Unmasking the hidden side & demons of Maverick Springbok innovator Rassie Erasmus: David O'Sullivan.

Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has been described as charismatic and intelligent. However, he is accused of abandoning grace and dignity when he upsets the status quo and pushes the boundaries of what the rugby-loving world deems fair. When he questioned the referees' decisions in a viral video rant, which he said he made for consumption by his inner circle, rugby authorities did not believe his version, and he was slapped with a ban. The confident rugby coach on the international stage who is not afraid to stir controversy is not the Rassie that broadcaster and author David O'Sullivan encountered during their many meetings to write Rassie's biography, "Rassie: Stories of Life and Rugby.” In an interview with Biznews, O'Sullivan said that instead of the charismatic, loud, devil-may-care Rassie he expected, he encountered a very shy Erasmus who was not keen on public interactions and did not believe he had a story to tell. O'Sullivan says he would like Rassie's critics to read the book to understand that the way Erasmus did things was maverick and different, but it wasn't cheating. He said the traffic light system, which caused another stir after the 2023 World Cup Rugby match between South Africa and Scotland in Marseille, was nothing new and had been used by Erasmus during Currie Cup matches. O'Sullivan said he hoped that Rassie's legacy would be that he brought about effective transformation in South African Rugby. - Linda van Tilburg
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Timestamps
00:09 - Introductions
00:34 - David O’Sullivan on how he came to write Rassie’s story
02:45 - On how he was able to write in Rassie’s voice
05:05 - On the timeline and how long it took to write the book
07:44 - What Rassie is like as a person
12:41 - His wild drinking days
14:07 - His battles with injury
17:08 - Why Rassie wants to tell his story now
19:23 - The controversy surrounding Rassie
22:10 - The things that surprised him about Rassie
25:20 - On how he thinks the book will be received overseas
27:40 - Predictions for the 2023 Rugby World Cup
28:48 - How history will judge Rassie
31:03 - The decision to make Siya Kolisi captain
33:30 - Conclusions

[@seankolarik4121]

Love Rassie! What a legend🇿🇦

[@daviddempster8717]

Rassie is a national treasure 🇿🇦, I fear for the future of SA rugby when his time comes to an end.

[@themanfromnam8446]

Great interview Rassie is a true South African Hero. Flawed yet perfect. Just exactly what our beloved country needed and still needs

[@johannesvanvandermerwe6887]

Great to hear your voice again David. Remember you so well on SABC radio & tv. I always respected your frank open reporting on our beloved game, with passion. Always wondered what happened to you post those day and happy to see you up and about and sharing once again with passion. Blessings.

[@georgeengelbrecht1310]

Fascinating interview, David was definitely the man to tell the epic tale. Beautiful!

[@dwegi]

What an interview. Can’t wait to get my hands on this book. Rassie you are definitely a genius.

[@ahloml]

Good interview - I think all of South Africa should hear this insightful intro into Rassie and the book.

[@SB-wh9kf]

It's not called 'shyness'. It's called introverted. Introverts hate being called shy because for them it means a lack of self assurance. They have loads of self assurance but don't like to make a spectacle of it. Don't ever call them shy. That is insulting.

[@shubielechesa8836]

Rassie is dearly loved by us from the Free State. He is ours. GO Cheetahs

[@johnvaneeden1455]

David, you made my week ! This was a riveting interview and huge respect for getting to understand Rassie that well and translate it all accurately !

[@billyrobinson6689]

Luvvitt!! Always enjoy hearing 'the story behind the story' ... I can't wait to now read the book on Rassie ...thank you David for sharing your deeper insights ❤

[@ierikopj]

Rassie is the key for the Boks to win another title because he knows that innovation is the element of surprise. The downside is that it takes too long for the Boks players to buy into Rassie's ideas. Imagine if the All Blacks was coached by Rassie, we will be unstoppable. I also believe that it is the Boks DNA to be innovative. I remember it was the Boks who started the lift at Line-out set piece, the Bomb Swat and now the traffic lights hehe And I know there are a lot of innovations of the game Boks have done. The All Blacks only 100 years innovation is having the forwards play like the backs. The next AB coach is similar to Rassie I think. So I can't wait for the change next year. So far, the innovative coaches at this world cup are from France, Ireland, OZ and the Boks.

[@jacqloock]

The Boks introduced to the world the 3-4-1 scrum formation during their victorious 1937 tour of NZ.

[@nox6885]

Why would it take long for the Boks to buy into his methods when they all say that they buy into team culture very easily? Get your facts straight mate.

[@abednegoletebele2884]

THERE ARE MANY OF US MUSKING OUR INTROVERT CHARACTER WITH AN EXTROVERT DISPLAY

[@groMMit1981]

Rassie is the man, a proper kiff oke, legend!

