'We'll probably get worse decisions': Another Bok captain calls for action by SARU over Erasmus' saga

Former Springbok legend Victor Matfield has become the latest figure from South Africa to call on action from SARU to deal with Rassie Erasmus.

Matfield, well regarded as one of the game’s all-time greats with 127 tests for the Springboks, joined former captain John Smit to speak out over what has become an ongoing distraction for the Springboks.

Erasmus, fresh off a 12-month ban following the Lions series debacle, received another two-match ban for his activity on social media platform Twitter after South Africa lost to Ireland and France over the last month.

The former Springbok lock called on action from SARU to either stand by Erasmus or silence him after remaining quiet over the matter publicly.

“I think so, we’re in a position where he is our director of rugby and he is the face of SA Rugby,” Matfield told South African publication News24 at an invitational golf tournament.

“He has been tapped on the fingers twice from the IRB (World Rugby) and SA Rugby is saying nothing.

“Either SA Rugby must stand with him and say that they’ll back him 100 percent or someone from SA Rugby needs to talk to [him] and make him stop what he is doing.”

Matfield feared that the treatment of officials by Erasmus will led to subliminal punishment for the Boks, where calls will start going against them out.

“SA Rugby has to decide what they need to do, but it’s not looking good in the world for SA Rugby and it doesn’t help with the referees, we’ll probably get worse decisions every week.”

2007 World Cup-winning captain John Smit went further than Matfield, calling for action against Erasmus for his ‘undefendable’ approach in airing grievances online.

“It’s hard to defend him,” Smit told BBC’s Rugby Union Daily podcast.

“The way he has approached this is not right. Are you telling me Rassie is the only coach frustrated by a call that has gone the wrong way?

“Something has to be done. There has to be a line that has to be drawn, and he is making it difficult for his team.

“It’s made us, as a rugby team, so easy to dislike.”