Thierry Dusautoir praised Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus (pictured) for his innovative strategies, likening him to former French coach Guy Noves. Picture: Backpagepix
Image: Backpagepix
Former France skipper Thierry Dusautoir has sung the praises of Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus while likening him to a French tactician of high regard.
Dusautoir said the innovation of Erasmus was much like that of former France coach Guy Noves.
Noves himself enjoyed a long playing career as a fiery wing with Toulouse from 1975 to 1988, before coaching the same side for an incredible 22-year period starting in 1993.
After that, he coached the French national rugby team for a period of two years.
Speaking about Erasmus, Dusautoir told Hajper: “He is very clever and he brings a lot of innovation to rugby. I remember when he started with the Bomb Squad. Everyone was criticising him, but within a few weeks, a lot of teams were adopting the same strategy!
“It's got a good quality of player, but what I really like about him is that he reminds me of Guy Noves. He takes the game beyond the pitch.
“He's a really clever guy, really interesting. The way he studies the strategies. I don't know who will be able to challenge South Africa. They are the best in the world right now.
“I hope the All Blacks are able to challenge them. Maybe the change of coach will help them.”
Dusautoir also said that he expected more from the South African teams in the Champions Cup.
With South African teams joining in the 2022/2023 season, they have failed to make the same kind of impression as in the United Rugby Championship (URC).
The Stormers won the URC in the 2021/2022 season in their debut appearance. Since then, the Stormers finished runners-up the following season, and the Bulls have now been losing finalists on three occasions.
Meanwhile, the Champions Cup remains a tournament where the SA sides have not achieved much success at all without an appearance in the final yet. Of course, this could be down to scheduling issues with all the travelling the SA sides have to do, but it doesn’t change their lack of success.