Rassie Erasmus is the coach who led the Springboks to back-to-back World Cup glory. Jon Cardinelli charts his journey.
Rassie Erasmus is a former Springbok flanker who has coached the Cheetahs, Stormers, Munster and the South African national team. In 2019, he led the Boks to the Rugby Championship and Rugby World Cup titles as well as being ranked number one in world rugby.
In 2023, he led South Africa to a second consecutive world title, establishing himself as one of the greatest coaches of all time.
Known for his bomb squad-like innovations on the pitch and honesty off the pitch, Erasmus divided opinion with his unconventional methods but certainly energized South Africa behind the rugby team.
Here are some additional facts and statistics about the rugby manager who led South Africa through the Autumn Nations:
10 facts you need to know about Lassie Erasmus
1. Rassie Erasmus made his debut for the Springboks in the third and final Test against the Lions in 1997. The Lions had already won the series by that point, but the Boks, behind Erasmus, restored some pride with a convincing performance. Win at Ellis Park.
2. Erasmus has started all 36 Tests against South Africa. Between 1997 and 1998, he was a regular in Nick Mallet’s trend-setting team that won the Tri-Nations for the first time and achieved the record for most consecutive Test wins (17).
Lassie Erasmus representing South Africa at the RWC in 1999 (Getty Images)
Erasmus was part of the team that took part in the 1999 World Cup in Wales. He often talks about South Africa’s narrow semi-final loss to eventual champions Australia and his failed attempt to stop Stephen Larkham’s winning goal.
3. Erasmus enjoyed leadership roles at Free State and his Super 12 franchise, the Cats. He was given the Springbok captain’s armband for one Test against the Wallabies in 1999, but later declined the responsibility when it was offered.
4. Mallett remembers Erasmus as a player ahead of his time in terms of preparation and analysis. While traveling with Vox in the late 1990s, Erasmus traveled with a computer and printer. Considering the size of the equipment at the time, this was no big deal.
5. He got his first opportunity to coach the Free State Vodacom Cup team in 2004 while recovering from a leg injury. The following season, Erasmus assisted as coach of the Free State senior team, which won the Currie Cup title. Free State shared the domestic trophy with the Bulls after reaching the final in 2006.
6. Bok coach Jake White recruited Erasmus as a technical advisor ahead of the 2007 World Cup. Erasmus was heavily involved in preparations but did not travel to France with the team as he had already accepted an offer to coach the Stormers.
Rassie Erasmus previously coached the Stormers (Gallo Images/Getty Images).
Eddie Jones took over the role for Erasmus and won a World Cup winners’ medal later that year. However, many Bok players of that era still describe Erasmus’ contribution as invaluable.
7. He is popularly known as ‘Rassie’ in the rugby community, but his name is Johan. Foreigners often have difficulty pronouncing his nickname correctly. Lions coach Warren Gatland recently called the South African rugby coach ‘Razzie’ (as opposed to ‘Russ-ie’).
Erasmus was referred to as ‘DJ Rassie’ during his early days with the Cheetahs. Ever the innovator, Erasmus saw the value of watching matches from the roof of the Free State Stadium and communicating with players and management through a system of colored paddles and flashing lights.
8. Erasmus was born on 5 November 1972 in Despatch, a small town in the Eastern Cape. He has been married to Nicolene for over 20 years. The couple has three daughters, including two teenage twins.
9. Erasmus revealed that he was diagnosed with microscopic polyangiitis with granulomatosis in 2019 and received treatment throughout the World Cup. Few people, including many of the Bok players, knew about his illness as he tried to keep it private.
In 2020, Erasmus and his family were infected with COVID-19. At one point, he and his wife became seriously ill. Fortunately, Erasmus and his family made a full recovery.
10. Erasmus moved to Ireland to take up a post in Munster in 2016. The team reached the Pro12 finals. Despite being ultimately underwhelmed by a quality Scarlets team, Erasmus was named Pro12 Coach of the Year.
Erasmus, a passionate South African, returned to his homeland with the intention of pulling the struggling Springbok family out of the quagmire. The Boks fought back to secure their first win on New Zealand soil for nine years and regain the respect of the global rugby community.
Following the Boks’ World Cup success in Japan, Erasmus won the World Rugby Coach of the Year award.
Back in South Africa, as the country celebrated the Boks’ victory, he was hailed as a miracle man – a coach who had united a team made up of different races and cultures to win sport’s highest award.
