“Rassie is a South African God”: Sir John Kirwan Hails Erasmus, Urges All Blacks Coach to Take More Risks

Sir John Kirwan Hails Erasmus, Urges All Blacks Coach to Take More Risks

Rugby legend Sir John Kirwan has heaped praise on South African head coach Rassie Erasmus, describing him as a “South African god.”

His comments came after the Springboks’ dominant 43-point victory over New Zealand in Wellington — the All Blacks’ worst-ever defeat.

Kirwan Labels Erasmus a “South African God”

Kirwan used the hyperbolic praise to emphasize Erasmus’ exceptional tactical acumen and fearless approach to team selection.

“Rassie’s not a South African coach, he’s a South African god. He’s a god over there.”

He also suggested that New Zealand Rugby take a hard look at their own system, implying that a more innovative and daring approach, like Erasmus’, could be key to regaining the All Blacks’ competitive edge.

Also Read: Springboks Coach Rassie Erasmus Sticks with Winning Formula for Argentina Clash

Kirwan Highlights Contrast Between Erasmus’ Boldness and Robertson’s Caution

Kirwan highlighted the stark contrast between Erasmus’ bold, experimental approach and All Blacks coach Ian Robertson’s more conservative style.

“This is where I think we need to look at the way we’ve been doing things in the last 15 or 20 years, players playing overseas, all those things,” Kirwan said.

Bold Decisions Yield Results

Kirwan, who has occasionally criticized South African rugby, admitted to being initially skeptical of Erasmus’ mass alterations to the Springboks’ backline — five personnel changes and one positional swap — during the Wellington clash.

“The amazing thing about Rassie, under that pressure, he doesn’t fold – he just does what he wants. He changes the team and does a whole lot of different stuff, and wins,” Kirwan said on the Rivals podcast.

Erasmus’ willingness to experiment reflects South Africa’s strategy of building depth and nurturing younger players ahead of the 2027 Rugby World Cup. In contrast, Robertson has largely stuck with familiar lineups, attracting criticism for retaining underperforming players such as Rieko Ioane.

Depth Issues Challenge New Zealand

Kirwan believes the All Blacks’ challenges stem more from a lack of depth than coaching.

“I don’t think that we have the depth that we had before… When guys like Richie Mo’unga go overseas, we’re suffering like Australia’s suffering,” he explained.

He noted that South Africa currently enjoys a significant advantage, with a deeper pool of talent allowing Erasmus to make bold changes without jeopardizing performance.

Call for Courage and Experimentation

While acknowledging Robertson’s efforts, Kirwan urged the All Blacks to embrace a more adventurous approach.

“I do think that we need to take more risks… Rassie says: ‘I’m going to try some stuff’, and the public back him. He has a loss and then a win, and so do we, but maybe we do need to be a little bit more courageous on playing them,” he said.

The former Italy and Japan coach’s comments underscore a growing belief that New Zealand may need to rethink its strategies to regain its competitive edge against world champions South Africa.