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International

Gio Aplon fears Erasmus decision may see Boks suffer same fate as fallen football giants

Josh Raisey

46 days ago

Rassie Erasmus, head coach of South Africa, during team warm-up before the Ireland V South Africa, autumn series, rugby union match at Aviva Stadium on November 22, 2025, in Dublin, Ireland. (Photo by Tim Clayton/Getty Images)

Former South Africa full-back Gio Aplon has raised concerns over the long-term direction of South African rugby following the decision to extend Rassie Erasmus’ contract through to 2031, despite acknowledging the legendary Springboks boss “is the best coach at the moment”.

Erasmus’ renewal, agreed in December with SA Rugby, was a reflection of his “remarkable track record of success” according to SA President Mr Mark Alexander, with the Springboks firmly established as the dominant force in world rugby. However, the 17-cap Springbok recently voiced his unease about what lies beyond the current cycle.

Joining the Behind the Ruck podcast recently, Aplon said that the evolving nature of the playing group could eventually demand a different approach. With a new generation emerging, and the “old guard” containing the likes of Siya Kolisi, Eben Etzebeth and Pieter-Steph du Toit moving on, questions remain over whether the existing framework will continue to deliver the same results.

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Aplon said that the South African “system is getting stuck,” adding that he is “concerned” that there is not a set-up like New Zealand’s, with a variety of coaches available.

Erasmus was likened to legendary Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson by the former Stormers back, who fears the Springboks are going to come to the end of an era after Erasmus, just as Man United did in 2013 when the Scot retired, with the club unable to win a Premier League title since.

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“No person in the world will say what I’m saying right now, but, yes Rassie is the best coach at the moment, but I would not have signed him post-2027,” the 43-year-old said.

“It’s not personal, it’s not that he’s not good. I just think the ecosystem of sport needs something else with the type of players we are playing now. Remember, the old guard are walking in front now, the old guard are carrying this flag. But as soon as they’re out of the way, with this coaching style, there’s a new breed coming through that might complain like they did with Razor [Scott Robertson]. I’m not going to say that’s going to happen.

“I’m very cautious with ’31. We haven’t even played this World Cup and you’re giving him the job.

“For a local coach, where do you go? For Dobbo [John Dobson], for Ackies [Johan Ackermann]? What is your next step? Look at the All Blacks – there’s Pat Lam, there’s Andrew Goodman, they’ve got Dave Rennie, they’ve got Robbie Deans if they wanted to, they’ve got Jamie Joseph. They’ve got all these coaches out there.

“It seems like our system is getting stuck here, and I’m worried that we’re going to become the next Man United. We’re going to come to that era after Ferguson, where the next coach takes over and it’s too late and we’re not going to have an identity. I’m just concerned.”

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Comments

53 Comments

PB 45 days ago

Say what? Gio who?

Like really, what qualifies this muppet to have an opinion?

Maybe he prefers Rassie a darker shade of pale! Nothing else makes sense. Rassie is excelling, so why would that be wrong?

Flankly 45 days ago

Aplon is a good guy, but that’s a pretty oddball take: As we don’t see a world class successor we should nudge the most successful coach in the world out of his role prematurely.

A crazy alternative idea would be to extend his tenure (as they have) and require him to deliver a succession plan in which multiple prospective Bok coaches are nurtured and developed. Reaching the 2031 RWC with two or three potential Rassie replacements in the camp, fully engaged and with extensive international experience sounds like at least as good a plan as derailing the train post 2027 RWC.

cnw 44 days ago

I think his point is if you want to sustain greatness you have to have a good succession plan now - succession planning worked for the ABs until it did not. In reality the rest of the World is getting better - Italy and Argentina prove this. The standard of rugby will improve hugely in the next 5 years and the Boks need to think now about who will lead them through and beyond that period.

Ayre123 None 45 days ago

Geo hinted a concern about the future of Ackerman and Dobson who may have no future in SA if Rassie stayed put?

SJ 45 days ago

I think for Gio, this is more about a different “South African” issue that has very little to do with rugby. He just doesn’t want to say it.

JW 45 days ago

I thought he’d only locked himself to SARU, not as the head coach necessarily?

Bazzallina 45 days ago

it’s a very interesting point from Gio and def has merit but you know ultimately just like my beloved ABs no coach will ever be larger than the jersey even one like Rassie who has secured his spot on the Rushmore of international rugby there will always be another as for post next year it’s always a gamble but you would say it’s still good odds

Hammer Head 45 days ago

I get it - but take your pick Gio. Continuity the springboks have never had. Never. Or the revolving door that was.

JW 45 days ago

Everyone (else) has a revolving door.

TheNotoriousFig 45 days ago

I think that Erasmus is in a great position in that he has continued to add new faces to every squad he has picked. There is a great production line of player in all positions, he has a sound tactical basis for how the team plays that the guys can buy into, the union don’t have to worry about paying all those top players to play at home and the depth means Erasmus doesn’t have to worry about players playing year round as he can rotate. He has a good coaching staff that do the tracksuit work and he can turn those over as they opt to move on for their careers and bring new voices into the team environment. They’ve won two on the bounce and are in fine shape to take a third in ‘27. Why wouldn’t you sign him up?

cnw 44 days ago

He is in a good position and deservedly so. He has had some luck (the red in the 23 WC final) but great coaches make their own luck. But this article is insightful. Succession is key. The ABs dominated world rugby for 15 years winning more games than any other team through that period including two thirds + of the TN / RC and two WCs. But the NZRU stuffed it by picking Foster because of that prior success. The Boks run the same risk.

JW 45 days ago

And he has the nous to step aside and know when someone like Smith could do better than him.

John Breslin 46 days ago

Will Rassie be a living mascot and still the centre of attention sitting at home games in 15-20 years?

Just like old whiskey cheeks?

They still parade him about at the home matches at very old Trafford with the leaky roof

Hammer Head 45 days ago

Like your old mum?

RK 46 days ago

NZ 😂 Their systems really are not that great either.

Bruiser 44 days ago

So how have they created the greatest record over the last 100 years?

John Breslin 46 days ago

They'll both be fully fledged touring teams by then

Each playing 30 tests a year to make money for their US private equity firm owners

Ed the Duck 46 days ago

“he is “concerned” that there is not a set-up like New Zealand’s, with a variety of coaches available”.

Seriously? With guys like JvG and Franco Smith ripping it up in the English Prem, URC and CC? They are highly credible operators and not even remotely wet behind the ears like razor…

fl 46 days ago

Isn’t the worry that if Franco Smith or JvG takes over in 2032, they’ll be taking over a team whose identity is entirely determined by Erasmus? Much like how Moyes failed at Manchester United not because he was a bad coach, but because everything about the club was built around Ferguson, and without him it all fell apart.

Its a valid concern, but the solution isn’t to move Erasmus on prematurely, its to try to promote his replacement from within his coaching team. That might mean promoting Erasmus back to DOR, and (re-)hiring Nienaber or JvG as head coach after 2027.

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