Habana: Rassie’s success 20 years in making

Bryan Habana has explained what he believes is behind Rassie Erasmus’ sustained success as Springbok head coach.

Under Erasmus, the Boks have won two World Cups, three Rugby Championships, and series against the British & Irish Lions and All Blacks. They are also on course to contest the inaugural Nations Championship final.

Habana says Erasmus’ success is the result of almost two decades of building a winning culture within South African rugby.

“What people don’t realise about Rassie’s tenure within SA Rugby is that he’s actually been in the system since 2007,” the former Bok wing told ex-Wales flyhalf Dan Biggar on The Rugby Pod.

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He recalled Erasmus working as a technical analyst during the build-up to the 2007 World Cup (before becoming Stormers director of rugby) and being part of the structures under Peter de Villiers and Heyneke Meyer.

Habana, who worked with Erasmus at the Stormers, believes one of his greatest strengths is getting everyone united behind a common goal.

“What he’s incredibly good at is getting alignment throughout, from the administrators to the unions to the players to the age-group level rugby players coming through. He has fostered this culture of ‘No player as an individual is ever greater than the squad’.”

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Habana believes Erasmus’ willingness to challenge conventional thinking and take difficult decisions has been central to the Boks’ success.

“I’d reckon Rassie’s greatest achievement is that his psychological framework institutes innovative thinking far out, and he’s not scared to ruffle feathers,” he said.

“It’s a 20-year tenure, two decades that he’s been involved in the SA Rugby structures, so the culmination of success that we’ve seen over the last eight or nine years isn’t like immediate success. It’s actually been nurtured for a long time.”

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Photo: Esa Alexander/Reuters