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Rassie Erasmus and Shukri Conrad: Powerhouses shaping South African rugby and cricket

Rassie Erasmus and Shukri Conrad: Powerhouses shaping South African rugby and cricket

IOL News29-05-2025

GREAT MINDS Rassie Erasmus (left) and Shukri Conrad, the national coaches of South Africa's rugby and cricket teams, explored potential collaborations and shared insights during a braai, highlighting the mental and cultural parallels between their sports. Picture: BackpagePix
The Springboks and the Proteas may just have more in common than first meets the eye, and that was the consensus reached by Rassie Erasmus and Shukri Conrad over good old-fashioned braai in Cape Town earlier this year.
The respective national cricket and rugby coaches had a chat during the second Test between the Proteas and Pakistan earlier this year, when the topic of how the two different sporting codes could work together came up.
The Springboks are currently in their second alignment camp ahead of a busy international season, while the Proteas are about to jet off to England to take on Australia in the final of the World Test Championship at Lord's in London starting on June 11.
What began as an informal chat quickly turned into a brainstorming session, the Proteas coach Conrad revealed.

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Proteas batting under the microscope as Australia appear stronger in that department
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Proteas batting under the microscope as Australia appear stronger in that department

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