Rassie Erasmus confirms stepping down from South Africa coaching role after World Cup final

South Africa director of rugby Rassie Erasmus has confirmed that the World Cup final against England on Saturday will be his final game in charge of the Springboks.

Erasmus was appointed the director of rugby of South Africa in 2017 and a year later also held the head coach role of the side a in February 2018 when Allister Coetzee was sacked.

During his time of appointment as head coach, the 47-year-old stated that he will take up the assignment until the showpiece event in Japan but the success he achieved with the Springboks this year where they clinched the Rugby Championship title and now have reached the final of the World Cup led to speculations that he will extend his role.

However, Erasmus said his time as the head coach will be over in the next few days.

"To be honest, it’s been 25 test matches, and is probably my last test – it is my last test match that I will be the head coach. For me, it’s an emotional one in the sense that I didn’t think 25 test matches will go that quickly.

"When I went to Munster, I was sort of in the mode of doing the family thing and making sure that I see my children in the last four or five years before they get out of school, and thinking more strategically in terms of how we are going to get the schoolboys when I got back to South Africa, and help the sevens and help Allister.

"The moment you get hands-on with the Springboks again, the adrenalin starts pumping again and you get back into the mould again, and it is a totally different feeling, and I am enjoying it thoroughly now.

"It’s wonderful to be here. It’s sad that it’s only three days, and then it is all over. But I will be heavily involved, hopefully, still after this – whatever way we are going to go with the head coach."