Rassie Erasmus, the current Springbok coach, has shared another nostalgic moment from his playing days, this time paying tribute to two late rugby icons: Joost van der Westhuizen and James Small.

In a heartfelt post, Erasmus reminisces about his time as a player with the national team, digging up an old photo that features some familiar faces from the past.

Throwback to the Springboks of the Late ’90s

On Monday, Erasmus posted an image from his early days with the Springboks, capturing a special moment with the team.

The picture includes well-known players like Percy Montgomery, Gary Teichmann, and André Venter, as well as André-Hugo Venter, who has now followed in his father’s footsteps to become a rising star in South African rugby.

At the time, Nick Mallett was the head coach of the national team.

What made this post particularly emotional for Erasmus and his followers was the inclusion of players who have since passed away—namely, Joost van der Westhuizen and James Small, two Springbok legends, along with manager Arthrob Petersen.

Erasmus captioned the photo: “Nostalgia.

We used to cut the sleeves off with scissors in the change room before the warm-up on matchdays.”

The Tragic Losses of Joost van der Westhuizen and James Small

Erasmus’ post highlights the deep connection he had with both Joost van der Westhuizen and James Small, two players who left an indelible mark on South African rugby.

Erasmus briefly played alongside Small, who retired from the Springboks in 1997.

Small tragically passed away in 2019 at the age of 50, after suffering a heart attack.

Known for his brilliant skills on the field, Small also battled personal demons, having previously admitted to struggles with drugs and alcohol.

Rassie also played alongside Joost van der Westhuizen, one of the most iconic players in South African rugby history.

Van der Westhuizen played for the Springboks until 2003 and was part of the squad for the 1999 Rugby World Cup.

Sadly, Joost passed away in 2017 after a long battle with motor neurone disease, at the age of 45.

A Look Back at Some of the Greatest Springboks

For many rugby fans, this throwback picture serves as a poignant reminder of the great players Erasmus had the honor of sharing a field with during his own playing career.

With both Small and van der Westhuizen gone, their legacy lives on in the memories of those who played alongside them, including Erasmus, who was clearly moved by the opportunity to reflect on those times.

This article was published on TDPel Media. Thanks for reading!

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