- Warren Gatland credited Rassie Erasmus with building one of world rugby's most formidable programmes despite their shared history as rivals
- The former Wales coach weighed in on the Springboks' chances at the 2027 Rugby World Cup, pointing to both strengths and vulnerabilities
- Gatland also assessed South Africa's prospects in the inaugural Nations Championship, with four Tests still to play
Former Wales and British & Irish Lions head coach Warren Gatland has spoken publicly about Rassie Erasmus, praising the Springbok director of rugby's record while acknowledging his reputation for stirring reactions through media engagements.
Gatland shared his thoughts in an interview with BoyleSports, reflecting on a coaching rivalry that spans several high-stakes contests, including South Africa's 19-16 defeat of Wales in the 2019 Rugby World Cup semi-final and the Springboks' 2-1 series victory over the British & Irish Lions in 2021.
Gatland gives Erasmus his due
Despite the competitive friction between the two coaches, Gatland was measured in his assessment of Erasmus. He acknowledged that the South African coach can wind people up with his approach to press conferences and public statements, but argued that back-to-back World Cup titles in 2019 and 2023 give Erasmus the latitude to operate however he sees fit.
Gatland described South Africa as the team to beat heading into the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia, pointing to their dominance at the set piece, physical intensity, pace and attacking threat as qualities that would force opponents to play near-perfect rugby to upset them. He did, however, flag potential injury concerns among key personnel as a variable that could shape their tournament.
Nations, rivals and the road to 2027
On the broader competitive landscape, Gatland noted that nations such as England, France, Argentina, Australia and New Zealand would use the next 12 months to close the gap on the reigning champions. He identified Australia's recent progress and the growing depth within the All Blacks squad as factors that could make the 2027 tournament more competitive.
The prospect of a quarter-final clash between South Africa and New Zealand drew particular attention given the tournament draw, with Gatland observing that world rankings dictate match-ups and that teams must make the most of whatever path they face. He also suggested that such a fixture early in the knockout rounds could open doors for other nations to advance.
Turning to the inaugural Nations Championship, Gatland rated South Africa as genuine contenders for the title. The Springboks still have four Tests to play in the competition, and Gatland highlighted New Zealand as another side capable of mounting a serious challenge. He welcomed the format's concentration of matches across a single weekend and expressed optimism that the final rounds would produce strong attendances and compelling rugby.
Bulls face selection challenge ahead of Ulster clash
Briefly News previously reported that Bulls coach Johan Ackermann confirmed Springbok scrumhalf Embrose Papier would be sidelined for several weeks after undergoing ankle surgery.
The injury comes ahead of the Bulls’ URC clash against Ulster at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday, 24 October 2026. With Papier unavailable, the Pretoria side will have to rely on its remaining scrumhalf options as it looks to maintain its momentum.
Source: Briefly News