Trevor Nyakane has never been one to mince words, and the experienced Springbok prop has provided a rare glimpse behind the scenes at what it’s truly like working under Rassie Erasmus, a coach whose rugby obsession is matched only by his ability to know exactly when to dial it down.
Speaking candidly on the For the Love of Rugby podcast with former England internationals Ben Youngs and Dan Cole, the 64-Test veteran painted a picture of Erasmus that defies the stereotype of the unapproachable international coach grinding players into submission.
“As intense as coach Ras can be, he can actually be very fun as well. He can be a calming person,” Nyakane revealed, his insight carrying the weight of over a decade in the green and gold since his debut in 2013.
The prop, known for his outgoing personality both on and off the pitch, drew a stark contrast between Erasmus and other coaches he’s encountered throughout his career.
“There are certain coaches you see them walking your way, [and] you turn, and you go the other way, whereas with Rassie, it’s not like that,” Nyakane explained, highlighting the approachability that sets the director of rugby apart.
“He might end up walking towards you looking as if he can’t see you, [and] then he gives you a [fist] bump. You know he’s a coach that you can interact with.”
But Nyakane was quick to emphasise that Erasmus’s personable nature doesn’t mean he lacks the steel required at rugby’s highest level. The master tactician knows precisely when to flick the switch.
“He knows when to turn it up when it’s time to get your head stuck in; he becomes like that. But he also knows how to just completely turn it off, and he becomes just a fun person to be around,” the prop added.
The conversation also turned to assistant coach Felix Jones, the Irishman who has become an integral part of the Springbok coaching setup. Retired prop Steven Kitshoff, who hung up his boots last year following a career-ending neck injury, didn’t hold back in describing Jones’s work ethic.
Read more about the Springbok’s views on Jones on KickOff.com
The insights from Nyakane and Kitshoff provide a fascinating window into the coaching philosophy that has helped maintain the Springboks’ position among rugby’s elite. It’s a blend of intensity and approachability, of knowing when to push and when to pull back, qualities that have become hallmarks of the current Bok setup.
For Nyakane, who has scored just one try across his 64 Tests, a statistic that speaks to the unglamorous graft of front-row play, these coaching relationships have clearly shaped his journey from debutant in 2013 to experienced campaigner.
