In a sport too often festooned with management speak, psycho-babble and cliches, rugby really doesn't know what to do with genuine characters.
Eddie Jones may have jumped the shark long before he lambasted the Australian media at Sydney International Airport while dressed like the late crocodile hunter Steve Irwin but for years he had elements of the English media on a string, eliciting whatever reaction he desired from the fourth estate, usually for the purpose of distracting from a more serious issue, such as the turnover in his backroom team.
Jones’s schtick was fairly transparent but it was entertaining and it provided headlines.
While things were good for English rugby his colourful tendencies often shouted over potentially troublesome topics and as things started to go sour, he was happy to go down swinging.
No talk of work-ons, emotional intelligence or leadership groups.
Then, once the axe fell, Jones spoke glowingly about his players, coaches and even, grudgingly, the RFU.
The masquerade was over and Jones changed the script. There was no fourth wall to knock down.
Jones put away his angry, besieged persona until it was required again, in the run-up to Australia’s disastrous World Cup campaign.
Rassie Erasmus is an altogether more intriguing case. Arguably the most interesting 'character’ operating in rugby’s upper echelons, his ability to steer the narrative is Jonesesque, but he does it while insisting the limelight is not for him and he is just a simple rugby coach trying to do the best for his teams.
"I may come across as a loudmouth, opinionated, arrogant, unrepentant … people think I’m extroverted, but I’m not. I find social occasions difficult... I’m a quiet, uncomplicated person."
That’s how his own memoir begins and, according to The Guardian, the only word his ghost writer David O’Sullivan disputes is ‘uncomplicated’.
From the infamous, leaked referee video during the Lions Tour, which earned him a one-year matchday ban, to the traffic-light signals, to being the only director of rugby to take on the role of waterboy, to winning a World Cup four years ahead of schedule – the former Munster coach has enjoyed a stint in charge of the Springboks that has been anything but ‘quiet’.
He is a fascinating character and clearly a gifted coach, who is still remembered fondly in Munster, despite his time there being cut short after less than 18 months when he took up his current role in his native South Africa.
That time was defined by the sudden death of Anthony Foley, and his plans to bring his World Cup medal to Axel’s grave in Clare last year spoke volumes for the connections he made during his time in the west. Even if his sense of humour sometimes fell flat.
"They haven’t laughed at one of my jokes," he said of the players at one of his final Munster press conference in 2017. "I am trying to get them to understand my humour. They are catching Jacques’ (Nienaber) now but they are struggling with mine."
It seems some on these shores are still struggling to get his jokes. With his Springboks’ side sitting pretty on top of Pool B and knowing that only a ludicrous result between Ireland and Scotland could result in the reigning champions being eliminated, Erasmus decided to have a little fun.
He is currently only following two accounts on X, the social media network formerly known as Twitter: Irish Rugby and Scottish Rugby.
Then he made what seemed a fairly reasonable assertion: "We would rather sit here than be Ireland, who have been number one in the world all this time and Scotland just have to beat them by eight points and they are out of the tournament," he said.
"Of the three teams, we are probably the most comfortable."
Director of rugby of team all but assured quarter-final place barring freak result or ‘Celtic conspiracy’ says he is happy not to be involved in a game of knockout rugby this weekend.
If this is ‘mind games’ it is not quite on the Alex Ferguson spectrum, but it provoked a response from some on these shores, which may or may not have been the aim of Erasmus all along. But it does highlight the increased spotlight not just on the Irish rugby team, but also its followers, in the stands and the media.
As the world’s top-ranked side and vanquishers of the defending champions in our last outing, there is a greater spotlight on Irish Rugby than ever before.
Perhaps we should act accordingly.
To paraphrase Oscar Wilde, maybe the only thing worse than being trolled by the Springboks director of rugby on Twitter is not being trolled by the Springboks director of rugby on Twitter.
Should Ireland – the team, media and fans – as the XL Bullies of world rugby at this moment in time, rise above the slings, arrows and potentially entirely innocuous comments of our opponents and focus instead on the controllables, as coaches like to say?
Is there anything to be said for a healthy dose of English or French-style indifference?
But the enduring popularity of the ‘How the [insert vanquished country] media reacted to defeat' articles suggest that possessing a paper-thin skin and revelling in the discomfort of others is an integral part of the rugby ecosystem.
Perhaps, like Rassie, it is that uncomplicated.
Listen to the RTÉ Rugby podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
Listen to live commentary of Ireland v Scotland on Saturday on RTÉ Radio 1, or follow a live blog on RTÉ.ie and the RTÉ News app.
