In the high-stakes world of international rugby, former England prop David Flatman has placed Rassie Erasmus at the pinnacle, labeling him the 'greatest coach of all-time'. This bold claim comes amidst discussions on whether the Springboks need a third consecutive Rugby World Cup win to cement this status. Erasmus, who took over the beleaguered Springboks in 2018, quickly transformed them into 2019 World Cup champions, challenging the dominance of traditional powerhouses like New Zealand.
While New Zealand's Sir Steve Hansen also boasts an impressive resume with back-to-back World Cups under his belt, Flatman argues that Erasmus edges him out. This debate was recently ignited on the Hits Different show, where Danny Care pondered if a third win for Erasmus would undisputedly crown him as the top coach in rugby history. “
‘South Africa to win the World Cup again in 2027? Rassie Erasmus for me, already potentially is one of the greatest coaches of all-time. If he does that, he will surely be the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world. He is then the best coach ever?’
” Care questioned, to which Flatman firmly responded, “
‘Yeah. No question for me.’
”
The conversation also touched on the pressures of being the favorites, a burden that Hansen's All Blacks often carried. Flatman noted, “When all the pressure is always on you to beat everybody else and you deliver, that might diminish it a bit because you are expected to win.” He contrasted this with the resilience of the Springboks, who he feels handle defeat and the resulting lessons better than the All Blacks.
Amid this high praise for Erasmus, Flatman also reflected on the evolution of South African rugby, moving beyond their stereotypical ‘physicality’ to embrace creativity and adaptability. He highlighted players like Faf de Klerk and Cobus Reinach, who, despite not being the biggest on the field, bring an aggressive and powerful play style that personifies the new era of Springbok rugby.
As the debate continues, what stands clear is the profound impact Rassie Erasmus has had on South African rugby, transforming them into a powerhouse feared across the rugby world, and potentially, according to pundits like Flatman, securing his legacy as the greatest coach in the annals of rugby history.
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In the high-stakes world of international rugby, former England prop David Flatman has placed Rassie Erasmus at the pinnacle, labeling him the 'greatest coach of all-time'. This bold claim comes amidst discussions on whether the Springboks need a third consecutive Rugby World Cup win to cement this status. Erasmus, who took over the beleaguered Springboks in 2018, quickly transformed them into 2019 World Cup champions, challenging the dominance of traditional powerhouses like New Zealand.
While New Zealand's Sir Steve Hansen also boasts an impressive resume with back-to-back World Cups under his belt, Flatman argues that Erasmus edges him out. This debate was recently ignited on the Hits Different show, where Danny Care pondered if a third win for Erasmus would undisputedly crown him as the top coach in rugby history. “
‘South Africa to win the World Cup again in 2027? Rassie Erasmus for me, already potentially is one of the greatest coaches of all-time. If he does that, he will surely be the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world. He is then the best coach ever?’
” Care questioned, to which Flatman firmly responded, “‘Yeah. No question for me.’
”The conversation also touched on the pressures of being the favorites, a burden that Hansen's All Blacks often carried. Flatman noted, “When all the pressure is always on you to beat everybody else and you deliver, that might diminish it a bit because you are expected to win.” He contrasted this with the resilience of the Springboks, who he feels handle defeat and the resulting lessons better than the All Blacks.
Amid this high praise for Erasmus, Flatman also reflected on the evolution of South African rugby, moving beyond their stereotypical ‘physicality’ to embrace creativity and adaptability. He highlighted players like Faf de Klerk and Cobus Reinach, who, despite not being the biggest on the field, bring an aggressive and powerful play style that personifies the new era of Springbok rugby.
As the debate continues, what stands clear is the profound impact Rassie Erasmus has had on South African rugby, transforming them into a powerhouse feared across the rugby world, and potentially, according to pundits like Flatman, securing his legacy as the greatest coach in the annals of rugby history.