Cape Town – Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus lashed out after South Africa’s shock 38-22 defeat to Australia at Ellis Park on Saturday, 16 August, a result that saw the Boks drop from first to third in the World Rugby rankings.
Erasmus was caught on camera swearing and later admitted in a press conference that the team had been “really dogsh*t,” acknowledging that the coaches got it “terribly wrong.”
“They beat us in most departments. We as coaches got it terribly wrong/ We have to look first at ourselves before we point fingers at players.
Rassie Erasmus has taken full responsibility for the Boks shock loss to the Wallabies. Watch the full presser here: https://t.co/9Q9LgoDtAn pic.twitter.com/N5mGxdVqUL
— Forever Sports (@ForeverSportsOn) August 16, 2025
Erasmus criticised the lack of fight from the side but stressed accountability from the coaching staff.
“A bad loss, in a bad way, not against a bad team, and we didn’t have fight – and that is not what we want to give SA,” he said.
Fans on social media expressed frustration with Erasmus’ experimental tactics, blaming them for the loss, while others defended him, suggesting his approach may be part of a long-term strategy ahead of the next World Cup.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
