Rassie Erasmus has dismissed claims that the Springboks are engaging in “mind games” ahead of Saturday’s Test against France in Paris.
The French media reported last week that Les Bleus had closed off training sessions over fears that the world champions were spying on them.
On Thursday, Erasmus took to social media to predict France’s team – he correctly identified all 23 players and got the starting XV spot on – which some interpreted as another attempt to unsettle the opposition.
Erasmus, however, insists his posts are not tactical ploys but rather a way of engaging with South African supporters.
“People see everything we do as mind games,” he said. “But when I put a team out there, or post our team’s weights and caps, it’s really just about communicating with our supporters and giving them a little more depth and insight into what our team looks like and how it compares to theirs.
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“The South African supporters are really into it, and the more you give them, the more they understand. What France do in their camp doesn’t influence how we prepare. We play for South Africa, for the Springboks – and even though we’re away from home, we know there are millions behind us.”
Massive test !! pic.twitter.com/0IZMcU35Oh
— Johan Erasmus (@RassieRugby) November 6, 2025
Erasmus also spoke warmly about his French counterpart Fabien Galthié.
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“I know Fabien – I played against him and have known him for years,” he explained. “Ironically, he came to Munster and shadowed us for a week. He sat in every meeting, training and planning session, and we learned a lot from each other. Soon after that, he became the French head coach.”
Photo: Franco Arland/Gallo Images
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