Rassie Erasmus has let us all down

Rassie Erasmus has told us often and loudly that the Springboks represent the best of South Africa. He’s right. They are proof of what is possible when greedy and corrupt politicians are excluded from a truly authentic nation building project. Their triumphs are a consequence of the hard work of a meritocracy that chooses to recognise the colour of a man’s skin but does not judge him for it.

Which is why a series of incendiary and divisive tweets have let us all down. Rassie, if you’re reading this, you really should have known better.

On Thursday 19 October, a RugbyPass journalist made a pithy comment on Twitter (now X) suggesting that the Springboks are actually a northern hemisphere team in disguise. He pointed out that South African domestic franchises compete in European competitions and that many of their players play for European or Japanese clubs. It was clearly bait dangled by a writer who has a history of riling Boks supporters. But I don’t imagine even he thought he’d nab such a big fish as a director of rugby.

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Erasmus responded by saying, “At least we all South Africa”, accompanied by a meme of a grazing sheep. He then thrice referred to the male journalist as “her” before blocking him publicly. Erasmus later apologised for the misgendering, citing a “typo”, though the tweet has not been deleted.

Where to start? Let’s begin with a couple of caveats. Erasmus is a national treasure. I’m certain that if he ran for higher office, say, the mayor of a major city in South Africa, he’d sweep to victory. He’d certainly do a decent job at fixing one of the country’s failing parastatals. Perhaps he can start with the Post Office and work his way up?

He is also a living embodiment of the rainbowism ideal espoused by Nelson Mandela in the early days of democracy in the mid-1990s. It’s hard to think of a single person who has done more than Erasmus to cultivate true racial transformation in the sport. The Springboks, once synonymous with the racist ideology of the apartheid regime, is now a beacon for multicultural excellence.

But his position, as a World Cup winning coach and the face of the one national team that regularly triumphs on a global stage, means he also carries a great responsibility. He’s not just a rugby practitioner. He is a statesman and an ambassador for our country. What he says matters.

For those unaware, South Africa has some of the highest rape statistics on the planet with Interpol naming it the “rape capital of the world”. This is just one aspect of an epidemic that has seen gender based violence run rampant across race and class. In every facet of society, women and girls live in daily fear for their safety.

I’m sure Erasmus was not intentionally dog whistling to a misogynistic fanbase, but that does not mean his calls weren’t heard. Using ‘her’ as a slur is primary-school banter at best and dangerous at worst. It denigrates half the population and amplifies an unchecked toxicity. Call me a snowflake if you like, but read the replies from female rugby fans and ask yourself if Erasmus’ sexism – intentional or otherwise – isn’t damaging.

But this was just one of Erasmus’ transgressions. The other came in the form of thinly veiled xenophobia when he responded to the original tweet by referencing the homogeneity of his team. One might view this as a proud coach championing the homegrown talent at his disposal, but a deeper understanding of the context leaves a sour taste in the mouth.

The journalist who started this all is a New Zealander. The All Blacks have long been criticised for pilfering talent from the island nations around it. There’s no doubt they’ve benefited from the influx of Samoans, Tongans and Fijians who have either made New Zealand their home, or were born to parents from elsewhere in the Pacific.

Fans of opposition teams have used this as a stick to beat the most successful side in rugby’s history: “Ah, yes, you might have three World Cups and hold every record in the book, but you’d have nothing if you couldn’t import all those stars.”

It’s one thing for a chest thumping supporter to spout this nonsense over pints. But for a director of rugby to do so is both alarming and distressing.

Forgetting the fact that Erasmus won a World Cup with a Zimbabwean – Tendai ‘Beast’ Mtawarira – playing a starring role in the front row, or that the Springboks were previously captained by another Zimbabwean – Bobby Skinstad – the Boks’ director of rugby ought to have a better grasp of the country’s recent history.

Months before the successful World Cup campaign in 2019, 12 foreign nationals were killed in xenophobic riots in South Africa. More than 50 businesses were destroyed or damaged. A mosque was attacked and a mall looted. Families were driven out of their homes. Once again, Erasmus should have known better. This sort of rhetoric appeals to the worst of our society.

And really, he has no excuse. Siya Kolisi and Makazole Mapimpi are just two Springboks who have used their platform to call on South African men to be better, to combat the scourge of gender based violence and speak up if they see their friends or family members acting in a hostile manner towards women. The entire squad has united behind a shared sense of mission that disregards colour or creed.

We hold them to a higher standard because they have asked us to do so. The mythology of the Springboks is fuelled by the love of the supporters but it is also self-perpetuating. They are writers of their own press and directors of their own documentaries. The narrative only holds if it remains consistent.

There is a theory that Erasmus is playing mind games. That he knows exactly what he’s doing and is deflecting attention away from his team as they gear up for a semi-final showdown against England. I don’t buy that.

There are a thousand other ways to achieve this without resorting to inflammatory jibes. There are many fans who have taken issue with Erasmus but there are others who have doubled down on the jingoism. I’m appealing to those fans now to hold our leaders, even the best of them, to account when they transgress.

When millions of Americans protested against their country’s war in Vietnam, counter-protestors rallied behind the mantra of, “Our country, right or wrong.”. This blind loyalty polarised the nation and has led to the stark divide that exists today. That same blind loyalty has seen the ANC retain power in the country despite its litany of failures.

The Springboks are supposed to be better than all that. Its players should be better. Its coaches should be better. And so should the fans.