It's official. Rassie Erasmus will be at the helm of the Springbok coaching staff for the next four years.
The World Cup-winning manager will no doubt have his sights set on a third trophy for Webb Ellis, with old names such as Mzwandir Stick, Deon Davids and Daan Human supporting him, while Tony Brown and Jerry Flannery will also be part of the setup. .
Brown, 49, a former All Blacks fly-half, will succeed Felix Jones as attack coach, while former Ireland international Flannery will be in charge of the Boks' defence.
So, during the coaching approval and appointment, Jaco Peyper and Duane Vermeulen were also approached.
Peiper, who recently announced his retirement from refereeing, will assist the South African team with the rules and regulations of the game.
Thereafter, Vermeulen's rugby knowledge and talent were not lost and he was guaranteed to move between teams around the country as an itinerant coach.
Erasmus said it was a great honor to coach the Springboks.
“I'm very grateful for the trust that has been placed in me. The biggest difference between this coming season and the last four years is that I will be participating more in training sessions,” said the 51-year-old rugby guru.
As Salu's rugby manager, the former Springbok loose forward has worked with Jack Nienaber and other coaches on the Boks' structure and strategy and believes it will be easy to return to the training ground with the whistle in hand.
The Springboks have a tough international season ahead of them, with games against the likes of the All Blacks and Ireland, but Erasmus is pleased with the depth of South Africa's rugby.
“Most of the 2023 World Cup winners are still eligible for selection and several young players now boast international experience, which is invaluable at Test level.”
- Springbok coaching group:
Head coach: erasmus race
Assistant coach: Mzwandile Stick, Deon Davids, Daan Human, Tony Brown, Jerry Flannery.
Performance Officer: Andy Edwards.