Rassie Erasmus Admits Heart-Racing Stress During All Blacks Clash
- Rassie Erasmus admitted the Eden Park showdown left him shaken, with his body showing just how much pressure he was under
- The Springboks boss, no stranger to health scares in the past, revealed just how tense the 80 minutes were from his seat
- South Africans took to social media with a mix of humour and concern, showing their love for the coach after the dramatic clash
Springboks head coach Rassie Erasmus was not just on the edge of his seat during the clash against the All Blacks at Eden Park on Saturday, 6 September 2025; he had his heart in his hands.
In a tense, physically taxing encounter, the match became an emotional rollercoaster for South African fans and an even more stressful ordeal for Erasmus.
Source: Getty Images
The coach, who holds the record for the most Rugby Championship wins by a Springboks mentor, was visibly rattled as the game slipped away.
In a TikTok clip, he is seen swearing and dropping a “P” word in Afrikaans while the Boks struggled to hold their ground.
PAY ATTENTION: Briefly News is now on YouTube! Check out our interviews on Briefly TV Life now!
Erasmus near 'heart attack' moment
Later, Erasmus shared a photo of his heart-rate monitor, revealing a pulse that had raced like Cheslin Kolbe, peaking at 132 beats per minute. He admitted to biting his nails and gripping his chest, saying:
“Does not help to pretend to be calm in the coaches’ box! Your heart does not lie.”
As seen in the picture below:
Erasmus's health journey through the years
Erasmus’s health has been under scrutiny before. In 2019, he was diagnosed with a rare, life-threatening autoimmune disease, microscopic polyangiitis with granulomatosis (formerly Wegener’s disorder), which affects vital organs like the lungs, kidneys, sinuses, and trachea.
He underwent chemotherapy to manage the condition, which he kept private during the Rugby World Cup. In 2020, he and his family recovered from COVID-19. By 2024, he also disclosed undergoing a painful shoulder operation to correct an old injury from his playing days.
Source: Getty Images
South Africans show Erasmus love
South Africans and rugby lovers worldwide reacted with love, humour, and concern for Erasmus:
@kevinwfield:
“Why didn’t the Springboks come out after the game? We waited and waited. My boy was so sad.”
@Al42401Albert:
“Poor guy… we all felt it. Passion worldwide, even here in Limerick 🇮🇪. Reality: 2 soft tries, shaky defence, too many mistakes… and Karl Dickson didn’t help either. Get them in Wellington 💪.”
@AntAlbers:
“I peaked at 126. My record is 154 against France at the World Cup.”
@rugbyphilosophy:
“Still the GOAT coach.”
@GarryWalt:
“My nerves can’t handle watching these games anymore. I’m a nervous wreck. We’ll get them next week. Need to go and buy more Calmettes.”
@Umlando5:
“Take care of yourself, Rassie.”
@solitudesa:
“Good luck for the coming weekend, Rassie! The Bokke will be amazing once they are more clinical. At some point they will click.”
@WINSTON74502263:
“We nearly there again, Rassie. I reckon you got the Wellington game.”
Rassie Erasmus names revamped squad
Briefly News previously reported that Springboks head coach Rassie Erasmus has made wholesale changes to the team that lost to New Zealand on Saturday, 6 September, at Eden Park.
South Africa’s late push against the All Blacks yielded no positive result, as the Boks went down 24-17 in the Castle Lager Rugby Championship.
Source: Briefly News
