Erasmus explains microphone use

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Rassie Erasmus says he chatted to Duane Vermeulen over an earpiece during last Saturday’s Test in Cardiff simply to check on an injury.

There was plenty of speculation after Vermeulen was shown using a headset, seemingly to communicate with the Bok coaching staff midway through the second half of the clash against Wales.

According to Netwerk24, Erasmus clarified that it had nothing to do with passing down tactical instructions, but rather to find out whether Vermeulen could continue playing.

‘I saw how Duane injured his shoulder and was holding it, while the doctor and physio were busy attending to other players,’ Erasmus said.

‘[Conditioning coach] Aled [Walters] didn’t see it, but he was closest to Duane, so I asked him to ask Duane if he was OK. Duane couldn’t understand why he was asking it and said he wanted to quickly talk to me himself. He told me his shoulder was too sore to continue playing.’

Vermeulen confirmed on Twitter that he had dislocated his shoulder earlier in the match.

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SA Rugby magazine