In the swirling aftermath of the Springboks' latest rugby triumph, coach Rassie Erasmus found himself in the spotlight, not for his tactical nous but for a seemingly cheeky thumbs-up directed at the crowd. Captured on live television, the gesture stirred up its fair share of controversy with claims it was a jab at the Irish supporters in Dublin. However, Erasmus was quick to clarify that his actions were far from provocative.
Post-match, Erasmus was pressed about the incident and he explained, "No, there were South Africans sitting in front of us and saying ‘thank you’, and I said ‘Thank you, back to him’." His response underscored a moment of mutual appreciation rather than the speculated mockery.
The coach reminisced about the unique atmosphere of the Aviva Stadium, saying, "I remember even when I coached Munster here, the coach’s box is like soundproof. You can’t really get the vibe of what’s going on on the field and you get it through the referee’s mike, more or less." He continued to praise the local culture and the respect shown by Irish fans, particularly noting the courteous silence during kicks and the warm reception given to player RG Snyman.
"This is a special stadium. The crowd is special. You know, they’ve got manners when a player takes a kick. I love the way with the pre-match with the military band. I’m glad they gave RG [Snyman] here a bit of a welcoming when he ran onto the field."
Erasmus also touched on the economic sacrifice many South African fans made to support their team abroad, humorously highlighting the strength of the euro versus the rand. "For our people to still come out here… You could still hear them, it was just a thank you," he quipped.
The incident, while initially seen as controversial, highlighted Erasmus's respect and affection for the Irish fans and his acknowledgment of the South African supporters' dedication. It turns out, the thumbs-up was nothing more than a signal of gratitude, a simple gesture that got lost in translation across the fervent rugby battlegrounds.
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In the swirling aftermath of the Springboks' latest rugby triumph, coach Rassie Erasmus found himself in the spotlight, not for his tactical nous but for a seemingly cheeky thumbs-up directed at the crowd. Captured on live television, the gesture stirred up its fair share of controversy with claims it was a jab at the Irish supporters in Dublin. However, Erasmus was quick to clarify that his actions were far from provocative.
Post-match, Erasmus was pressed about the incident and he explained, "No, there were South Africans sitting in front of us and saying ‘thank you’, and I said ‘Thank you, back to him’." His response underscored a moment of mutual appreciation rather than the speculated mockery.
The coach reminisced about the unique atmosphere of the Aviva Stadium, saying, "I remember even when I coached Munster here, the coach’s box is like soundproof. You can’t really get the vibe of what’s going on on the field and you get it through the referee’s mike, more or less." He continued to praise the local culture and the respect shown by Irish fans, particularly noting the courteous silence during kicks and the warm reception given to player RG Snyman.
"This is a special stadium. The crowd is special. You know, they’ve got manners when a player takes a kick. I love the way with the pre-match with the military band. I’m glad they gave RG [Snyman] here a bit of a welcoming when he ran onto the field."
Erasmus also touched on the economic sacrifice many South African fans made to support their team abroad, humorously highlighting the strength of the euro versus the rand. "For our people to still come out here… You could still hear them, it was just a thank you," he quipped.
The incident, while initially seen as controversial, highlighted Erasmus's respect and affection for the Irish fans and his acknowledgment of the South African supporters' dedication. It turns out, the thumbs-up was nothing more than a signal of gratitude, a simple gesture that got lost in translation across the fervent rugby battlegrounds.