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Telegraph
04-07-2025
- Sport
- Telegraph
Erasmus hits back at Gatland: We did not spy on Lions...Wales spied on us
Rassie Erasmus, South Africa's two-time World Cup-winning coach, has hit back at Warren Gatland's accusations that the Springboks spied on the Lions in 2021, claiming Wales employed similar tactics later that same year. Writing exclusively for Telegraph Sport, Gatland on Friday revealed how the Lions believed Erasmus and his South Africa coaching staff had access to the Lions' calls and tactics on the 2021 Covid-affected tour, which had been obtained by spying. Gatland explained how a photographer had managed to take a picture of Erasmus on the pitch during the first Test holding a piece of paper which contained several of the Lions' calls. But later on Friday Erasmus responded with a series of tweets on the X platform, saying that the piece of paper actually contained words in Afrikaans linked to South Africa's own game plan. 'Damn, they manage [sic] to decipher our Afrikaans game plan! Kudos to you! Great spying,' Erasmus, who led South Africa to back-to-back World Cups in 2019 and 2023, wrote. Erasmus went on to accuse Wales of similar tactics in the autumn of 2021, although Gatland had not rejoined the principality as coach at that stage. The Springboks were forced to evacuate their Cardiff hotel twice overnight before their match with Wales, and Erasmus claims that when they were safely allowed to return sensitive information had been taken. 'I hear from a source from within the Wales [sic] camp that whilst we were evacuated all our notes and plans were photographed and the white board sheets taken,' Erasmus said. 'We were again forced at around 06h00 for [sic] another evacuation!!' Gatland wrote how the Lions' suspicions grew in the first Test, 'when Lukhanyo Am hit Elliot Daly with a massive man-and-ball tackle, reading a move that we had not used before during the tour matches'. Erasmus also addressed that accusation in a third tweet: 'Lukie [Am] dit [sic] really well to read that one skip pass (we call that a 100) Exceptional read to see the one skip pas [sic] and make the tackle!' In another tweet Erasmus appeared to suggest the Lions broke covid rules when he said 'not all sources are credible' along with a picture of South Africa's curfew restrictions during the Lions tour.
The Independent
03-07-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
It's not something I've thought much about – Gregor Townsend on Scotland future
Gregor Townsend declined to be drawn into discussions about his long-term future as Scotland head coach. The 52-year-old has been in charge since the summer of 2017 but his current deal expires after next year's Six Nations. Recently-appointed Scottish Rugby chief executive Alex Williamson indicated last month that he would be keen to retain Townsend. Asked if there had been any developments regarding his future, Townsend, speaking on Thursday from the Scots' summer tour base in New Zealand, said: 'Well, it's not really been discussed, it's not something that tends to get discussed when we're in campaigns. 'We don't have the time, really, and the focus is on making sure we prepare the team as well as we can this week and over the next two weeks. 'Honestly, it's not something I've thought that much about. A lot goes into preparation for a tour and then on tour, and there'll be plenty of time to discuss whether Scottish Rugby feel that they want me to continue and also what I want to do at the end of my contract. But it won't be something that will be decided over the next few weeks.' Asked if he was keen to remain in charge for the 2027 World Cup in Australia, Townsend said: 'As I said, it's not something I've spent a lot of time thinking about. This job gives me a huge purpose in my life, but it also demands a lot of energy. And just now all my energy is going into helping the other coaches and the team.'
