This RWC is in the semi-finals phase. Thus far it has been an event filled with excitement, drama, surprise and a good deal of sadness and trauma after super typhoon Hagibis hit Japan amidst the tournament. The devastation left by this storm, equal in strength to a category five hurricane, was tremendous and many people were left homeless or injured with an unfortunate number of mortalities too. The Japanese people are a proud and resilient nation. Immediately after the storm, they started with clean-ups and rising from the devastation. Yet they aren’t the only ones showing strength and resilience during the tournament. A team that seems to be moving up in the ranks once again to former glory is none other than the South African Springboks. Under the guidance of head coach Rassie Erasmus, they have moved from strength to strength.
Rassie Erasmus
Johan Erasmus or better known as Rassie, is currently filling the position of the head coach to the national team since 2018. He is also now in the area of being the first-ever appointed South African Rugby Union Director of Rugby. He had been fulfilling this position since late in 2017. Previously Erasmus also served as the Director of Rugby for Munster in Ireland while also being the General Manager for High-performance Teams in South African Rugby Union. Erasmus represented South Africa on the field as an international player from 1997 to 2001. He started his playing career in 1994 when he was playing for the provincial team in South Africa, the Free State, during the Curry Cup that year.
His Leadership Qualities
The success which the team currently experiences is, however, due to his coaching capabilities. Players of the group refer to Erasmus as the one that broke the team’s mental shackles. Since Erasmus took over two years ago, the club underwent an entire transformation process. The players attribute this to the open and honest approach which Erasmus has with them. He is the man who took it upon himself to make decisions for the team, which influenced an entire country. He is not shying away from giving the players in the team his honest opinion about their capabilities and where they are still lacking. His team knows that he is following a leadership style of authenticity and clarity, and nothing is ever hidden away from them.
This cultivates mutual trust within the team and that way; he earned not only the respect of the group but of the entire country as a whole. Furthermore, Erasmus’s coaching style is being appreciated by his team for his ability to let everyone excel in their unique way. He doesn’t favour any player on any other determining factor other than the quality of their play hence they all know that they have earned their place in the team on merit and not on race, or anything else. These are the characteristics of a great coach, one that took it upon himself to transform a crippled team into greatness once again.