Warren Gatland has called on SA Rugby to rein in Rassie Erasmus in the wake of his controversial social media posts highlighting officiating inconsistencies.
In the aftermath of the clash between the Springboks and France, Erasmus posted a spate of videos of officiating discrepancies by match referee Wayne Barnes, and week after a similar post following a loss for the world champions to Ireland.
The World Cup-winning coach then responded to the outcry over his clips, asking those who disagreed with his social media content to stop following him., former Wales coach Gatland hit out at Erasmus for not following the channels put in place by World Rugby.“We don’t see other directors of rugby or head coaches doing the same thing. I think it’s a little bit disappointing. There is a process in place for people to do reports after games and get feedback.
“I can’t particularly see a defence there for what he’s doing. I don’t think it’s a great look for the game. The last thing we need is coaches taking this media and making comments about the game.”Gatland coached the British & Irish Lions during last year’s series against the Springboks, during which Erasmus released an hour-long video questioning decisions made by the match officials in the first Test between the two sides.
The video earned Erasmus a lengthy ban from all rugby activities and matchday activities, the latter of which he only recently completed in September.“After every game, you pick out things and send in clips where you want clarification and that’s the process you go through,” wrote Gatland. “Referees, the good ones, will come back and put their hands up on calls they’ve got wrong and you accept that, because it’s human nature.
“I just think as coaches and administrators, there is a process and we need to keep our counsel. You would like to think that someone will pull Erasmus aside, whether it’s someone from the South African Rugby Union or their CEO or there’s a phone call, to tell Rassie: ‘I don’t think you’re doing yourself any favours, or World Rugby any favours by putting these things out on social media’.”
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
LETTER: Twitter rants by Rassie Erasmus will harm SA rugbyErasmus is shooting himself in the foot and will take SA’s wonderful rugby reputation down with him
Read more »
Is Rassie Erasmus again poking a World Rugby refereeing bear that landed him in hot water? | SportSA Rugby director of rugby Rassie Erasmus has again taken to Twitter to highlight inconsistencies in officiating. | kaymorizm Sport24news
Read more »
Rassie's tweets: How will World Rugby respond? | The CitizenRassie tweets again: In the wake of the Boks’ Test defeat to France in Marseille at the weekend, Erasmus has been at it again. Click here for the detailS➡️
Read more »
PETER BRUCE: Dear Rassie, please stop tweetingI can take Erasmus’s strange selections, but I don’t want him making a fool of the country on this Twitter account. It brings him, his team, the country and the game into disrepute
Read more »
‘Please feel free to block me’: Bok boss Rassie Erasmus defends tweetsRassie Erasmus defended his latest rugby tweets, urging Twitter users to hit the block button should they not want to follow him.
Read more »
PETER BRUCE: Dear Rassie, please stop tweetingI can take Erasmus’s strange selections, but I don’t want him making a fool of the country on this Twitter account. It brings him, his team, the country and the game into disrepute, writes Bruceps.
Read more »