"He was tough to ignore" - Rassie Erasmus reveals the THREE England players he'd love to coach

Tuesday, 29 March 2022 at 11:30

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byRugby Rucker

World Cup-winning coach Rassie Erasmus has said he "would love" to coach England under the right conditions, revealing some of the players he'd love to coach.

#1. Ellis Genge

"I would love to coach Ellis Genge," wrote Erasmus.

"Any prop that looks the other prop in the eyes before a scrum, you know he’s a dog. You don’t want a prop that’s looking at his toes, scared. I want guys like Genge on my team."

Ellis Genge of England (digitally altered) during the Autumn Nations Match between England and Tonga at Twickenham Stoop on 6 November 2021. Photo: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK

#2. Sam Simmonds

“Those boys (England) can move and him [Simmonds] specifically. He has made his mark, not from nowhere but he just stamped his authority and the way he was playing for his club [Exeter] he was tough to ignore,” Erasmus said.

“I don’t know the selection policy but it looks like a really good pack to me.”

Sam Simmonds (Exeter Chiefs, 7 caps) during England Rugby training session at The Lensbury Hotel, Teddington, London on 28 Sept 2021. Photo: Phil Mingo/PPAUK

#3. Manu Tuilagi

“Do you think Manu Tuilagi will read this interview?” Erasmus asked journalist Nik Simon during his exclusive interview with the Daily Mail.

“After that match, Joe Marler sent me a bottle of wine. That was lekker because me and Joe Marler are the same kind of guy. We are not suit-and-tie guys. But Manu Tuilagi gave our team manager a teddy bear and asked them to pass it on to me.

“I still don’t know why. If he was calling me a cry baby, that’s funny, he got me. If he was taking the p***, I like that. If it was sincere and it was meant for my daughters, that’s kind. I would love to know.

"He's a great player."