[imagesource: Twitter / @RassieRugby]

On Saturday, the Springboks finally put together a dominant second-half performance to crush Italy 63-21.

It was particularly pleasing to see Manie Libbok perform so well off the bench, and our back three (Kurt-Lee Arendse, Cheslin Kolbe, and Willie le Roux) were world-class on the day.

We will be missing a number of big names for this weekend’s clash against England and discipline is one area where we can still improve, having conceded 11 penalties in Genoa.

Once Rassie Erasmus, our Director of Rugby, was hit with a two-match suspension by World Rugby for criticising referees, it was clear that even a positive result wouldn’t shift all of the focus away from the off-field drama.

Dancing Rassie was fun. Moaning Rassie isn’t.

The former coach came under fire from international media outlets, as well as Warren Gatland, who coached the Lions on their recent tour to our shores.

That was to be expected but now John Smit, our 2007 World Cup-winning skipper, has weighed in. Here’s The Telegraph:

…Smit said that the Springboks had become “so easy to dislike” in the wake of Erasmus’s frequent comments.

“It’s hard to defend him. The way he has approached this is not right,” Smit explained. “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.”

It really has.

Gone are the days when we were a popular ‘second side’ and you’ll be hard-pressed to find many from abroad who will root for the Boks.

Bloody hell. Anything to do with rugby involving South Africa has become a cesspit. Telling a ref to ref both sides is not questioning a decision. It is calling him biased and should be a penalty if not yellow card. Remember when I used look forward to watching South Africa.

— Enda8402 (@enda8402) November 19, 2022

Smit also understands that antics like Rassie’s only make it harder for on-field skippers to approach referees to voice concerns during the match. Siya Kolisi must know this every time he queries a decision or raises something he would like the ref to keep an eye on.

It’s not just former skippers, either. Rapport newspaper says that our local coaches are also gatvol. Sport24 has a summary:

…several local coaches and union bosses feel Erasmus’ behaviour is selfish, that his ban is tarnishing SA Rugby’s image and that it will have a negative affect on SA’s URC teams playing abroad.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, a prominent rugby boss said: “We are sick of it. It has to stop now, he has gone too far.”

Another local coach added that the whole saga is “incredibly amateurish and unprofessional”.

The two-match suspension handed down by World Rugby may not be the end of Rassie’s punishment. It’s been reported that it’s a temporary measure and the sport’s governing body is seriously considering taking the matter further.

Look, I love winning rugby matches and World Cups as much as anybody. I also like being seen by the rest of the world as playing the game hard but in the right spirit.

It will take us years to repair the reputational damage of the past few weeks and for that, Rassie should hold his hands up and offer a proper apology.

[sources:tele&sport24]