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Rassie Erasmus hoses down racism claims after Makazole Mapimpi excluded from white-player celebrations in private team joke
South African coach Rassie Erasmas was quick to explain why winger Makazole Mapimpi was excluded from celebrations at the end of their win over Italy, hosing down claims of racism within the squad.
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The match broadcast captured six white South Africans appearing to exclude Mapimpi from the celebrations, which Erasmus explained as a team joke that has nothing to do with race.
“I would like to explain it. I know the people who want to take it the right way will take it the right way, and the majority of the people in South Africa want to take it the right way,” he told media on Sunday.
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Erasmus explained that within the squad the team has factions that receive nicknames for the jobs they are required to do for the team.
“Everybody that’s been part of a touring or Springbok side know that in a squad of 31, there are guys who make the 23, and the eight guys outside the 23 are called the dirt-trackers.
“Those are the guys like Bongi, who are not playing against Canada. They help you prepare for the test match.
“Then you get the starting 15, and the reserves, who call themselves different names. For example, we currently on this tour call them the ‘Bomb Squad’, because they must come in and either fix it – when it’s not going well on the park or they must sort out the situation.
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“Or it’s just a false alarm, where they are not even going on to the park. So, it’s a kind of a standing joke in the team. The whole week, the joke was around Lood de Jager, who was now out of the Bomb Squad because he is now in the starting line-up, and Sous (Franco Mostert) was now part of the Bomb Squad.
“So, the standing joke for the week was that he (de Jager) doesn’t qualify for the Bomb Squad anymore. It was a teasing thing the whole week.
“At the end of the game, and the Bomb Squad was getting together, Lood was on his way there, and Frans Steyn told him ‘No, you are not part of the Bomb Squad anymore!’
As the private celebration took place, starting winger Mapimpi also attempted to join before realising it was the ‘Bomb Squad’ and turning away.
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“So, it was a joke – just a joke about Lood not joining there. And Mapimps was on his way to the Bomb Squad, and he saw it was the Bomb Squad and he just turned around.
Erasmus ensured that it had nothing to do with his skin colour and that he would never allow anything like that in his team. Mapimpi also turned to Twitter to explain the situation in a video posted on the social media platform.
“It’s so sad that somebody could see something negative in that because I can give you my word – I would not, as a head coach, allow anything like that in the team, and there is nothing like that in the team.
“So, for those who want to see something negative in that, I guess they will find something negative.
The coach insists that the team is as united as ever, where no player would ever be excluded based on race.
“But I guarantee that the other 95 percent of people in South Africa, who wants to know the truth, that is the truth. I can guarantee you that this team is such a nice, close-knit team, and there will never be something like that, where a team member can’t be in a huddle.
RugbyPass talks to Mike Tindall and Matt Giteau on who will win the Rugby World Cup:
Comments on RugbyPass
I’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
4 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“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
4 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.
6 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…??? 🤑🤑🤑
11 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
11 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)
4 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.
6 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.
4 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 comments