembled. Look at our playing style, the role they play in all our teams. It isn’t just the Springboks we have to consider but the entire coaching structure in the country. These guys play a massive role in it.”
However, Oberholzer cautioned he could not operate on assumptions. “I cannot put the cart before the horse, as I don’t know what exactly Rassie wants. I know he wants to stay and I know he wants his coaching team to stay. But that hasn’t been finalised, so I cannot speculate. Rassie can tell us who wants to go or stay. He might also suggest whose role he wants changed.”
Erasmus and his coaching team certainly have a lot of bargaining power. Apart from back-to-back RWC triumphs the Boks have maintained stratospheric standards. They are still the No 1 team in the world and have lost just once in their last 13 Tests and two in their last 20.
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