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'I hate that so many hate me': Erasmus would LOVE to see Boks in 6N, reveals only reason he'd reject England job

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7th March, 2022
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South Africa’s controversial director of rugby Rassie Erasmus says he’d love to see the Springboks trade the Rugby Championship for the Six Nations and has refused to rule out coaching England in the future saying he would “love” the gig.

Erasmus, speaking the the Daily Mail, was aware his comments on the Six Nations might not go down well in the southern hemisphere.

“Just remember,‘this is purely my own personal opinion. I don’t need to get myself into any more trouble!” Erasmus said.

YOKOHAMA, JAPAN - NOVEMBER 02: Rassie Erasmus, Head Coach of South Africa looks on prior to the Rugby World Cup 2019 Final between England and South Africa at International Stadium Yokohama on November 02, 2019 in Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan. (Photo by Clive Rose - World Rugby/World Rugby via Getty Images)

(Photo by Clive Rose – World Rugby/World Rugby via Getty Images)

“I’ve always been a massive fan of the Six Nations. Murrayfield is awesome, the Aviva is awesome, Twickenham is awesome. I love the atmospheres and their rich tradition of singing.

“Speaking from the South African side of the fence, I would love to see the Springboks in the Six Nations. The style of play, the travel and the time zones would all suit South Africa.

“You could fly in overnight on Thursday, play on a Saturday and fly back on Sunday. It would be easy. When we go to Australia or New Zealand, you wake up at 2am and don’t know what day it is!

“We are locked in with the Rugby Championship until 2025, so for now it is still hypothetical. Just please don’t mistake this for me saying the Rugby Championship is bad. I love New Zealand, I love Australia and I love Argentina.

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“If someone with proper research showed me that South Africa joining the Six Nations would make the Rugby Championship weaker and damage the growth of the global game, then we shouldn’t do it. But right now, speaking as a South African, I think joining the Six Nations would be awesome.”

The idea that the Springboks could leave for the Six Nations has been floated for some time but recently gained momentum as details of the short term nature of their TRC commitment were revealed.

Join experts Brett McKay and Harry Jones and special guest Jamie Wall on this week’s edition of The Roar Rugby Podcast.

There has been a lot of opposition to it in both hemispheres – including World Cup winning coach Clive Woodward coming out in opposition to it and calling the idea “brainless”.

“I read the comments underneath Sir Clive’s article,” said Erasmus. “People were saying, ‘we don’t want Rassie Erasmus making a two-hour video after every game’ and ‘what about tradition?’

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“Of course tradition is important but I don’t think we can hang everything on that. Traditionally, the Six Nations was the Five Nations. Traditionally, the Rugby Championship was the Tri Nations. “

England prop Joe Marler recently urged Erasmus to find a role with World Rugby, but he laughed that off.

‘I’m 50. I’m too old for World Rugby,” said Erasmus. “There are things in rugby that I think need to change.

“here’s too much microscopic stuff in the game now. We worked out that a referee needs to make between 800 and 850 decisions in one match. It’s impossible, man. It leaves the referee open to criticism — I would know! — and that’s not fair.

“There are too many grey areas to let the game flow. You are always going to get one team that’s pissed off, whether they say it publicly or not. Did you know there are 58 things you can be punished for at a scrum and 38 in a lineout?

“There are simple solutions but we need to be open-minded. World Rugby need to take control and simplify it. But me with World Rugby? Come on! I’ll leave that job to the younger guys like Joe!”

Erasmus also played down any thought of him taking over as England coach in the future, without ruling it out altogether.

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“I don’t think the English people would ever want me there now,” Erasmus said. ” Maybe I am wrong. I hope I am wrong. Would I coach another country? If my own people were cool with it and the other country’s people were cool with it then why not?

“But if my own people are going to hate me for it, then I would never do it. I hate the fact that so many people hate me in rugby right now. I’m not a confrontational guy. I like to get on with people.

“South Africa has my heart but coaching England would be amazing because I think they can win. I would love to coach Ellis Genge.

“Any prop that looks the other prop in the eyes before a scrum, you know he’s a dog. You don’t want a prop that’s looking at his toes, scared. I want guys like Genge on my team.

“If South Africans accepted me doing that, like when Nick Mallett went to coach Italy, then of course I would love it. If I felt like South Africans were not going to hate me on the street then I would consider it.”

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