This week felt just like the build-up week to the 2023 Rugby World Cup play-offs. It was glorious. It was all about energy and intensity.
We had South Africa’s most popular coach, Rassie Erasmus, holding court in Pretoria, outlining his narrative for the Springboks Test season, and around the corner you had another Springbok-winning World Cup coach, Jake White, seeking another piece of Bulls history.
Not far away was the most potent Leinster team in the history of Irish rugby — and one that featured 21 internationals in their match 23 for the United Rugby Championship (URC) semifinal against the Bulls at Loftus yesterday.
The 2023 Springboks World Cup-winning coach Jacques Nienaber was wearing Leinster blue as part of director of rugby Leo Cullen’s coaching team. Nienaber, who signed with Leinster after the 2023 World Cup, is under contract until just before the 2027 World Cup in Australia.
There was so much rugby intellect among coaches in Pretoria this week, from the Bok coaching structure to the Bulls and Leinster. It would have felt odd for those players in the Springboks camp to be feeling the energy of having the core of Ireland’s Test team within walking distance but not to be playing them this weekend.
Historically, the year after a World Cup has lacked intensity. This will not be one of those years
The interest in yesterday’s URC semifinal from within the Bok coaching staff would have been immense. There would be learnings on players, even if they were wearing blue and not green.
Erasmus, who has been fairly muted on his favourite social media platform X for the best part of the year, was more flamboyant at the official media briefing when speaking about his Springboks.
He was back in familiar territory, that of head coach and not national director of rugby, overseeing the head coach. His trusted rugby coaching partner of the past 20 years, Nienaber, was on another journey, so it would have felt a bit different.
But as Erasmus has often said, change is what keeps the wheels in motion, and he has certainly done this with the appointment of former All Black flyhalf Tony Brown as attack coach. Brown’s coaching career has been at the Highlanders, as head coach and backs coach, and with Japan as the assistant coach.
Jerry Flannery, the fiery former Irish hooker, worked with Erasmus and Nienaber at Munster, and both he (as defence coach) and Brown spoke with anticipation of working with the Springboks.
There was immense enthusiasm in what everyone said. Erasmus confirmed that he would provide opportunities for a new wave of Springboks, but added it had to be balanced with enough experience to challenge for the win.
He also spoke about greater consistency in winning in between World Cups. He was typically Rassie in explaining his selection, and comfortable to provide insights into why a player had been selected or what player qualities he had identified as a necessity to be considered for the World Cup winning squad.
From a South African focus, there was rugby interest outside of Pretoria. France-based Siya Kolisi will always be a topic of conversation after Erasmus stated a few months ago that ideally he would want his national captain playing out of South Africa.
Kolisi won’t play against Wales in a one-off Test at Twickenham on Saturday (June 22) because the match is outside the international window — and French clubs have no obligation to release players.
There was also an awareness around the semifinals of Super Rugby Pacific, with the Blues beating the Brumbies in Auckland, and the Chiefs stunning the Hurricanes in Wellington.
Expect to see many new faces, unfamiliar to South Africans, playing for the All Blacks and Wallabies this season, based on imposing performances in Super Rugby Pacific.
Historically, the year after a World Cup has lacked intensity. This will not be one of those years.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.