Rassie Erasmus reveals three masterstroke appointments

On Tuesday it was confirmed that Rassie Erasmus is stepping back from his role as director of rugby to focus fully on serving as the Springbok head coach for the next four years.

CONFIRMED: Rassie Erasmus NO LONGER director of rugby

It’s with this priority in mind that he would have been the key decision-maker in assembling a new-look management team, and he has undoubtedly delivered some masterstrokes in ensuring the Springboks refresh and evolve in a new four-year World Cup cycle.

ALSO READ | Springbok coaches host first session ‘in hospital’ with Rassie

THREE SPRINGBOK MASTERSTROKES FROM RASSIE ERASMUS

Appointing foreign coaches, including an attack specialist

It’s clear that the Springboks want to keep evolving the attacking side of their game, and the appointment of former All Black flyhalf Tony Brown is a stunning recruitment.

Brown, who served as an assistant coach for Japan from 2016 to the 2023 World Cup and was also the Highlanders head coach in 2017, 2021 and 2022, has plenty of experience, and will focus on attack for the Springboks.

It’s a role that the Springboks previously didn’t have a specialist coach specifically focusing on, but to bring in a New Zealander with new ways of thinking is a brilliant move.

Similarly, to bring in more international IP and a different way of thinking has been exemplified through the appointment of former Ireland hooker and Harlequins assistant coach Jerry Flannery.

Flannery previously worked with Erasmus at Munster, and he will take charge of the team’s defence, with the two men clearly having great faith in each other.

ALSO READ | Nienaber already a hit in Ireland, but can Boks get him back?

National Laws Advisor

It was also confirmed that Erasmus has created a new role by recruiting renowned former international referee and four-time Referee of the Year, Jaco Peyper, to join the Bok management.

Erasmus has a well-known history with referees and World Rugby when it comes to communication over officiating, but the addition of Peyper will ensure the Boks stay in tune with all the various nuances and laws of the game.

It’s a brilliant appointment that will only make the Springboks better, while allowing Erasmus to entrust Peyper with communicating any concerns or queries to World Rugby.

ALSO READ | Former referee Jaco Peyper joins Springbok management group

Empowering Duane Vermeulen

Double World Cup-winning Springbok eighthman, Duane Vermeulen, has also been appointed to a roving coaching role with all SA Rugby’s national teams, where he will become the third member of a mobi-coaching unit, joining forces with existing coaches, Franzel September and Bafana Nhleko.

Vermeulen has clearly been identified as someone with natural coaching ability, and it’s evident that he can add great value by working with various teams within the SA Rugby system.

The highly popular figure will gain plenty of experience in his new ‘roving role’, and will certainly contribute to the Springboks’ coaching in the near future.

ALSO READ | Duane Vermeulen joins new-look SA Rugby coaching staff