Former Irish international Simon Zebo has nothing but praise for Springboks head coach Rassie Erasmus, baffled by any negativity towards the coach's innovative tactics. Zebo, who played under Erasmus during his tenure at Munster, witnessed first-hand the transformative impact Erasmus and his coaching partner Jacques Nienaber had on the team.
"He was the best coach I ever had. Himself and Jacques Nienaber were by far [the best]. I’ve never dealt with anybody, from a coaching perspective, as incredible as they are," Zebo expressed on the Behind the Ruck podcast. His admiration stems from their meticulous attention to detail and the instant cultural shift they engineered within the team. "The demands on players, just everything. You just know winners when you’re working with them, and those two guys were two of the best."
"You know winners when you’re working with them"
Erasmus' career did not just peak at Munster; he went on to lead the Springboks to back-to-back Rugby World Cup victories in 2019 and 2023, alongside a triumphant series against the British and Irish Lions. His tenure, however, has not been without controversy, often finding himself at odds with rugby authorities over his outspoken criticisms and boundary-pushing tactics.
During the recent July Tests against Italy, Erasmus' strategy included some eyebrow-raising moves like purposefully committing infractions for strategic scrums and using lineout-style lifts in open play. These tactics have divided opinions, but Zebo is a staunch supporter, attributing the criticism to jealousy over the Springboks' mastery of the set-piece.
"I think it’s amazing, it’s innovative and it shows the intelligence of the man. I don’t know why people would take it negatively, it’s just because the Springboks are so good at set-piece or scrum or maul or lineout,"
Zebo added, "They’re clever enough to find ways to introduce that into the game, to get the game to be played on their terms – the way they want it played. I think it’s intelligent and long may it continue. I love watching the Springboks because of those guys; I’m a Springboks fan as well."
Zebo's insights reveal a deep respect and fondness for Erasmus' approach, emphasizing that the innovations brought forward by the South African coach are not just effective but revolutionary, pushing the game of rugby into new, uncharted territories.