According to Bobby Skinstad, the bond between him and South Africa’s head coach, Rassie Erasmus, which was once strained, has been “mended”.
Their careers as South Africa captains occurred concurrently, leading them to vie for a spot in the Springboks’ back-row for a period of four years, following their Test debuts which took place within months of each other in 1997.
During a recent appearance on the Stick to Rugby podcast, Skinstad, the 2007 World Cup victor who jokingly referred to himself as “a lesser version of Henry Pollock”, explained that the two “disliked each other” during their playing careers, but have since worked together following retirement and have “mended” their bond.
While Erasmus transitioned into coaching after retiring from playing, Skinstad pursued a career in punditry and commentary. It was in this capacity that he aided Erasmus with footage and statistics, gaining firsthand insight into how the Springboks leader “differed from everyone else”.
Skinstad proceeded to characterize his former teammate as an “innovator”, portraying his endeavors as “remarkable”.
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“He certainly explores unconventional approaches,” the Springbok with 42 caps stated.
“He possessed creative flair as a player. Our animosity stemmed from competing for the same position. When I became a commentator, he began delving into data analytics and statistics, requesting information from SuperSport. After compiling these stats, I reached out to him, inquiring, ‘Rassie, what insights are you seeking?’ Consequently, we commenced similar appraisal work regarding his endeavors, and I then comprehended the extent to which his approach diverged from others, and he has simply persisted. He has advanced significantly.
“I hadn’t previously gotten along with him. South Africa employed a kicking-based strategy, and we faced criticism for frequently kicking the ball away. However, it was demonstrated that maintaining possession for less time than the opposition, while they are attacking, results in more frequent victories. He recognized this and sought to convey it. Therefore, he requested all the stats and footage, and upon my inquiry, the relationship improved as we no longer competed for the same position. I gained close insight and evaluation into his methods, even at the provincial level, which is extraordinary.
“Innovators must adopt unconventional methods.”
