'If I did hurt him then I do apologise' - Vunipola responds to video clip
The British and Irish Lions will continue to use official channels if they have concerns over foul play despite South Africa boss Rassie Erasmus resuming his social media campaign against the tourists.
Erasmus on Monday morning used his official Twitter account to accuse Mako Vunipola of being “reckless and dangerous” when he lifted a prone Cheslin Kolbe to his feet in the Lions’ 22-17 victory in the first Test.
It comes amid claims that the Springboks’ director of rugby and waterboy may have been interacting with a fake account which he himself controls to highlight transgressions by the Lions.
“Cheslin is obviously played in the air and clearly not direct into touch!!More importantly for youngsters watching this clip!!!!” Erasmus tweeted.
“Please never move or touch an injured player on the ground, its reckless and dangerous!”
The Lions have responded by stating they will not be using social media to air any concerns over dangerous play.
“We thought the officials did a really good job at the weekend and if there’s anything we need to bring up we’ll go through the appropriate channels,” defence coach Steve Tandy said.
“Every team can go through micro details and analyse them. We do it ourselves, but it’s then about going through the appropriate channels, raising the ones that are relevant and not making it about every small detail.
“If we can keep to the proper channels, that’s probably the best way because it’s a tough job for the players, the coaches, and it’s definitely tough for the referees too.”
Erasmus was stressing that because Kolbe might potentially have been injured, Vunipola should have allowed medics to attend the Springboks wing first rather than hauling him off the ground.
Vunipola, however, hit back by saying that Kolbe appeared to be unharmed following contact with Ali Price.
“I guess if he was really hurt then it was a bit reckless, but I just felt like the collision wasn’t that bad,” Vunipola said.
“I saw that people were putting it up (on social media) and mentioning it. We were behind at the time and I wanted to get some tempo in the game so I wanted to get the ball off him.
Thanks. This is rugby – sometimes calls go for you and other times they dont https://t.co/ONZp0uoWJF
— Rassie Erasmus (@RassieRugby) July 25, 2021
“If I did hurt him then I do apologise but in the heat of the moment, you just react as you would naturally. He seemed to be all right, he played on in the game, so it wasn’t that reckless, was it?”
Erasmus first used Twitter to attack the Lions in the wake of the South Africa ‘A’ game on July 14 when he posted clips of Owen Farrell making what he deemed to be questionable tackles.
The mastermind of the Springboks’ 2019 World Cup triumph was responding to Warren Gatland’s suggestion that Faf de Klerk should have been sent off for an illegal hit on Josh Navidi.
Following the Lions’ victory in the first Test, Erasmus struck a conciliatory tone when he posted: “No excuses this side!! You are far away from home, families and going through same tough covid protocols like we do!! Congrats and well deserved !!!”.
But on Sunday events took a peculiar turn when he retweeted a post from an anonymous user showing some “questionable calls” by the officials against the world champions.
As part of the retweet, Erasmus adds: “Thanks. This is rugby – sometimes calls go for you and other times they dont”.
In a twist, the anonymous poster named ‘Jaco Johan’ uses the same type of graphic – a yellow circle – to highlight the examples of alleged foul play as Erasmus does on his official account.
Additionally, the user whose bio reads “The real Rassie Erasmus” has tweeted only twice and on both occasions the content was of well-edited video clips implicating the Lions in dangerous play.
It has led to claims on social media that Erasmus has been interacting with himself on Twitter, continuing a bizarre series for the former Springboks back row whose waterboy act on matchday has been mocked by Gatland.
Comments on RugbyPass
“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
3 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
2 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
3 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
3 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
3 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
2 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
4 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to commentsJake White is a brilliant coach and a master in the press. This is another masterclass in media relations and PR but its also a very narrow view with arguments that dont always hold water. White wants his team to win, he wants the best players in SA and wants his team competitive. You however have to face up to the reality of a poor exchange rate and big clubs with big budgets. SA Rugby cant compete and unless it can find more money SA players will keep leaving regardless of Springbok eligibility and this happened in 2015 - 2017. Also rugby is not cricket. Cricket has 3 formats and T20 cricket is where the money is at. When it comes to club vs country the IPL is king but that wont happen because the international calendar does not clash with the club calendar in rugby. So the argument about rugby going down the same path as cricket is really a non-starter
22 Go to commentsNZ rugby seem not to have learnt anything from professional rugby. Super rugby was dying and SA left before they died with the competition. SA rugby did a u turn on their approach to international players playing overseas and such players are now selected for Bok teams. As much as each country would love to retain their players playing in local competitions, this is the way the world is evolving my friends. Move with it or stay 20 years behind the times. One more thing. NZ rugby hierarchy think they are the big cheese. Take a more humble approach guys. You do not seem to have your players best interests at heart.
3 Go to commentsBeaches? In Cardiff? Where?
1 Go to commentsHe is right , the Crusaders will be a threat. Scott Barrett, ( particularly), Fergus Burke , Codie Taylor, ( from sabbatical) etc due back soon for the Crusaders. There are others like Zach Gallagher too. People can right the Crusaders off, Top 8 , here we come !!
1 Go to commentsWe will always struggle for money to match the other sides but the least the WRU can do is invest properly in Welsh rugby. Too much has been squandered on vanity projects like the hotel and roof walk amongst others which will never see a massive return. Hanging the 4 pro sides out to dry over the last decade is now coming back to bite the WRU financially as well as on the pitch. You reap what you sow.
1 Go to commentsWhat do you get if you cross a doctor with a fish? A plastic sturgeon
14 Go to commentsWhat happened to feleti Kaitu’u? Hasnt played in a while right?
1 Go to commentsGregor I just can’t agree with you. You are trying to find something that just isn’t there. Jordie Barrett has signed until 2028. By the end of that he would have spent probably 11-12 years on Super Rugby and you say he can’t possibly have one season playing somewhere else. It is absurd. What about this scenario, the NZR play hard ball and he decides to leave and play overseas. How would that affect the competition. There seems to be an agenda by certain journalists to push certain agendas and don’t like it when it’s not to their liking. I fully support the NZR on this. Gregor needs to get a life.
3 Go to commentsHope he stays as believe he can do a great job.
1 Go to comments