SA Rugby Director of Rugby Rassie Erasmus turns 50 on Saturday. Will the Springboks ship the proper birthday current in Dublin?
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Erasmus said the Springboks would face a stiff problem from Ireland on the Aviva Stadium this weekend within the opening match of their finish of yr tour, and added the truth that the groups would cross paths in subsequent yr’s Rugby World Cup would boost the Test much more.
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The final time the groups met in Dublin in 2017, Ireland registered a 38-3 victory, and whereas it could be important for some, Erasmus stated this was a brand new period for each groups.
“We got a proper hiding here the last time and then we won the Rugby World Cup two years later, and it is now five years later,” stated Erasmus.
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“Ireland are doing quite a bit proper on and off the sector, so we all know we’re in for stiff competitors, particularly with their passionate crowd on their aspect.
“The fact that the teams are facing one another in next year’s Rugby World Cup will certainly spice things up, but we know what we are in for. We last won here in 2012, but we both have new teams and new game plans.”
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With Erasmus and Springbok head coach Jacques Nienaber having coached at Munster earlier than steering the Springboks to Rugby World Cup glory precisely three years in the past on Wednesday, Erasmus admitted that whereas there’s a notion that he could have an inside lane into Ireland’s approach of doing issues on the sector, this principle additionally labored in reverse.
Rassie Erasmus will flip 50 on Saturday
“People may believe that I know the Irish system well having coached here, but they know me very well here too, so one can look at that from a different perspective as well,” stated Rassie Erasmus.
“Jason (Jenkins) joined us on this tour, and he will be going back to Leinster, but he will go back knowing our structures well too.”
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Zoning in on the problem he anticipated from the hosts, who’re at the moment the No 1 crew on this planet, Erasmus stated: “World rankings are non permanent, so one has to look past that and somewhat on the groups themselves. Ireland are very specific and they’re element oriented. They even have a very good attacking construction.
“They are not a team one can just run over. So, we have to make smart plans against them and our defence has to be on point. Luckily, we have players who can score tries too, so if the weather plays along hopefully, we can score a few as well.”
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Rassie Erasmus performed down the anniversary of the Springboks’ World Cup last triumph in Japan on 2 November 2019: “That was three years ago, and we are now looking ahead at the next World Cup. I’m proud to be part of that history, but we have a new challenge ahead next year. Any of the top teams in the world can win the tournament next year. We saw last week how Scotland pushed Australia until the end, so it is going to be a tough competition.”
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Special celebration
On a private be aware, Erasmus was thrilled about returning to the stadium for the primary time in a yr on Saturday in what’s going to mark a particular 50th birthday celebration and stated: “It’s going to be great to be back in the coaches’ box. I love rugby, match days, and being in the change room with the boys. It wasn’t a nice feeling preparing with the team all week only to watch the bus leave and return to my room, so I’m excited about Saturday.”
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