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Rassie+Author: Smash Sports
Introducing Rassie, an exclusive podcast where Rassie Erasmus brings you raw, honest conversations with legends, friends, and game-changers. Language: en-za Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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The Local Legion: The engine Behind the Springboks You've Never Heard Of
Tuesday, 30 June, 2026
Rassie Erasmus sits down with the South African backbone of the Springbok support staff. After meeting the Foreign Legion, it's time to meet the local heroes: the men who grew up in townships, jumped fences to play rugby, took trains to interviews, and in one case spent a year in prison for fighting apartheid. From operations to logistics to match day chaos, these are the people who make sure the Springboks actually get on the field. All on the Rassie + Podcast 00:00 Intro and cold open00:43 What is this episode about?01:11 Rassie introduces the South African support staff01:53 "You guys finished the Foreign Legion, now it's the locals"02:54 Growing up in Joburg, jumping fences to play rugby03:41 Craven Week, first time on a plane, and six hard boiled eggs05:11 Under 19 Junior World Cup in Lyon05:40 The 500 rand a month contract06:27 From player to operations and why it matters07:05 Only 950 Springboks in history07:59 Born in East London, moved to Joburg, fell in love with rugby10:03 1995 and the World Cup that changed everything11:07 Coaching in Soweto and realizing "I'm not that great"12:41 Waiting nine years for the Springbok opportunity14:03 Careers in rugby beyond playing15:30 "The players are nothing without the support staff"16:20 Growing up in Graaff-Reinet, where rugby was the only option17:50 The Swallows and playing under apartheid's nonracial rugby19:27 Teaching history, economics, and languages20:22 The struggle, gangsterism, and different walks of life21:18 Detained in 1986 and a year in prison for the cause22:18 Running from town to town, a wife holding the family together22:46 Moving into rugby administration through trial and error24:15 Answering a newspaper ad for a driver25:39 "The best job of my life"27:17 JJ's World Cup 2011 call up as a last minute stand in30:00 The upside down Springbok logo on the scrum machine33:05 "Mindset change" and faking it under pressure35:11 Nobody has all the answers, even the coaches36:36 The stress players don't see37:25 Waking up at 2am to check if the radios are charged38:39 The relief when you finally get the result39:33 Visa disasters and arriving in France without valid papers40:46 Long term planning and building embassy relationships41:46 Rassie doesn't pick the team alone42:30 The 2019 World Cup final and the last unused substitute43:41 Blood substitutions, clear communication, and hard words44:04 The water carrier incident and buying time with a laptop45:17 Missing warmup jerseys at the 2019 World Cup in Japan46:12 Finding love inside SA Rugby47:20 "Next episode we'll talk about the traditional wedding"
