Top Springbok reveals Rassie’s key to success
Springbok star Handre Pollard has defined why coach Rassie Erasmus has been able to consistently bring out the best in the team.
The Springboks finished 2024 as the No 1 ranked side in the world for the fifth time in six years, with much of this recent success coming under the leadership of Rassie Erasmus.
Overall, it is the 10th year the Springboks have been No 1 since the rankings began in 2003, with the team really building a healthy period of consistency since winning back-to-back World Cup titles.
Speaking on the For The Love of Rugby podcast, Springbok stalwart Handre Pollard interestingly explained that Erasmus’ ability at keeping players focused and grounded was a big factor behind their success.
“The first thing he (Rassie) ever spoke about was entitlement. That’s the first thing that breaks a group up if senior guys think they are important.
“That was way back when he started [late in 2017], and it’s still something we live by.
“The influence that the older guys have on a group is so big. We’ve got a very different experience from our younger days to what we are giving the youngsters now. It’s different eras.
“It keeps everybody very equal and extremely hungry – especially the old guys, your big dogs like Pieter-Steph [du Toit], Siya [Kolisi] and Eben [Etzebeth].
“It’s not a feat of if I’m still going to play or not. It’s that, I’ve got to prove myself every single day, otherwise I won’t play. It doesn’t matter who you are. That’s what makes him special.”
Rassie Erasmus led the Springboks through another successful year in 2024
By the numbers in 2024:
#1 on the World Rugby Rankings
13 Tests Played
11 Tests won
2 Tests lost
57 tries scored
23 tries conceded (three clean-sheets, against Australia, New Zealand and Scotland)
450 points scored
220 points conceded
50 players used
4 captains (Kolisi, Moerat, Du Toit and Etzebeth)
3 World Rugby Player of the Year nominations (Du Toit, Etzebeth and Kolbe)
12 new caps
The Springboks comfortably finished the year as the top team on the world rankings with a rewarding 11 victories in 13 Tests, and an impressive win record of 84.6%.
Adding to this, they scored the third highest number of tries in the season since 1992 in the process (57) – the most being in 2007 when they scored 81 tries, while they scored 74 five-pointers in 1997 when Rassie Erasmus donned the green and gold jersey himself, while the Bok coach used an extraordinary 50 players in the process.
What was your highlight from the last season?
Let us know by clicking on the comment tab below this TSA article or by emailing info@thesouthafrican.com or sending a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211.
You can also follow @TheSAnews on X and The South African on Facebook for the latest news