Erasmus apologises for ‘not well-mannered outburst’
Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus has issued a formal apology for his recent aggressive behavior toward officials and media following a match against the All Blacks. The apology comes after a series-levelling win in South Africa, as the teams prepare for a final match in the United States.
Why it matters
High-profile sports figures often set the tone for professional conduct; this apology marks a de-escalation in a heated international rugby rivalry.
Springboks boss Rassie Erasmus in Soweto and, inset, sub Andre Esterhuizen
Rassie Erasmus has apologised for last weekend’s F-bomb media briefing and called Dave Rennie a “gentleman” following the Springboks exhilarating 29-24 win over the All Blacks in Saturday’s third Test of Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry.
The aftermath of last Saturday’s series-levelling win by South Africa in Cape Town resulted in Erasmus throwing a wobbler, reacting with expletives when he learned that the New Zealand boss had accused the Springbok scrum of illegality.
The furious bust-up carried over into the build-up to this weekend’s third Test in Soweto and it was only in the aftermath of his team’s five-point win at FNB Stadium, which gives them a 2-1 lead heading into the series finale in the United States of America, that Erasmus finally apologised and offered an olive branch to Rennie.
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