THE behind-the-scenes 2019 World Cup documentary Chasing the Sun shows footage of South Africa’s head coach, Rassie Erasmus, referring to Ireland as “softies”. As he is revving-up his side for the semi-final against the Welsh, Erasmus says: “They are not softies – they are not like Ireland. They are tough f**kers.”
Erasmus then adds: “They are not like England, who go away…” The unsaid bit is, presumably, “when the going gets tough”.
There was a clairvoyant element a week later when England failed to fire agains...