Erasmus is making a coherent case against World Rugby's rule requiring both head coaches to attend any pre-match referee meeting. His argument is straightforward: those meetings were historically used to flag your own team's tactical intentions so referees could position themselves correctly and anticipate edge-case scenarios. That only works in a confidential setting. With the opposition coach in the room, you're handing over tactical information for nothing in return, so the meetings become hollow box-ticking exercises about whether everyone intends to follow the laws — which they're supposed to do anyway. His conclusion is that coaches are now forced to air grievances publicly or through the AMS system rather than in a productive pre-game dialogue, which suits nobody. The planned casual beer with Dave Rennie — explicitly "without the referee" — underlines the absurdity he sees in the current arrangement. Whether World Rugby revisits the policy is the bigger question this piece raises.
Rassie says joint referee meetings are pointless — and he's got a point
Erasmus argues World Rugby's joint coach-referee meeting rule has killed the format's purpose — confidential tactical prep is impossible with the opposition in the room, so coaches skip the meetings entirely and use the media instead.
- Rassie Erasmus
Springboks touch down in Buenos Aires ahead of Argentina Test
The Springboks have arrived in Buenos Aires in two travelling groups, with a rest day on Sunday before training resumes Monday ahead of their Test against Argentina at Estadio José Amalfitani — their last match before the All Blacks series begins on 22 August.
One loss lingers long when you almost never lose
Rich unpacks the psychology of following an era-dominant Bok team — where a single loss haunts the press box even during a comfortable win — and argues Erasmus's mass rotation for Scotland was always the plan, not a gamble. He also flags the All Blacks' tactical shift and makes a sharp point about getting Ellis Park ticket prices right from the outset.
Rassie warns against Bok complacency ahead of England test
Erasmus, Davids, and Stick use their video platform to call out the risk of complacency ahead of the Ellis Park test, warning that treating England as a pushover would be a costly mistake.
The fear that keeps Rassie going — and greying
Nel profiles the psychological engine behind Erasmus's coaching drive — not fear of defeat itself, but fear of extinguishing the national togetherness Springbok success has built. Mallett adds historical perspective on the toll the job takes, while Erasmus reflects candidly on the off-season void and what camp genuinely means to him.
Paulse: Rassie's youth fast-track is unprecedented — and Paul de Villiers is the next Deon Fourie
Paulse argues Erasmus's youth fast-track reflects a real cultural shift in Bok selection, singles out Paul de Villiers as a Deon Fourie-type find, and suggests more squad surprises are coming through the Nations Championship.