Bok coach Nienaber unpacks life without banned Rassie: 'We did that for a year'

In London

Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber said SA Rugby director of rugby Rassie Erasmus' match-day roles and responsibilities have been devolved to the rest of the coaching team since his two-match ban last week.

Erasmus, who coached the Boks to the 2019 Rugby World Cup title, had the book thrown at him by World Rugby for his tweets that highlighted officiating inconsistencies in their two tour losses to Ireland in Dublin on 5 November and France a week later in Marseille.

Erasmus remains with the Boks and attended Monday's training session at the Lensbury Resort in Teddington ahead of their Test against England at Twickenham on Saturday.

Erasmus has been banned from media and match-day duties for the upcoming Test and missed last week's Test against Italy in Genoa.

READ | World Rugby wants better communication with SA Rugby after Rassie ban: 'Let's have a discussion'

Nienaber said they had long adjusted to doing things without Erasmus at training, something they adapted to when Erasmus was first suspended for the leaked Nic Berry video stemming from his officiating last year's first British & Irish Lions Test.

"During the week, it's as per normal and he can be with us," Nienaber said.

"The roles and responsibilities that he fulfilled on match-day have been absorbed within us in the coaching staff.

"We did that for a year."

15 Willie le Roux, 14 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Damian Willemse, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Franco Mostert, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ox Nche

Substitutes: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Steven Kitshoff, 18 Thomas du Toit, 19 Marco van Staden, 20 Kwagga Smith, 21 Jaden Hendrikse, 22 Manie Libbok,