South Africa: Rassie Erasmus says he would not coaching another nation

Double World Cup-winning South Africa coach Rassie Erasmus says he wouldn’t coach another international side in the future as he wouldn’t know what makes the country “tick”.

Erasmus, 51, has established himself as one of the all-time great coaches after leading the Springboks to World Cup glory in 2019 and 2023.

But, while he has worked in club rugby overseas with Munster, he says he couldn’t see himself leading another national side.

“If you don’t know a culture of a team and their heartbeat, you don’t understand why they are playing and how their fans are,” he told BBC Sport.

“I did consider it once and I loved my time at Munster as it was very Bloemfontein-like. But I wouldn’t know what makes another country tick.”

After acting as South Africa director of rugby for the 2023 victory, Erasmus has returned to his head coach role following Jacques Nienaber’s departure for Leinster.

In a wide-ranging interview on the Rugby Union Weekly podcast, Erasmus said he remains highly motivated by the unique challenge of coaching the Springboks and trying to inspire the nation.

“That pat on the shoulder for winning the World Cup, it’s nice and you enjoy that, but it is more the South Africans. If you see the South African people and the gratitude on people’s faces…” Erasmus explained.

“People talk about hope and that everyone can become a Springbok – that’s nonsense. There have only been 900 Springboks in the history of the game.

“But I think it is the working together of South Africans. It doesn’t matter what you are – if you are Christian, Muslim, Black, English, Afrikaans, Xhosa, Zulu.

“If you use the best of everybody, that’s what gives me a kick. It gives me a kick when people see what can be done. And the players are understanding that.

“It comes with a hell of a lot of pressure, but I would rather lose and keep on fixing it and [trying to] evolve.”