Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Rassie Erasmus: Under pressure Borthwick not 'that kind of man'

By PA
Rassie Erasmus, Head Coach of South Africa, speaks with Handre Pollard of South Africa during the warm up prior to the Autumn Nations Series 2024 match between Scotland and South Africa at the Scottish Gas Murrayfield on November 10, 2024 in Edinburgh, Scotland. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

Rassie Erasmus insists Steve Borthwick is a coach under pressure as South Africa look to inflict further misery on England at Allianz Stadium on Saturday.

ADVERTISEMENT

England are playing to avoid a fifth successive defeat when they host the all-conquering back-to-back world champions with Borthwick’s win rate for his 26 games in charge now 50 per cent.

The Rugby Football Union insists Borthwick has its “100 per cent full support” despite the last-gasp losses to New Zealand and Australia that have soured the autumn.

Video Spacer

Can England bounce back to beat the Boks? | RPTV

Boks Office link up with For the Love of Rugby to discuss the Autumn Nations Series matches. Watch the full show on RugbyPass TV

Watch now

Video Spacer

Can England bounce back to beat the Boks? | RPTV

Boks Office link up with For the Love of Rugby to discuss the Autumn Nations Series matches. Watch the full show on RugbyPass TV

Watch now

England took South Africa to the wire with a safety-first kicking game in last year’s World Cup semi-final and Erasmus suspects Borthwick will fall back on tactics that have been effective in the past.

“When you lose two games, even if it’s by a point or last-minute try, the pressure does start to build. I’ve been there and certainly know how quickly that can get to you. Now Steve is a bit under pressure,” the Springboks’ head coach said.

Fixture
Internationals
England
11:40
16 Nov 24
South Africa
All Stats and Data

“Then one normally falls back on to what works for you. They’ve been successful like that in the past, so we very much expect them to try and squeeze us with the kicking game.”

When asked about the human toll taken on a coach under pressure, Erasmus said: “We have been on that side.

ADVERTISEMENT

“Two or three years ago we lost three on the trot. It was almost four on the trot. It depends on the men in the room, the management. It depends on your CEO – they can make you feel like you have got a gun against your head.

“If you put pressure on coaches it is not nice and you tend to make emotional decisions. But Steve is too smart to do that. Sometimes you try to please them a bit, but I don’t think he is that kind of man.

“Hopefully the environment around him is for him to believe in what he is doing, Hopefully he will get the win next weekend (against Japan).”

Related

Women’s Rugby World Cup England 2025 tickets application phase is now open! Apply now.

ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

1 Comment
B
Bull Shark 2 hours ago

The Rugby Football Union insists Borthwick has its “100 per cent full support” despite the last-gasp losses…

Well they can’t exactly say he has there 50/50 support now can they?


When you lose two games, even if it’s by a point or last-minute try, the pressure does start to build.

No true. Gatland has set the bar. 10 losses and maybe, maybe a stern word from the bosses. Borthwick has nothing to worry about.


Hopefully he will get the win next weekend (against Japan).

Hopefully indeed.

C
CL 4 hours ago

Oh Rassie, such a good rugby man!!

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

TRENDING
TRENDING Felix Jones' England situation has taken another awkward twist Felix Jones' England situation has taken another awkward twist
Search