Heavyweight ex-Bok coaches Erasmus, Mallett clash over TV comments: 'I was really upset'

Rassie Erasmus used his infamous Twitter account to bite back at former Springbok coach Nick Mallett after the latter’s comments on the popular rugby show, Final Whistle, last Sunday.

The SA Rugby director of rugby, who recently copped a two-match Test ban by World Rugby for criticising officiating during last year’s Springbok end-year tour, took exception to Mallett’s comments on the SuperSport weekly review and analysis programme.

Show host and former Bok hooker Owen Nkumane posed a question to the panel, which included Swys de Bruin and Hanyani Shimange, about whether something ought to be done regarding SA's coaching systems and pipeline.  

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"We need something done about coaching in South Africa, streamline it somehow and to know what my pathway is if I want to become a coach. The IQ is there in South Africa; we just need to bring it together and whatever comes through, we pass on to the kids," said Nkumane.

"That’s part of the director of rugby’s job; that’s part of Rassie’s job," Mallett responded.

"His job is to bring coaches through, bring referees through. It’s a very big job he’s got. He shouldn’t be on social media talking about the Springboks.

"He should be doing his job properly."

The 2019 World Cup-winning Springbok coach, Erasmus, released a scathing voice note that was evidently directed at Mallett, saying his predecessor did not know what the director of rugby role entailed.

"I struggled to sleep because I was really upset about your comments last week on Final Whistle," said Erasmus.

"No matter what it is, it’s just the things that you said without any substance behind it. Nick, I’m just going to tell you straight up, you don’t know what a