'Exit rumours': Ex-Lions back on 'real' reason for Erasmus antics
Ex-Lions player Austin Healey has floated an interesting theory regarding this week’s extraordinary outburst by Springboks boss Rassie Erasmus, suggesting that the 26-clip, hour-long critique of the first Test refereeing was a purposeful move by the 2019 World Cup winner as he wants to leave his job and switch to Europe.
The 48-year-old Erasmus, the current Springboks director of rugby, was capped 36 times by his country from 1997 to 2001, making his debut in the back row in the third Test of the already-lost 1997 series versus the Lions.
He since went on to forge a successful coaching career and was working at Irish province Munster when he decided in late 2017 to take up the offer to return home to South Africa as their director of rugby, going on to lead them to 2019 World Cup glory before handing the head coach role of the Springboks to assistant Jacques Nienaber.
Erasmus is currently involved in a caustic war of words surrounding the Test series versus the Lions and during his compelling video critiquing the performance of first Test referee Nic Berry, he offered to step away from involvement in the series if that was what World Rugby wanted. As it stands, Erasmus will likely still be running water for the Springboks on the pitch during stoppages of play in this Saturday’s second Test and relaying messages from the coaching staff in the Cape Town grandstands.
It has been a most unusual sight to see a director of rugby running water for his team but it is not against current World Rugby regulations even though the situation has been mocked by Lions boss Warren Gatland – and former England international Healey has now published his own curious take on the antics of Erasmus.
No sign of a truce before Saturday's rematch in Cape Town as more fuel added to blazing fire#CastleLionsSeries #LionsRugby #rassie #RSAvBILhttps://t.co/KSHBA40syX
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) July 30, 2021
Writing in his column in the UK Telegraph, Healey suggested: “As for Erasmus saying he will step away from the last two Tests if World Rugby want him to, I had heard rumours he was touting himself around Europe anyway for a coaching role, so I wouldn’t be surprised if this was the first stage of his exit. Although, if you are touting yourself for a highly paid role, your new employers are not going to be overly impressed with his antics this week, are they?”
Given the massive controversy that has been generated by the behaviour of Erasmus on social media, Healey quipped he was thankful there was no such thing as social media when a ghosted newspaper column landed him in hot water with Lions boss Graham Henry on the 2001 tour to Australia.
“I’m not saying I’m an expert on newspaper columns before Lions Tests, but I’m also not sure anyone has caused more trouble than my column in 2001 before facing Australia. Thankfully, there was no social media otherwise I would have been absolutely hammered.
“These columns or comments are only problematic in hindsight after the game. If South Africa lose, everyone will jump on Rassie Erasmus saying it is sour grapes and it’s a disgrace. If they win, everyone says ‘well done Rassie, you have brought it to the attention of the officials, great coaching’. I didn’t even write my column back ahead of that 2001 Test, Eddie Butler did because I was in hospital having an operation. If it is your own words, though, you have to stand behind them and pay the fine.”
Comment: Much was made of Rassie Erasmus' rant after the Lions' first-Test win over South Africa but it will have little effect come Saturday | @IamAustinHealey https://t.co/5m8GOB8bDH #LionsRugby #CastleLionsSeries #LionsSA2021
— Telegraph Sport (@TelegraphSport) July 29, 2021
Comments on RugbyPass
At this point I can’t watch him without thinking he’s a dirty slimebag. He should have been banned for the same amount of time that Quinn was out. It took Tupaea near on a fricking year to get fit enough to play again and his leg will never be the same. The other crap thing is that he was at ABs level and now he has to claw his way back there when he could have had several games under his belt.
3 Go to commentsThe Black Ferns 7’s have been without Captain Sarah Hirini now since Dec 23 in Dubai where she suffered a bad ACL injury - hopefully she is on the road to recovery for Madrid and Paris. Now also have Tyler King and Shiray kaka on the Injured List but the Team still found a way to win in Singapore and claim the overall Title.
1 Go to commentsUtter grub, hope he gets his leg broken. Shocking he is still playing after intentionally breaking quinn tupaeas knee
3 Go to commentsGreat to see NZ 7s teams finally coming into form and playing at the level that is expected of them.
2 Go to commentsChief Cheapshot on the market again.
3 Go to commentsCrusaders went all in to buy Hotham and Kemara staight from Hamilton Boys. Then they picked up Reihana and Hohepa; all have been dropped for superstar Havili, who is a very good fullback, that’s it. Ennor and Goodhue were schoolboy stars too but went backwards at the Crusaders. Maybe they have finally decided to give another poach Levi Aumua the ball?
11 Go to commentsJoe S has some talent to pick from. The Reds loosies look the best in Super? Aus might just give Razor a headache this year. Int. experience v Cantab greenhorn:) Should be fun.
11 Go to commentsEnd to end play, “THE FANS” this game was entertainment of the best. The conditions added to the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsSorry to say, but sadly the sadas were just ordinary and havilli at 10 as an abs selection just won’t cut it. He’s better suited in the centre’s and is a victim of past charge down kicks, he’s too slow under pressure. There’s better talent further north and I don’t mean dmac however I believe razor will sort him out. A feature of his presents on the park is the fact that the guys will follow him.
11 Go to commentsMarler was brilliant throughout both in the scrum and open play. His slap made virtually no contact with Ramos who milked it for a penalty when he could have been a decent sportsman and laughed it off, it was non-violent and shouldn't have been penalised. Smith failed repeatedly to kick when necessary and put up a couple of bombs into the TLS 22 that just handed back possession at key moments to the other side.
3 Go to commentsCros was outstanding and rightly awarded France TVs player of the match award. Mallia was brilliant as usual (the y is below the 6 on a UK keyboard and he deserves better than that). Level also seems to have been scored harshly as he walked the ball into touch under pressure from a Lynagh kick from well outside his own half which should never have led to a 50-22. Agree with BullShark that Dupont, while class at times, seemed to go missing for patches in the second half with props, hookers and wings frequently filling in at 9 as he couldn't get off the deck and up to the next ruck on time. A 7 by his standards at best, his kicking was also too long, too often. Kinghorn's overall contribution was worth well more than a five.
3 Go to commentsThe Harlequins team must be in minus figures. Did the reporter actually watch the game?
3 Go to commentsHow on earth did Walker escape a red card? Not dangerous? Dupont has his face in a mask earlier this season. Shocking decision. What is the point of TMOs? We had the Fassi ‘non-penalty try’ yesterday and now this.
2 Go to commentsCould have been a different result but yet again French tv able to affect the result by not showing the very clear high shot on harlequin centre if this would have been on a French player would have been on screen at least five times
3 Go to commentsAmazing. The losing team’s ratings are higher than the winning team’s. Mallia definitely didn’t deserve a y. What game were you watching? Should have got a w or an x. ADP hardly featured in that second half. At one point I wondered when he’d been subbed. Seems to me as if he gets an automatic 9 just for getting onto the team sheet.
3 Go to commentsI’m sorry. That second half was far from enthralling. It was painful to watch.
2 Go to commentsVery generous! If you’d missed the game, reading this you’d conclude that it was the Quins front row that cost them the game. Marler getting a blanket 6 for his demented contribution to the game. Puzzling.
3 Go to commentsCan’t see Toulouse beating Leinster at this rate.
7 Go to commentsADP was having a very average game until winning that penalty for Toulouse, sticking his big head in the way. “The head of God”?
7 Go to commentsHarlequins doing their best to do as little damage as possible with all the possession. Looks like they skipped catch and pass drills this week.
7 Go to comments