Eddie Jones, the former head coach of England, has lauded Rassie Erasmus, the current director of rugby for the South Africa national team, for his innovative coaching methods and significant impact on the sport in South Africa.
Jones first encountered Erasmus before the 2007 Rugby World Cup during a safari trip in South Africa. At the time, Erasmus was a technical advisor for the Springboks. Jones, who was preparing to coach Saracens, was asked by then-Springboks coach Jake White to step in for Erasmus during the trip. During this brief handover, Jones was presented with a remarkably detailed opposition analysis dossier on a cumbersome, old computer.
"It was like something out of the 1950s, a huge old thing. It was so heavy," Jones recalled. "I opened it up and he had the most complete dossier on opposition players that I had ever seen. He had so much detail on all the teams that South Africa were playing at the World Cup. Scrum and lineout plays. Honestly, it was incredible. It was another level to anything I had ever seen before."
Jones noted that in 2007, advanced technology like iPads and live player data feeds were not common in rugby. He credited Erasmus's foresight and meticulous research as a key factor in South Africa's 2007 World Cup victory, recognizing him as an innovator who was "years ahead of everyone else."
Erasmus rejoined the Springboks in 2017, taking over from Allister Coetzee. His first match as head coach was against England, coached by Jones. Jones observed an immediate shift in the team's strategy and player selection, noting Erasmus's decisive approach. He contrasted Erasmus's tactical, work-ethic-driven style with Coetzee's more expansive, human-centric approach.
"He took them back to old-style Springbok rugby, with 45 kicks a game. You could see the work ethic of the team shift," Jones said.
Beyond tactical acumen, Jones described Erasmus as a friendly figure with an underlying "dogged determination" and a deep love for the game. He believes Erasmus is a perfect fit for the Springboks, emphasizing their hard, tough style, counter-attacking prowess, and aggressive defense, which have contributed to their World Cup wins in 2019 and 2023.
Erasmus's influence extends beyond the national team, significantly shaping South African rugby at all levels. Jones pointed to the strong nationalistic pride and financial incentives that encourage players to represent their country, potentially making them the highest-paid rugby players globally when considering the cost of living. Jones also highlighted the effectiveness of South Africa's youth development system, facilitated by a mobile coaching unit that scouts young talent. This system, according to Jones, is responsible for the emergence of talented players such as Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Damian Willemse, Cheslin Kolbe, and Edwin van der Merwe.
Jones also commented on player selection and depth, suggesting that South Africa's ability to push players through rigorous training on Mondays, even after matches, is a testament to their deep talent pool. This contrasts with nations like England, where players based in France are ineligible, potentially limiting depth. Jones specifically mentioned Jack Willis as a player who could significantly improve the England team if allowed to play internationally while based in France.
Regarding England's current situation, Jones expressed confidence in Steve Borthwick as coach but urged consistency in the fly-half selection, suggesting Fin Smith as the ideal candidate. He emphasized the need for England to develop a faster, flatter attacking game to increase their scoring capability, particularly in the opposition's 22-meter area.
Jones also briefly touched upon potential tactical shifts, such as new maul rules, noting their possible benefit to South Africa's powerful forward pack, though he expressed skepticism about their ability to maul more than they already do. He also mentioned Joe Lewis, a former member of England's analysis team who joined the Springboks, stating that while Lewis's inside knowledge is valuable, it is unlikely to be a decisive factor in an upcoming match.