'I'd love Rassie in the England job, he sounds an absolute legend'

Ex-England out-half Freddie Burns has claimed he would love Rassie Erasmus, the controversial South African rugby boss, to succeed Eddie Jones after the 2023 World Cup. There has been much talk since the recently finished Guinness Six Nations about who the RFU should look to recruit with the Australian now entering the last 18 months of his English contract. 

The RFU suggested they would prefer an indigenous coach to take over, something that ex-boss Stuart Lancaster agreed with. Burns, though, explained that he wants Erasmus, who guided the Springboks to 2019 World Cup glory against England, to take on the role as he has a similar extroverted personality as Jones and would be able to handle both the UK media and coach the team. 

If not, Leicester player Burns added that he is a fan of Irishman Ronan O’Gara, who last weekend claimed he would be interested in the England job. However, he reckoned the current La Rochelle boss would be best suited to a head coach role with England underneath a director of rugby, possible Exeter’s Rob Baxter.

Freddie Burns & Max Lahiff – Dropped at Nandos, Loyalty & England’s next head coach | RugbyPass Offload | Episode 28

Freddie Burns & Max Lahiff – Dropped at Nandos, Loyalty & England’s next head coach | RugbyPass Offload | Episode 28

Appearing on the latest episode of RugbyPass Offload, Burns said: “Here is the thing with it, there is so much media and stuff to deal with the circus with being England head coach, manager or whatever it is, so it’s whether they go for a DoR figure who does the media side of things, talks about that and then you have a head coach underneath who actually does the hands-on coaching – it’s quite a balancing act to do both. 

“I love the way Ronan O’Gara talks about the game. Whenever I hear him in an interview it is class, but I don’t really know. I’d love to see Rassie in it. Genuinely, I love the bloke. I have never met him, but just through social media and how he is, I absolutely love the bloke. He sounds like an absolute legend. 

“But from a serious point of view, I don’t really know. I haven’t given it much thought. I should have more of an opinion being on a rugby podcast. Ronan O’Gara could be a great head coach but you would want someone above him to deal with the media side of things and all that so he can just get on with coaching.”

Having listened to Burns regarding Erasmus or O’Gara for England, show co-host and current Bristol prop Max Lahiff added: “I like the idea of Rog [O’Gara] in there, he would be outstanding. I know his acronym is KBA, keep ball alive. La Rochelle play some good code as well and he has got access to some really talented individuals in the England set-up and a lot of the players in the England lineup would suit that style of play, that wide momentum rugby. 

“But do you want someone domestically? A lot of people have been praying for Rob Baxter to take the role. For a while, there has been that talk and Exeter’s success in the last few years has been a testament to that. But then there are guys like Mark McCall as well, would he do it? I don’t know. But I do like the idea of Rog, he is very contemporary and to play some sexy rugby would be pretty good. 

“I would agree with you, nowadays there is so much around it, the social media aspect in being DoR. Rassie and Eddie Jones have their own brand or feel in terms of what they bring to the press and stuff. He [O’Gara] would need someone above him so you would want a DoR.”

The conversation then reverted back to Burns, who continued to emphasise how strong a fit Erasmus would be for England. “Eddie Jones has got his critics and you can look at England’s results and performances in the Six Nations just gone, I know he is leaving anyway but he is unbelievable in what he does – to be able to handle the press the way he does, and let’s not forget England were in the final of the last World Cup. 

“People are very quick to criticise and to want change but there are not many like Eddie Jones out there. There is a reason why he has been at the top of the coaching game for 20-odd years now and that is because he is unbelievable at what he does.  Of course, he is off and England and going to need to change but there is going to be some big old shoes to fill because the way he gets that team going and the way he handles the media and that sort of stuff, there is not that many Eddie Joneses around.

“So you need someone to come in who has got a big personality which is why if O’Gara was to come in and be given the reins as head coach, I believe they need to bring in maybe a Rob Baxter or someone like that above O’Gara to handle the media side of it and all that kind of thing.”