There are so many questions for South Africa to answer on the Monday after their first Test defeat to the Lions – hardly any about the rugby – as Rassie Erasmus treads the fine line of duty.
To start, who on earth is Jaco Johan, the anonymous tweeter curiously and fulsomely engaged with Springboks director of rugby Erasmus’ and his conspiracy theories?
Sportsmail’s initial forensics on the greyed-out bot who joined Twitter in April 2016 – when Erasmus was coaching Munster – but has only now started tweeting, twice, high-specification analysis of key moments that are going against South Africa, show that he is one of just three accounts followed by the Bok boss.
The amusing claim that South Africa coach Rassie Erasmus is behind an anonymous Twitter account posting about the Lions is worth an investigation
Ersamus responded to an anonymous account who had outlined 'questionable calls' in South Africa's 22-17 loss to the Lions in the first Test
The others? Experts of the South African demise in the first Cape Town Test, Lions Maro Itoje and Alun Wyn Jones.
Whether direct trolling of those now poring over every aspect of Johan and Erasmus’ accounts, or an idle mistake, it is mildly amusing – and worth full-blown investigation. Operation Bokskrieg open.
Erasmus has some serious points to make.
While Warren Gatland is using the traditional route of using Her Majesty’s Fourth Estate to convey his criticisms or gripes – like his uncertainties around South African Marius Jonker being appointed as television match official – Erasmus is taking a ‘21st century’ approach.
The 48-year-old has been critical of the Lions and takes a 21st century approach to it
For the benefit of the tape, after the South Africa ‘A’ game the World Cup winning Boks coach, now one step above his successor Jacques Nienaber, took to Twitter to respond to an article in which Gatland had said the Lions wanted ‘clarity and consistency’ from referees.
Gatland was annoyed Faf de Klerk had not been sent off for whacking Josh Navidi in the head in a tackle. Erasmus then tweeted his own analysis – a couple of wrongly-oriented clips citing Owen Farrell’s tackle technique.
The first the England captain wrestling de Klerk. ‘If there is time,’ tweeted Erasmus sarcastically, ‘maybe also get absolute clarity and alignment on this one please, I know its way after the whistle, but let’s just align and get clarity to be sure.’
Then he went in again, showing while fiddling with the volume button on his iPad, showing another Farrell tackle he felt was high on No 8 Jasper Wiese.
‘While you at it please get clarity on this also!!’ he cried. ‘Red, Yellow penalty or play on? We have to 100% sure and aligned! Can’t agree more.’
He retweeted a video the user uploaded which highlighted incidents that didn't go their way after the Lions beat South Africa 'A'
After that, like mastermind ‘H’ pulling strings behind his laptop Rassie’s mate (alter ego!?) Jaco Johan got the clips up the right way round and doubled down, zooming in on Farrell’s shoulder.
Erasmus gleefully retweeted – he didn’t float up the Lagan in a bubble, lad.
We thought that might be the end of the Johan, the fourth man, but then South Africa lost the first Test.
Erasmus, all humble and magnanimous, replied to the Lions’ account celebrating their win with: ‘No excuses this side!! You are far away from home, families and going through same tough covid protocols like we do!! Congrats and well deserved!!!’
Old bot Johan was less public-facing though, it helps when you do not have a face.
Johan was back with more criticism of the Lions after they beat the Springboks on Saturday
@thenosyone987 could not resist shoving his beak in, answering back to the big boss:
