The head coach of the Springboks, Rassie Erasmus, remains silent about the reasons why the team players shaved their heads after defeating the All Blacks in a match that was part of 'Rugby's Greatest Rivalry.'
Erasmus is unwilling to share details of the bet within the RGR that resulted in him and much of his coaching staff losing their hair. Although South Africans have been speculating for the past couple of weeks about the reason for the sudden baldness of the Springbok coaching staff, the head coach has not yet intended to reveal this secret.
The mystery of the Boks' transformation in appearance became one of the less significant topics following their memorable 3-1 series victory over New Zealand in the first RGR. After the series, Erasmus and several members of his team were seen with newly shaven heads, which immediately sparked discussion. The coaches were nicknamed 'Rassie's Bald Squad,' a playful reference to the famous Springboks' Bomb Squad bench, and naturally, questions arose: what was the bet, who made it, and who lost?
However, Erasmus keeps this part of the story strictly within the Boks squad. He stated: 'I am not going to tell you the reason. It was an internal bet with some of our coaches and players, and after we beat New Zealand, they reminded us of what we promised, so we had to keep our word.' He added: 'So it was something internal. Nothing bad, nothing good. It was just a cute little bet, but it's an inside joke. Everything is fine.'
Boks preparation ahead of the Wallabies challenge
After four matches against New Zealand, concluding with a historic series of victories in Baltimore, the Boks received a well-deserved break before focusing on a completely different challenge—a match against Australia. Due to the tight schedule, the players and management had little time to fully relax, especially after the intensity of the 'Greatest Rivalry.'
The Boks team moved from the United States to Australia, basing themselves in Terrigal near Sydney for the last few weeks before heading west to Perth for the match against the Wallabies at Optus Stadium on Sunday (game start at 11:45 SA time). For Erasmus, this break was more of an opportunity to allow the players to recover from the intense rugby period rather than just to reduce concentration.
He noted: 'You have to remember that New Zealand played four matches in a row, so their tour was long. Being away from home for seven or eight weeks and playing matches is tough. After Baltimore, we flew to Australia and rested a bit in Terrigal, and since arriving, it feels like the atmosphere of Jeffreys Bay. We trained for three days, and Sunday and Monday were off. Being among the South Africans here is wonderful, and the guys relaxed. They went fishing, bowling, and barbecuing. But now everyone is focused again on trying to beat Australia.'
This will require the Boks to change their mindset, as the team spent the last two months preparing and battling the All Blacks. Australia presents a different challenge, especially considering that the world champions must manage their squad after four tough encounters. Erasmus has already made changes to the team, resting several senior players, aiming to balance immediate performance with the demands of a long season.
Nevertheless, the mystery surrounding the 'Bald Squad' remains unsolved. The Boks guru does not disclose information. Perhaps the answer will eventually emerge from within the Boks squad when a documentary about the series is released, but for now, the coach remains silent—and his haircuts are covered. And if there is one thing that South African rugby fans have learned about Erasmus over the years, it is that when he says something stays within the team, they might have to wait longer for the resolution.
