Rassie Erasmus is the greatest - former Ireland international
Former Ireland international Alan Quinlan praised Rassie Erasmus as potentially the greatest rugby coach ever, highlighting South Africa’s dominance under his leadership, including their unbeaten 2025 European Tour and structural changes in the sport. Picture: Backpagepix
Image: Backpagepix
If you’re South African, Rassie Erasmus is widely regarded as the best Springboks coach ever. However, internationally and in Ireland in particular, credit for Erasmus is not as forthcoming.
Former Ireland back-rower Alan Quinlan, though, insists that Erasmus may just be the best rugby coach the world has ever seen.
In 2025, the Springboks not only defended their Rugby Championship title but also went unbeaten on their November European Tour.
That included victory over France, and most significantly, a victory over Ireland in Dublin for the first time since 2012.
South Africa’s Rugby Dominance Under Coach Rassie Erasmus
“Yeah, he is [the greatest rugby coach ever]. I think South Africa will be firm favourites going into the 2027 World Cup. Their depth chart is incredible. South Africa have always had the players, but what he has done is structurally changed everything: aligned the unions, the pathways, consistency in communication, and fitness requirements,” speaking to BOYLE Sports, who offer the latest Six Nations odds, Quinlan said.
“I think back to 2016 when I was there with Ireland. We won for the first time on South African soil in Cape Town. Their Rugby Championship results were poor after that, and then they came to Dublin in 2017 and were beaten 38-3. It was dreadful stuff.”
Quinlan went on to say that the Springboks have always had incredible depth and the only shift has been within the coaching staff.
“Rassie doesn’t have a magic wand; a lot of the players who played against Ireland in November 2025 were playing back in 2017.
“There was a core group already there. But you have to give him credit for bringing in overseas coaches like Tony Brown and Felix Jones. He’s finely tuned players to a level that is off the chart. Their skill levels are so high now they can play the game in a number of different ways.”