There is a general view, in the northern hemisphere especially, of how the game should be played, but Erasmus’ Springboks do not conform to that. Former England coach Clive Woodward said if other teams followed suit, the sport would be "dead within five years". And yet since then, many sides have tapped into what they do well, including England, who took the Springbok copybook on their run to the semi-finals this year and almost stunned South Africa in Paris this past weekend. Erasmus raises the ire of traditionalists but almost always sticks within the confines of the laws. And herein lies the other side of Erasmus, the streetfighter who will not lie down and go quietly into the night.

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Persons: Rassie Erasmus, Jacques Nienaber, Erasmus, Clive Woodward, Matt Proudfoot, Sport24, Rassie, Nic Berry, Nick Said, David Holmes Organizations: South, Springboks, New Zealand, Erasmus ’, Erasmus ’ Springboks, Springbok, British & Irish Lions, Erasmus, Guardian, Thomson Locations: CAPE, South Africa, New, Paris, England, Africa