Rassie Erasmus has offered to stand down from South Africa’s series against the British and Irish Lions after posting online an hour-long video in which he launches an unprecedented attack on Australian referee Nic Berry.
Erasmus’ extraordinary monologue lasts 62 minutes and includes 26 clips from Saturday’s 22-17 first Test defeat by the Lions at Cape Town Stadium, with Berry’s performance repeatedly in the crosshairs.
South Africa’s director of rugby is addressing World Rugby’s head of referees Joel Jutge and director of rugby Joe Schmidt during the video, in which he says he’s willing to quit for the second and third matches of the series.
GOT A SPARE 62 MINUTES? WATCH THE ERASMUS VIDEO HERE
World Rugby is understood to be concerned and disappointed by comments that pile pressure on the officials for Saturday’s second Test and is seeking an explanation from SA Rugby.
“World Rugby notes the comments made by Rassie Erasmus. The nature of these will be raised with the union via the usual official channels and no further comment will be made at this stage,” a statement from World Rugby read on Thursday.
The rant sees Erasmus, dressed in a Springbok training top and cap, provide detailed analysis of every decision he believes Berry got wrong.
The most sensitive of many criticisms is that the Aussie official treated South Africa captain Siya Kolisi and Alun Wyn Jones, the Lions skipper, differently.
“There is a vast difference between who he was taking seriously and who he wasn’t taking seriously,” Erasmus said.
“The way they listened to Siya compared to the way they listened to Alun Wyn was definitely not with the same respect. It shows the difference in attitude towards the Springboks and the Lions.”
Erasmus defends his own bizarre and controversial role as a water carrier, accuses the Lions’ illegal scrummaging of inflicting a neck injury to his prop Ox Nche and blasts Warren Gatland’s objection to Marius Jonker being appointed TMO.
Berry, who is replaced by Ben O’Keeffe for the second Test but will still run the touchline, is the real target as Erasmus highlights perceived inconsistencies and rails at the length of time it took to receive officiating feedback from World Rugby.
“We definitely felt that the way things unfolded on the field, didn’t benefit us by staying quiet,” said Erasmus, the mastermind of South Africa’s 2019 World Cup triumph.
“In my position as director of rugby, if this means I step away from being water carrier, that is fine.
“If this means I get a fine I will step away from the management team. If this means the Springboks will be in trouble I will say I did this in isolation.
“If you think this was going over the top and it shouldn’t go out to the media, I did this in a personal capacity and not as part of the Springboks.
“It is me personally that did this because I believe in fairness. I believe two teams must have equal chance of competing in a match.
“I am not saying the referee was a cheat at all. I am saying we just wanted clarity on a Sunday night which we have now got on a Tuesday.
“I am not very convinced with the clarity with what we got from Nic Berry in this match.
“Let the Springboks and the Lions have equal chance on the field when it comes to laws, respect and the way players get treated.”
TJ-Go Force!
Roar Rookie
I guess when you use the appropriate channels and not break every code of conduct world rugby rule and release a 62-minute video in your national uniform
Guess
Roar Rookie
Cause you gonna ref the games if all pro refs will leave due to stupid pressure like that. They already have one of the worst job in the world. Rugby is very hard to ref and is impossible without respect and trust to the refs
JRVJ
Roar Rookie
I invite you to see the play and see where the B & I Lions were on the pitch for half of those 23 seconds.
Harry Jones
Expert
The slippery slope argument (that all coaches will make hour-long content with little yellow circles and passive-aggressive snark — “if we can tip tackle, tell us before the match, so we can practice”) is flawed because it is too much work. A water boy has time. A head coach has to do real stuff. Can you imagine any of the other top tier coaches pulling together a 62-minute dissection of a match during prep week? This is sui generis. A 12-year tradition. Lions tours bring out clown cartoons, all manner of media play, and outright lunacy. Rassie owns the “Rassie.” It will not be imitated. Eddie does Eddie. Check did Check. Razor breakdances. Our sport would be the poorer if every coach was deadpan Steve Hansen the cop.
Tooly
Roar Rookie
Gatland can barely talk for three minutes.
