'You don't want people to think you are arrogant'

Rassie Erasmus believes his South Africa side are too often tarred as villains of the piece and deserve more love

- Gerard Meagher

South Africa are mounting a charm offensive this autumn. They have won the last two World Cups, their 2021 series against the British & Irish Lions and, in September, clinched a first Rugby Championship title since 2019. Listen to Rassie Erasmus, however, and it is clear the Springboks believe hearts and minds still elude them.

Outside of South Africa, at least.

At home they are deified, most of all Erasmus, but the head coach believes that, in the eyes of the rest of the watching world, they are tarred as the villains of the piece. "It has been years, from the Bakkies Botha era, that we are bullies who don't really care what people think," he says. "But we do. I care what people think about the players because they are very good guys."

There are times when you have to take Erasmus and what he says with a pinch of salt. He has given his detractors plenty of ammunition over the years and remains an unpopular figure at the Rugby Football Union for the pile-on that came the way of the referee Wayne Barnes after critical comments made about his performance on social media. His behaviour during the 2021 Lions tour would switch between amusing and absurd and, if South Africa have to be commended for successfully defending their World Cup with three consecutive one-point wins, admiration rather than adulation has tended to come their way.

Erasmus wants to change that.