There was a perfect snapshot of the contrast between the head coaches at Twickenham on Saturday when Rassie Erasmus strolled on to the pitch with his hands in tracksuit pockets, while his team warmed up nearby.
No rush. No stress. The man in charge of the world-champion Springboks looked as if he was taking his dog for a gentle walk. Not a care in the world. He watched South Africa doing their drills and occasionally glanced over at the opposition, utterly unfazed.
In England’s half of the field, Steve Borthwick’s body language was oh-so different. He was busy and animated – barking orders and gesturing as he put his players through their paces. The hosts’ head coach stationed himself in the thick of the pre-match action. His hands didn’t go near his pockets.
Borthwick cuts a stern, focused figure, not just on match-days but whenever he is in work mode. He is happiest buried in the detail, methodically going about his business, where Rassie is all heart and soul and raw passion.
England’s early try didn’t draw a flicker of a response from their boss. Borthwick was unmoved; calm, straight-faced, chewing gum. Alongside him, Richard Wigglesworth allowed himself a small gesture of satisfaction; banging a fist on the desk in celebration.
Soon after, as the Boks were enduring a chaotic and erratic period, Erasmus could be seen on the intercom mic, barking instructions down to his staff by the touchline. Again, there was a striking contrast, as Borthwick was still poker-faced, still chewing gum.
South Africa boss Rassie Erasmus strolled on to the pitch with his hands in tracksuit pockets during the warm-up
Meanwhile, Steve Borthwick was busy and animated – barking orders and gesturing as he put his players through their paces
In the build-up to this match, Rassie the rascal turned the heat up on his embattled counterpart, under the auspices of showing empathy.
‘When you lose two games, even if it’s by a point or last-minute try, the pressure does start to build,’ he said. ‘I’ve been there and I know how quickly that can get to you. It depends on the management, your CEO – they can make you feel like you have got a gun against your head.’
It is hard to imagine any such mind-games coming back the other way. That is not Borthwick’s style. His repertoire does not include pot-stirring whereas Erasmus has long made it a polarising art form.
Another feature of the build-up to this encounter was the mass rotation by Erasmus, who changed 12 of his starting XV after the shaky win over Scotland. A six-day turn-around was undoubtedly a factor, but it is still not a ploy that Borthwick would favour.
His four changes represented a rare deviation from the steady, consistent selection policy he tends to favour. Erasmus is renowned for innovation and being a master of surprise. Borthwick is more known for being meticulous and thorough, but comparatively conventional.
They are such polar opposite figures. An Englishman fond of data and detail, in his element studying lineouts at a laptop and a South African renowned for pushing buttons in a different way; firing up his own players and winding up opponents.
These rival coaches have a different standing too. Very different. Borthwick is struggling in the court of public opinion. England fans have not warmed to his regime and there are signs of unrest. Despite reaching a World Cup semi-final, there is growing impatience in the Shires.
Popularity is eluding the man in charge here. That couldn’t be further from the case for Erasmus. He is the revered ruler of the Bok kingdom – adored in his homeland as the mastermind of sustained success and someone who has often stood up to global vitriol.
England’s early try at Twickenham didn’t draw a flicker of a response from their boss
Borthwick is struggling in the court of public opinion and there’s impatience in the Shires
That couldn’t be further from the case for Erasmus, who is adored in his homeland
The thing about Borthwick is that he doesn’t crave acclaim. He’s not seeking a place on any pedestal. He is content to operate out of sight. In an occupation full of inflated egos, he doesn’t have one.
What he would surely crave though is Erasmus’s CV. A Premiership title triumph with Leicester is a fine club feat, but it pales compared to two global conquests at Test level.
No wonder Erasmus can stroll around with hands in pockets, ahead of such a momentous fixture. He has earned leeway. An occasional one-off loss is not going to make or break his reputation, even though it jars with the heightened expectations of the Springboks’ army of supporters.
But the scenario for Borthwick is so different. He is stalked by stifling pressure. No wonder he always looks so stern and focused. What he would give to be in Rassie’s comfortable shoes, with his hands in pockets – literally or figuratively; all calm and assured.
