Rassie’s Springboks travelled to hell and back to reach RWC final

Eddie Jones has helped build a stirring narrative with his England side but it’s Rassie Erasmus and his bunch of globetrotters who own rugby’s best story, writes JIM TICKER.

Rassie Erasmus fires up his pack. Picture: Behrouz Mehri/AFP

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As a player, Rassie Erasmus was so passionate about the Springbok jersey he would hang his on the lamp beside his bed to illuminate it.

It was a ritual for hotel rooms around the world on Test eve and the mastermind of South African rugby’s revival will bring the same zeal to Saturday’s Rugby World Cup final.

As coach, he has found a way to unite the combustible elements of South African rugby and breathe life into a team capable of ending England’s dream in Yokohama.

Much has been made of Eddie Jones lifting England but the job for Erasmus has been even bigger.

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Rassie Erasmus fires up his pack. Picture: Behrouz Mehri/AFP

Losing to Japan? It was a national disgrace four years ago for proud South Africans.

Erasmus has only been at the helm for 25 Tests but has lifted the Boks from No.7 to No.2.

He makes no apology for the often boring, narrow game plan that beat both Japan and Wales in sudden-death matches or that more brutal pack power will be turned on England.

Halfback Faf de Klerk has been a livewire ace but kicking 17 times against Wales did see the box kick retagged the “Boks kick” on social media.

“If one understands where we’ve been coming from, being No.6, No.7 or eight in the world, we’ve got certain challenges,” Erasmus said.

“One of them was always to redeem ourselves and become a power again.

“We’ve followed a certain route, played according to the stats and the way the game is being refereed currently, which gives you good results in the short term.’’

“We have put ourselves in a position to maybe win the World Cup and we are in the final.”

Dan Herbert hangs on to Rassie Erasmus.

The vanquished Wallabies and All Blacks would take that chance in a heartbeat.

Erasmus explained his jersey tradition during his 36-Test career as a backrower.

“I’d hang my jumper on the lamp beside the bed and the light of the jumper hangs above you,” Erasmus said.

“The green jumper means everything to a Springbok player because you work your whole life for it.”

Erasmus has enhanced that meaning again in players selected from French, English and Japanese competitions as well as from home.

Selecting flanker Siya Kolisi last season as the first black captain of the Springboks in 127 years has created a special possibility beyond rugby should be hold aloft the Webb Ellis Cup.

Kolisi won’t finish the Test because the Springboks’ awesome fleet of super subs will start taking on that task with 35 minutes to play.

Back-up flanker Francois Louw, hooker Malcolm Marx, prop Steven Kitshoff and locks RG Snyman and Franco Mostert are a huge change-up to keep up the intensity.

Just remember Eddie and England don’t own rugby’s great revival story. There is another.