[@cobusbrits2]

I dont think we can fathom now what the loss of Rassie will be if he leaves SA Rugby. Hopefully he would have left enough IP so that the likes of Deon Davids can be develop into a proper coach like Rassie or Jacques. Would really like that Rassie commits for a decade to school a new breed of coaches and leave behind the necessary institutional knowledge but one never knows when he had enough so we have to appreciate his involvement while he is still around.

[@brentsw3]

The man is a legend! Love him!

[@laudinemunday-kw8zq]

Thank you great interview..

[@saafrican]

I bought the audio version of RASSIE as soon as it came out . ITS FANTASTIC great book it gives you many insights into RASSIE aswell aqs rugby coaching . Thanks guys its great

[@enzocoppola4065]

Fantastic interview..thanks David and Linda

[@ThataMo]

Top top interview. Looking forward to reading the book.

[@lentongrovetrust5201]

What a great story, thank you for sharing.

[@deniscoyne5671]

Great interview, thank you Linda & David.

[@georgekiblor8240]

Rassie is something else man❤.

[@RonaldBartels]

If his parents sent him to Grey we would have the perfect gentleman. :-)

[@pj1471]

Well done. Really interesting to see this side of Rassie with what sounds a terrific book. So glad South Africa have evolved their game from four years ago, which was effective, but so limited. Do not have visions, but also expect a France - South Africa final.

[@ockertvanzyl5340]

To the both of you great show thanks so much both of you still looking good 👏👏👏👏👏❤️❤️❤️

[@jamesgilliland9489]

An insightful view about an exceptional man.

[@user-fi3od1uv4c]

I did enjoy this book interview by author David O'Sullivan. I have yet to buy the book and I will read it as a christmas treat. Rassie, what can I say, I am nothing compared to him. He has brought delight and sun into my life, I have been astounded by his innovation and strategy and sometimes I just laugh at aloud. Many other top coaches refuse to accept and follow some of his ideas because of their egos maybe. Like it is a 23 person game, I agree with this masterstroke, absolutely true in so many ways (too many to highlight). SOme say it is illegal. So dumb and small minded. Some still sub players on at 75 minutes, some still have players not used, so draconian. I don't want to run down others, it is more I am highlighting Rassie and his coaching team. Calling a scrum from a mark, pure genius. Picking one main halfback in a RWC final genius. Standing on halfway line at warmups, talking to media, talking about refs (mistakes then makeups) all to take the focus off his players, brilliant, Waterboy stint so astute. Picked Siya as captain, right person right time yet in hindsight this maybe was ingenious but is now a lasting coup de maître. Going to see great things from Siya, so interesting to see the difference in 2019 Siya was passing the cup to others to hold and celebrate, in 2023 he took it by both hands, he has developed significantly in public speaking pre and post game and his public demoue is incredible.The transformation and diversity of the Boks, Bokke or Amabhokobhoko is Nobel Peace prize level. He and his coaching team have also transformed the teams skillset and game plans. He has orchestrated the team well, on game day who is better? - in 2019 instructing team do "the move now", next level. Wants success but gives it to his players by standing in the back of celebrations. I could go on and on, which maybe spooky but Rassie is incredible. By the way visions and dreams can be explained by the fact that when you know the game so well, studied all the patterns, you know each player from both teams, you know the ref, you have instructed your players to play a certain way or to look for certain triggers then some things are predictable, yes it will be a close game, yes your players and your bomb squad will get a penalty yes the other team is happy to give penalties, when they have a lead, especially if they think the kick is out of reach, yes you have a player that could kick that far under pressure and deliver, etc. In other words I truly believe you can make dreams come true. There are things you can control. Take a calculated risk and it may very well pay off. I salute you Rassie.

[@EtienneTerblanche-cx5it]

Absolutely stunning stuff. Many thanks! & long live BizNews!

[@monicakieck7501]

ANC mafia should stay out of sport as everything they touched turn into 🤢

[@grantbradshaw7907]

You absolutely right They break and steal

[@powerbite92]

@@grantbradshaw7907 Look up New Zealand journalism in 2015 when both Brussow and Coetzee were inexplicably left at home for a player no one had heard of. Then tell me there's never been any politics about selection as Rassie claims. "He could have picked Duane vermeulen but er.. he was playing in France and the players wouldnt know him!" Lol. Do me a favour. Push all these omissions and evasions on us all you want - but dont expect us to buy it.

[@daviddempster8717]

​@@powerbite92All true, however. Rassie has managed to work the system better than anyone before him, behind the scenes you can only imagine. And more importantly I fear there is no-one to hand this torch to, and that this era will become a highlight as the standard political deterioration takes control.

[@powerbite92]

@@daviddempster8717 Agreed.

