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Rassie Erasmus shares his view on Warren Gatland's winless run

By PA
Warren Gatland chats to Rassie Erasmus during the 2021 British and Irish Lions tour (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Rassie Erasmus has hailed Warren Gatland as “a great coach” and rugby man “through and through” ahead of what could be the New Zealander’s last game as Wales boss. World champions South Africa are overwhelming favourites to inflict a 12th successive Test match defeat on Wales in Saturday’s Autumn Nations Series clash in Cardiff.

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Speculation continues to rage about Gatland’s future in the job, having overseen just six wins from 23 Tests since returning for a second stint as head coach. It starkly contrasts to first time around when Wales were twice Rugby World Cup semi-finalists, won Six Nations titles and Grand Slams, in addition to briefly becoming the world’s top ranked team.

“It was in Twickenham where we last saw each other last summer,” Springboks head coach Erasmus said. “Coaching can become lonely. It is cut-throat. Whenever someone is under the pump, you don’t wish anything bad on that person.

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“I wouldn’t say I would love him to beat us, but I would love him to be successful. Although we have bumped heads in the past, he is a rugby man through and through. I have got a lot of respect for him and I hope he gets the respect from everyone he deserves.”

Erasmus has overseen two World Cup final triumphs during his stint in charge of the Springboks, but they experienced some difficult results prior to him taking over in 2018, including a 57-0 loss to New Zealand. “We were a new coaching staff that came in. It is easy to start a new culture because it’s almost like a new start,” he added.

Team Form

Last 5 Games

0
Wins
4
5
Streak
4
9
Tries Scored
25
-120
Points Difference
99
1/5
First Try
4/5
1/5
First Points
4/5
1/5
Race To 10 Points
4/5

“Wales are in a totally different scenario. I know the record of losing 11 on the trot is obviously not great, and I take ourselves back, just before I took over, and we lost 57-0 in New Zealand. The next weekend we lost to the same team (in Cape Town) by two points. I just know Warren is a great coach and I know they have got great players.

“Sometimes you just turn it around because players believe in a coach, sometimes you just say a right word and the players say they are going to do it for the coach and the country. A lot can change in rugby with a change in confidence and mindset, and Australia is a perfect example of how things can change in the sport if one considers how well they are playing now compared to last year.

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“They [Wales] are a team with everything to gain and nothing to lose, so it would be careless of us to think that we just need to pitch up and the result will go in our favour.”

Erasmus has made seven changes from the team that beat England, including starts for the Hendrikse brothers Jaden and Jordan as half-backs. The other five switches are up front, with hooker Johan Grobbelaar, prop Thomas du Toit, locks Jean Kleyn and Franco Mostert and flanker Elrigh Louw all featuring.

A powerful bench includes six forwards, with Eben Etzebeth, Vincent Koch, RG Snyman being among them, in addition to uncapped flanker Cameron Hanekom. Hanekom, whose grandmother is Welsh, had previously been linked to a possible Test career with Wales.

He said: “It never crossed my mind, honestly. It was more the media that speculated it. Since I was a young boy I have always dreamed of playing for the Springboks.”

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Watch the highly acclaimed five-part documentary Chasing the Sun 2, chronicling the journey of the Springboks as they strive to successfully defend the Rugby World Cup, free on RugbyPass TV (*unavailable in Africa)

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JW 3 hours ago
'He wants players to be able to play four positions': Former All Black critiques Robertson's strategy

I have the selection opinion of ‘chuck them in the deep end, see if they swim’. Starting Mo’unga in the third test

But you’re calling favoritism of Dmac based on common practice, thats the illogical mindset you have and which I’m pointing out.

He isn’t Mo’unga which disproves your statement

You’ve missed my point. Mo’unga is your fixation for ‘game manager’. Dmac is every bit the game manager even then, his boot has always been his best asset.

At 10 I would’ve had: Cruden, B Barrett, and McKenzie

Thats fine, but that statement you’re trying to defend is “I guess Hansen sold them the idea that McKenzie was the way forward at 10” with the implication that now, in 2023 they let Mo’unga go because Dmac he was selected there for one test in 2018.

I brought it up as I it shows that Hansen and Foster would rather have a second 10

I brought those facts up to as I believe that both Hansen and Foster didn’t really want Mo’unga at 10 and only used him at 10 when they ran out of other ideas (which they both did)

And I have shown you the real facts, that they didn’t do that. They played MO’UNGA! The very next series after Dmac was asked to play 10 due to injury, with no experience (hence why he wanted more the next year), Mo’unga was used as the alternative 10 to Barrett, playing one game, WITH MCKENZIE AT 15, of the 6 Rugby Championships. The series after that was were opinion really shifted to Mo’unga having a better partnership with Dmac at the back than Barrett did.


THOSE ARE THE ONLY RELEVANT FACTS!


You can have your theories all you like Spew, but I’m telling you they are based on you own fallacy when it comes your picture of Dmac, and therefor any correlation with Mo’unga. They have always been great together.

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WilmaKiel 5 hours ago
One rule for Europe's copycats, another for the Springboks

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LONG READ
LONG READ Where is the new breed of All Black 10? Where is the new breed of All Black 10?
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