Although most headlines will understandably focus on Siya Kolisi reaching his 100th Test cap this Saturday, it’s a fitting twist of fate that Rassie Erasmus will also celebrate his 50th Test as Springbok head coach this weekend.
Erasmus and Kolisi have walked a long road together, and they have enjoyed incredible success along the way, which of course includes back-to-back World Cup titles.
Although Erasmus still served prominently at the helm even when he held the title of ‘director of rugby’ between 2020 and 2023, he will now reach 50 Tests as ‘head coach’ on Saturday, moving just five games away from becoming the most-capped Springbok coach of all time.
Erasmus currently has a win percentage of 73.5%, which gives him the best record of any modern-day Springbok coach.
Rassie Erasmus is already widely regarded as the greatest Springbok coach of all time
Bok boss to shy away from the spotlight
Although Erasmus certainly deserves to be celebrated as he leads the Springboks in this milestone match, you can rest assured that he will defer all attention to Kolisi, while fully focusing on ensuring the team is as well prepared as possible for a huge battle against France.
“It’s a totally different ball game going there (to the Stade de France),” Erasmus commented.
“It’s a pressure cooker, and it gets to you. We beat them in the (2023) World Cup quarter-final, but we know how close that match was, so it’s a massive game, and then there’s Ireland ahead as well as Italy and Wales.
“So, although we are building, we need to keep reminding one another about that. We knew what was coming at Eden Park (against New Zealand), and we couldn’t pull it through, so we have to do some intelligent and physical stuff to pull it through this week.”