[@letsbefair_]

100 000 words in 3-4 months is mind blowing! 😮

[@grahamleigh8398]

Now so have to read the book. At 12.10 into the chat did your guest pull a finger at the Rugby Establishment. Would have been funny.Rassie is the modern day Siener for rugby. Great interview and thanks BizNews for a great channel. Salute.

[@brucebeath9548]

Great interview.

[@justinvanstaden4125]

Great video!!!! Rassie is an amazing guy! Its unbelievable how everyone wants to ban him or get rid of him. They all know just how good he is. A man that innovates will always have a target on his back. RWC 2023 is ours.

[@shawnreed1612]

Great interview! Thanks.

[@florisslabber1758]

True words.

[@derickkruger5680]

Thought provoking interview which blows our minds and preconceptions of one amazing wonderful South African and passionate person i.e. our Rassie! 🙏 Well done.

[@michaeldenyssen9945]

wow. fantastic. thank you so much

[@thabopietersen6105]

I love you Rassie ❤🇿🇦🔥❤🔥

[@robinstigling2827]

Dude,Rassie has magic powers.

[@johannesvanvandermerwe6887]

Great stuff...

[@jobe1888]

I adore Rassie. ❤

[@Wolf-hh4rv]

If they ban lights that will be the most absurd and pathetic action. Rassie is a hero. The haters are ignorant. They should read the book.

[@jacquesheunes6041]

Rassie for president!!!!

[@peterwessels3200]

Great interview

[@michelmuller6023]

Siya Kolisi not Kolisa

[@larrymeyer2917]

I’m sure Mandela is watching from above, admiring the rainbow Bok team brought about by Rassie. There is not 1 player of colour that did not deserve his place in the greatest rugby team of all time. Simply an amazing team.

[@duncanclews9424]

lovely story ! .. thank you .. anyone overseas who thinks Rassie is a 'cheat' has big blinkers on .. in SA we salute him :) Go Bokke Go !!

[@sean.butterworth]

I feel for Rassie. Cortisone is not a fun drug. I can’t see any change in rules re the lights - it is, as you say, pretty obvious. Thanks, David. I’m definitely gonna get the book. By the way, England performed against expectations in 2007, and the Boks still drilled them. Twice!

[@maritacroucamp1678]

Ekt boek 3 weke gelede gelees. Die passie en absolute eerlikheid saam met sy liefde vir rugby is uitmuntend!!

[@shortMario]

I have been in the UK on and off over the last 5 years and moved in some rugby circles and not once have I come across the narrative that Rassie is a cheat. I am very surprised that David seems to think that this is the case. It certainly runs counter to at least my lived experience.

[@TheSecretsquirrel222]

Premonitions happen when you live in truth.

[@annettekolb3103]

Hi the book available for kindle

[@Pooler29]

I'd say this interview aged pretty well...

[@johanbezuidenhout2919]

He is a GREAT GUY

[@Mike-ym6rl]

Not many people are aware of the fact that Rassie has health issues. How will he manage without Jacques next year?

[@jesusisreal7771]

What is the book called Rassie book is the only book I will read outside of the Bybel

[@hendo19742]

RASSIE:STORIES OF MY LIFE AND RUGBY 🏉 👍🇿🇦

[@eddiecronje4798]

Rassie is 'n sterk empatiese persoon . Al die karakter trekke en die dinge wat hy doen ingesluit die visioene dui daarop dat hy empaties is. In engels is dit 'n "empath". Slaan dit gerus na. Hulle is diep denkers en ek dink nie hy is skaam nie. Empatiese mense hou nie baie mense om hulle nie. Hulle kan nie chaos hanteer nie alhoewel hulle hul grootste oomblikke het uit dit wat hulle uit chaos geskep het.

[@toscabrutus1781]

Goeie onderhoud. Ek sien uit om die boek te lees.

[@mauricerobertson1944]

Rassie is baas

[@gordonicus4637]

O'Sullivan doesn't believe in premonitions, but he can't explain this. 😆😆Maybe he should start believing in premonitions!!🙃

[@johanbezuidenhout2919]

I am so impressed with the interview and it only confirms what a AWESOME person Rassie is There was Afrikaans people that critize Rassie about his swearing My opinion Rassie is a GREAT PERSON and Thank You for Excellent work of a Excellent person

[@russellturner1909]

No problem with world rugby when he wins 😨

[@daviddempster8717]

Lots of effort trolling SA, hows it going with the AB's Russell?

[@russellturner1909]

@@daviddempster8717 Getting better how's it going with world rugby Davy all that northern butt kissing paying off finally ?

[@grantcombrink9595]

Grizz Wylie loved him-not

[@ggalaxy9065]

Who TF?

[@skmoreg]

this is a joke nonsense! playing games

[@mannab2975]

Demons? You sure mean genius!