Rassie Erasmus, the seasoned coach of the Springboks, is gearing up for a formidable clash with England in Johannesburg this coming Saturday. In a sportive twist of humility, Erasmus refrained from predicting the lineup of his counterpart, Steve Borthwick’s team, a lesson learned from past experiences that stirred more headlines than intended.
Back in November 2024, Erasmus made waves by accurately predicting the English XV before they were officially announced for the Autumn Nations Series game at Twickenham—an act that he has chosen not to repeat. "I didn’t know last time it would make such a big story," Erasmus remarked with a chuckle. "We have an idea, but it’s a guess. I am not going to read it out again and then it’s a big story."
The Springboks have added a strategic asset to their ranks with the recruitment of Joe Lewis, a former England analyst. His insights are expected to be invaluable, especially given his nine-year tenure with the English team. Erasmus praised the new addition, highlighting the depth of experience Lewis brings to the table. "Of course he [Lewis] is familiar with England, without a doubt. It’s like when Matthew Proudfoot moved away from us in 2019, and the next year we played England," Erasmus explained.
"We always had only one analyst,"
Erasmus highlighted the disparity in resources compared to other tier one nations and expressed his satisfaction with now having three analysts, including Lewis. Each analyst has a specific focus area, enhancing the team’s strategic preparations. "Paddy is with the scrums and the lineout; Lyndsey is with the backline and then Joe is with the attack and then they rotate a little bit. It’s good to get a fresh voice with new ideas in," he added.
Reflecting on the long-standing rivalry with England, Erasmus shared personal anecdotes from his playing days, underscoring the deep-rooted competitive spirit between the two nations. "I can remember when I was playing we were going for 18 wins in a row under Nick Mallett and I will never forget, England took it away from us. It’s just a great rivalry always against us," he said.
With the Nations Championship opener on the horizon, Erasmus is keen to see his team, including newcomers like Cameron Hanekom and Zach Porthen, rise to the occasion against a well-regarded opponent. "This is a Test match against England. You get big Test matches, and England is certainly one of them," Erasmus concluded, setting the stage for what promises to be a thrilling encounter.