Rassie Erasmus: Springboks Coach Suffers Health Scare During South Africa’s Match vs Argentina
- Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus shared his smartwatch data after the team's narrow 17-10 win over Argentina on 8 August
- The South African rugby coach revealed his heart rate spiked to nearly 200 beats per minute during the tense match in Buenos Aires
- The Springboks head coach has already shifted focus to South Africa's four-test Greatest Rivalry Series against the All Blacks
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Springboks head coach Rassie Erasmus has lifted the lid on a health scare he experienced during the team's hard-fought Rugby Championship victory over Argentina on Saturday, 8 August, revealing that his heart rate shot to nearly 200 beats per minute at points during the match.
Source: Getty Images
The 53-year-old shared a screenshot of his heart rate monitor on social media after the Springboks secured a 17-10 win over the Pumas in Buenos Aires, confirming what many supporters watching at home already suspected: the match was anything but comfortable.
Erasmus exposes stress of the coaches' box
Posting the data publicly, Erasmus was candid about the physical toll the fixture took on him.
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"Might pretend we were calm, but obviously not," he wrote alongside the screenshot, which showed his heart rate surging to near-maximum levels during the nail-biting encounter.
This is not the first time the Springboks coach has spoken openly about the physical strain of watching his team play under pressure.
During away test matches against France and the All Blacks last year, Erasmus made similar admissions, writing at the time: "Does not help to pretend to be calm in the coaches' box! Your heart does not lie."
The recurring theme underlines the intensity with which Erasmus approaches every fixture, regardless of the opponent.
Boks turn attention to All Blacks Rivalry Series
With the Argentina test firmly behind them, Erasmus and the Springboks have already shifted their focus to a far larger challenge. The All Blacks are currently in South Africa for the Greatest Rivalry Series, a four-match contest between two of the sport's most storied nations.
The fixture schedule is as follows:
- 22 August: Springboks vs All Blacks, Ellis Park, Johannesburg
- 29 August: Springboks vs All Blacks, DHL Stadium, Cape Town
- 5 September: Springboks vs All Blacks, FNB Stadium, Johannesburg
- 12 September: Springboks vs All Blacks, M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, USA
Characteristically, Erasmus signalled the mental reset on social media by unfollowing Argentina and turning his attention entirely to the All Blacks ahead of the first test on 22 August.
Erasmus names 4 players who impressed vs Wales
Briefly News earlier reported that Rassie Erasmus hailed four players who impressed in the Springboks' win over Wales in Durban on Saturday, July 18, 2026.
Wing Jaco Williams crossed for a try and contributed to another, while prop Carlu Sadie impressed in the scrums and lock Ruben van Heerden was dominant at lineout time.
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Source: Briefly News
