Woodward takes another pop at Erasmus in his latest Lions column
Clive Woodward has fired back at Rassie Erasmus, declaring that the behaviour of Lions boss Warren Gatland has been statesmanlike in comparison to the hot and bothered antics of the Springboks director of rugby whose team are 1-0 down in the Test series following last Saturday’s loss in Cape Town.
Writing in the Daily Mail, Woodward initially had Erasmus in his crosshairs due to the seemingly worrying dynamic in his relationship with rookie South African head coach Jacques Nienaber, who was the team’s defence coach at the 2019 World Cup before stepping up to take on the task of coaching the team on the premise that this would free-up director Erasmus to look after the whole of rugby in South Africa.
Rather than taking a backwards step and allowing full control to Nienaber, as suggested by Woodward, Erasmus has remained a hands-on presence in recent months and he had a pop at the 2003 World Cup-winning coach after the Springboks team for the second Test was named on Tuesday.
“I don’t know if ‘Sir’ is so important in South Africa as it is in England. That is just his opinion and myself and Jacques are great mates,” insisted Erasmus. “I am the water carrier. Jacques is higher than me in the rank. We have always worked together since the military in 1990.
“You look at Saturday: in minute 71 we score a try that is pulled back and if it was not people would be saying the relationship is perfect. So I wouldn’t listen to too much of Clive Woodward. He doesn’t matter to me.”
Star Lions lock Maro Itoje was on England's Six Nations naughty step just a few months ago#LionsTour2021 #LionsRugby #RSAvBILhttps://t.co/pwLxzRz0W2
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) July 28, 2021
Woodward has since written another Sportsmail column, making a withering comparison between the conduct of Erasmus and Gatland while assessing the three changes the Lions boss has made to his starting XV. “While Rassie Erasmus has been getting all hot and bothered on Twitter, the Lions have been concentrating on getting their most important selection of the tour correct,” said the ex-England boss.
“Erasmus is proving a distraction for South Africa while Warren Gatland has been statesmanlike as he prepares a squad looking to close out the series. Neither side produced their A-game last week – not for the full 80 minutes – so I am not surprised the Lions have made a few tweaks.
“The old adage about not changing a winning team is tempting, but not when you are convinced a few changes can improve the performance. The Lions can improve considerably on last week and Gatland, with all his experience, will know that. He won’t be fooled by the feel-good factor of a famous win.”
The Lions have left out Elliot Daly, Ali Price and Rory Sutherland in place of Chris Harris, Conor Murray and Mako Vunipola, alterations Woodward approves of. “The three changes in starting personnel for the Lions all make sense and have a clear logic,” he continued.
“The one part of the Boks game that was in full working order was sending big Damian de Allende crashing through the midfield. There will be much more of that this week and Harris is probably better equipped to defuse that threat.
“Murray at his best – and I’m thinking of the Murray who guided Ireland to a comfortable win over England in the last Six Nations game – is a master of taking the sting out of a high-octane game and delivering the killer blow when needed.
“Possibly the biggest bonus for the Lions was the re-emergence of Mako Vunipola, who seemed to get his mojo back when he came off the bench in the second half… it is no surprise that Gatland has recalled a player he has always liked.”
Rassie Erasmus is proving to be a bad distraction for South Africa | @CliveWoodward https://t.co/Ut4HjRPWgb
— MailOnline Sport (@MailSport) July 27, 2021
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