| Venue: Twickenham Stadium Date: Saturday 26 November Kick-off: 17:30 GMT |
| Coverage: Live text commentary via the BBC Sport app and website, as well as updates on BBC Radio 5 Live or BBC Sounds |
“Not sure what I would say to another team before a World Cup Final.”
Rassie Erasmus appeared on Twitter for the first time in February 2020.
His debut post It was accompanied by footage from the rousing pre-game speech he had given three months prior in the Yokohama International Stadium.
After a series of pedestrian victories over Wales and Japan, the Springboks were inspired to sweep past England to win 32-12 the Rugby World Cup Final.
The mood is still set by Erasmus, even though it has been three years and more than 190 posts since the last meeting.
Twickenham is not the place for South Africa’s director rugby and content creator-in chief. Instead, he will serve the second week. of a fortnight’s ban From the Springbok matchday setup.
His less entertaining, but more frequent, social media output, a series of tweets that highlighted refereeing calls against the team, led to his suspension.
Erasmus asserts that they were meant to encourage discussion and better understand the game.
There are already many backchannels to facilitate dialogue with referees. Erasmus knows this well.
For example: After South Africa lost their first Test against the British Lions in Cape Town last July, Nic Berry, an Australian referee, received a video that detailed a series of decisions made by the Springbok staff. Berry immediately emailed Erasmus within half an hour.
Berry also replied to Erasmus, saying that he had received his clips and would meet him to discuss his performance. Berry also responded. with thoughts on every one of the 36 calls in question.
Soon after, the video went online. This spread rancour throughout the tour of the British and Irish Lions. Erasmus claimed that he was not responsible for the release of the video, but an independent disciplinary panel rejected this claim.
Erasmus’s public talk this autumn in Yokohama must have been viewed by a specific, private audience: the Springboks.
It seems to be working.
The top test rugby players act like underdogs. They have been beaten out of town by a new siege mentality, which has taken any swagger that they may have gained from their World Cup win. Is that the rumble? It’s a return hunger to prove the world wrong.
Jacques Nienaber was the head coach and appeared in front of media this week. He stated that it was not yet known what the truth about Erasmus’ ban is. He said that there was a false narrative about his team.
What are mind games? It may be just what South Africa needs to get motivated.
The Springboks have changed from the team they were in 2019, England is also not the same.
Smarter and more skilled operators will not be bullied out the games. Brain and strength must be combined.
The rankings rank England and South Africa fourth and fifth, respectively. Both have not broken the 50% mark for autumn wins so far.
Both are looking for ways to improve their game for France 2023.
Nienaber was furious at the stereotypical view of his team, which scored 20 tries in six Rugby Championship matches earlier this year. He called them collision connoisseurs.
He’s right.
They have Canan Moodie and Kurt-Lee Arendse that are fast enough to match the stalwarts Makazole Mapimpi and Cheslin Kolbe.
Evan Roos is a number 8 of incredible speed, and he won his third Twickenham cap. Damian Williamse, starting at 10, has an impressive running game that was not part of 2019, fly-half Handre pollard’s arsenal.
Eddie Jones of England, who was more than happy for the spotlight to shine in the build up to a big game has played a minor role in days leading up.
He laughed that Erasmus might be a joke. emulate football manager Jose Mourinho He used a Twickenham laundry bag to rally his team. He explained that England wanted Twickenham to be “light up” with the same spirit as their win against the All Blacks.
However, he hasn’t made as much of the Boks controversy as you might think.
Jones instead has focused on expanding the toolkit of a team that has always been tempted to grab the sledgehammer.
Tommy Freeman has been brought back along with Freddie Steward, Jonny May and Jonny May to form a pacey back trio who are equally at home under the high ball.
Mako Vunipola (Saracens) and Jamie George (Saracens) bring some court ability to the starting front line, with Ellis Genge & Luke Cowan–Dickie sitting on the bench ready to face the Springboks’ famous ‘bomb squad’ replacements.
This fixture was at the exact same time in the last World Cup cycle. Erasmus decided to hold a training’ session. teaching his team how to hit as high as Owen FarrellThis will be a balancing act.
What do you value most? Confidence and victory. How much do YOU focus on creating new shapes and styles at the training pitch?
The ideal scenario is to do both. You can’t have both and you end up with a fall on your face.
The debrief for both teams would be difficult in this case. With or without Erasmus’ tweets.