OPINION: Gio Aplon shared his concerns over Rassie Erasmus’ contract extension with a comparison to Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United, but the former Bok winger’s fears are exaggerated.
In an episode of Juan de Jongh and Rudy Paige’s Behind the Ruck podcast, Aplon expressed a surprise view on a decision that was hailed by most South Africans.
“I wouldn’t have signed him,” Aplon said of SA Rugby’s decision to extend Erasmus’ contract until the end of 2031.
“It’s not personal, it’s not that he’s not good. I just think the ecosystem of sports needs something else with the type of players we’re playing now.”
For one, it’s surprising to hear Aplon express this view about one of the few Bok coaches who would’ve backed him to play 50 Tests.
More interestingly, though, at multiple times in the discussion with his fellow former Boks, Aplon – a Manchester United fan – brought up how the English football club had struggled since the retirement of the legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
For the non-football initiated among us, Ferguson was the Premier League’s equivalent of Rassie Erasmus – albeit over a much, much longer period.
Under Ferguson, United were taken from a middling club – living more on reputation than reality – to a team that dominated English football for over 20 years.
However, in 2013, as United were about to celebrate their record-equalling 20th league title, the then-71-year-old announced his shock retirement, stepping away for personal reasons.
Fergie’s departure left a gaping hole at the club – especially as his backroom staff, assistant coaches and long-serving chief executive David Gill all left the club at the same time.
Since then, United have reverted to a team that wins the occasional trophy, but have never got their hands on the biggest prizes.
Aplon’s fear seems to be that by holding onto Erasmus, SA Rugby are delaying the inevitable succession plan that will come when he rides into the sunset.
But this is exactly why keeping Erasmus for another World Cup run is so important.
Gone are the four-year cycles where the flavour-of-the-month coach would be appointed to lead the Springboks.
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The Bok camp has never been as stable as it is now.
Aplon further questioned what South Africa’s provincial coaches have to work towards – if not the Bok job.
“For a local coach, where do you go? Like, for Dobbo [Stormers boss John Dobson], for Ackies [Bulls head coach Johan Ackermann], for whoever’s here,” he added.
The point of a provincial head coach in this modern era should be to get your team into the strongest possible place and grow players for national selection. That is how they add to the national cause.
For someone like Dobson, it’s about making Stormers rugby as strong as possible and seeing as many players as possible reach their full potential.
The Springboks now have a clear identity and pathway – with Erasmus already planning beyond 2027.
There were 11 players called up to the first Bok alignment camp of the year. Two of those were Markus Muller and Kai Pratt, both in their first year out of high school.
Last year, Erasmus got three Junior Springboks involved in Bok training sessions after the successful U20 World Championship.
Cheswill Jooste, Haashim Pead and Batho Hlekani will all form part of the planning going forward towards 2031.
From one Man United fan to another, I think that Aplon is missing the boat with a comparison to the Boks.
United’s decline wasn’t simply about one man leaving; it was about a structure that collapsed the moment he did.
Erasmus is building a system designed to outlast him.
It’s about making sure that when the time finally comes to hand over the whistle, the next coach inherits a dynasty rather than a rebuild.