In the swirling vortex of South African rugby news, the exclusion of Asenathi Ntlabakanye from the Springboks' lineup for their daunting New Zealand tour has sent ripples far and wide. But, according to Rassie Erasmus, this move was less about sidelining the player and more about shielding him.
Recently, it came to light that the 26-year-old Lions prop was under specific medical treatment, prescribed legitimately by a sports doctor to tackle a health hiccup. SA Rugby made it clear that this was all above board, with treatments given the green light under strict medical supervision. The aim? To ensure that Ntlabakanye was not seeking an edge through underhanded means, but rather following doctor's orders to stay in fighting form.
"He acted in good faith and always followed the prescribed medical procedure. He relied on medical advice and at no stage attempted to gain an unfair advantage," the union stated, defending the player's integrity.
"I had a good conversation with him beforehand,"
Erasmus revealed, shedding light on the decision-making process. "If Asenathi were on tour, we felt that many questions would’ve been directed at him and that could’ve taken away his focus for the game ahead."
Erasmus painted a picture of a player caught between personal health issues and the professional pressure cooker of international rugby, suggesting that dragging Ntlabakanye along on the high-stakes tour might have done more harm than good. "It’s obviously a hugely personal thing that he’s dealing with now and doing all he can to deal with it. It would’ve taken a lot from him, and then still having to focus on playing under massive pressure while distracted," he added.
While the coach's protective stance on Ntlabakanye was clear, his attention quickly turned to the looming clash at Eden Park—a stadium where the Springboks have not tasted victory since the days of black-and-white photos and leather balls. "We are really desperate. We want to win here, but it’ll motivate the All Blacks even more, and they’ll be even more desperate," Erasmus pointed out, highlighting the fierce rivalry and deep respect between the two teams.
With the historical backdrop of Eden Park, where the All Blacks have stood unbeaten since before the internet became a household staple, Erasmus acknowledged the weight of the upcoming match.
"It’s a massive game and a great honour. It’s a nervy week for both teams."
Though wary of declaring it the most significant challenge since their World Cup win, he couldn’t downplay its importance, summing it up simply but effectively: "but ja, it’s massive."
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In the swirling vortex of South African rugby news, the exclusion of Asenathi Ntlabakanye from the Springboks' lineup for their daunting New Zealand tour has sent ripples far and wide. But, according to Rassie Erasmus, this move was less about sidelining the player and more about shielding him.
Recently, it came to light that the 26-year-old Lions prop was under specific medical treatment, prescribed legitimately by a sports doctor to tackle a health hiccup. SA Rugby made it clear that this was all above board, with treatments given the green light under strict medical supervision. The aim? To ensure that Ntlabakanye was not seeking an edge through underhanded means, but rather following doctor's orders to stay in fighting form.
"He acted in good faith and always followed the prescribed medical procedure. He relied on medical advice and at no stage attempted to gain an unfair advantage," the union stated, defending the player's integrity.
"I had a good conversation with him beforehand,"
Erasmus revealed, shedding light on the decision-making process. "If Asenathi were on tour, we felt that many questions would’ve been directed at him and that could’ve taken away his focus for the game ahead."Erasmus painted a picture of a player caught between personal health issues and the professional pressure cooker of international rugby, suggesting that dragging Ntlabakanye along on the high-stakes tour might have done more harm than good. "It’s obviously a hugely personal thing that he’s dealing with now and doing all he can to deal with it. It would’ve taken a lot from him, and then still having to focus on playing under massive pressure while distracted," he added.
While the coach's protective stance on Ntlabakanye was clear, his attention quickly turned to the looming clash at Eden Park—a stadium where the Springboks have not tasted victory since the days of black-and-white photos and leather balls. "We are really desperate. We want to win here, but it’ll motivate the All Blacks even more, and they’ll be even more desperate," Erasmus pointed out, highlighting the fierce rivalry and deep respect between the two teams.
With the historical backdrop of Eden Park, where the All Blacks have stood unbeaten since before the internet became a household staple, Erasmus acknowledged the weight of the upcoming match.
"It’s a massive game and a great honour. It’s a nervy week for both teams."
Though wary of declaring it the most significant challenge since their World Cup win, he couldn’t downplay its importance, summing it up simply but effectively: "but ja, it’s massive."