Jimbo
Roar Rookie
He can't have a private capacity
Objective
Guest
If you don’t think it was intended to go public, you’re as dumb as your comments would suggest.
Bobby
Roar Rookie
Short Arm, I do hate “eef baashing” when unwarranted. However Refs are accountable as are players and coaches and to me, are not coated in Teflon. Berry’s performance in the last 2 Reds v Brumbies games was a joke and it’s not ref bashing to call him out. He’s made his bed. Interesting that SA rugby are all over him now. I understand all refs make mistakes but Red Berry was either negligent or biased in those Super AU games. I have zero empathy for him.
Short Arm
Roar Rookie
Advantage is determined by territory not time.
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
In the SR final he blew a succession of penalties against a team desperately committing a succession of offences. Tough to be as brave as that as you open yourself up to abuse; far easier not to blow them. I just hope he stays in the game but if WR don’t sanction Erasmus, I would understand him packing it in
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
Nah. You and Rassie. The rest of us disagree
Short Arm
Roar Rookie
For someone that hates ref bashing you sure gave it a red hot go after the Brumbies lost the GF, Bobby. It's obvious that you didn't watch the Lions test & just pounced on these criticisms by Rassie. Berry , I thought did a fairly good job as he did in the SR. Others in world ref circles must’ve thought so too as he was awarded such a game.
Faith
Roar Rookie
Berry is a good ref as long as the Reds are not on the pitch. O'Keefe seems to ref well in general with one howler every game. But that does not justify open season on refs from fans like me, experts on Roar or even Rassie. Just blights the game.
Faith
Roar Rookie
Any rugby neutral will now be hoping that the Boks get swept. I'm not sure rugby would survive if after every Test the director of Rugby for the losing side made a video ...
Hopefully it doesnt start an avalanche of "video's".
Muzzo
Roar Rookie
Yeh Jacko, but don't hold your breath, on WR acting upon it, as we've seen over the years, many coaches get their ' knickers in a twist', so to say, but nothing has been done. Yeh Rassie was bad, but haven't we seen this scenario before, but not as bad. It's up to WR, but with ' Bungling Billy' still there, IMO, he doesn't seem to have any negotiation skills in his repertoire. Ffs, back in the day when I was at Rugby House, on a voluntary basis, with the Subbies Management, we were in constant talks with the Ref's executive, over issues at that time. Easily solved if you are prepared to talk & hopefully solve issues mate, but this current WR, are something else, so it appears.
Uriah Heep
Roar Rookie
Why should he get time with the ref ? He isn't the coach. He's trying to mince between DOR and private citizen. If he's the first then it's quite inappropriate and a violation of SARU's own code of conduct regarding refs. And if it's the second then why would the refs be interested in engaging with just another crazy off the streets? He's hoisted on his own petard. If there are de-briefs to be had they'd be done by the refs and presumably the Coach has an opportunity for explanations. Not the DOR, not the water boy, not the loopies in the public, not the admin staff at SARU, not the CEO - only the coach. Besides what's the point ? - given the ref for the upcoming game is someone else. Surely this can be handled through the normal (discrete) channels. SARU seriously need to bring in the white coat brigade. This guy's behaviour is looking deranged. Unless, of course, it's a completely deliberate ploy to take the flies off the Bok team. Still inappropriate action towards a ref though.
Uriah Heep
Roar Rookie
I thought this was one of the better reffed international games I've seen over the last couple of years - Berry did a pretty good job IMO.
Buk
Roar Rookie
Agree Jonty about a need to continually review refereeing standards. But the only possible appropriate place for this video would be for Rassie to submit it to the ref's association (not a public forum) with the Lions given equal opportunity to do the same. But even that has very serious snags. Instituting two detailed video analyses of every ref decision against your team, and then a refereeing panel reviewing both? What an administrative & pedantic nightmare. Not to mention unfairness to countries that do not have the resources to do so. Fiji I consider one of the most hard done by countries in World Rugby. It would only accentuate that.
Jezdexter
Roar Rookie
Sure, fair comment. But I'd rather see minor infringements that don't impact the game let go so there is some flow to the affair than the whistle be centre stage.