Class is permanent.

It wasn’t to be yesterday evening for Rassie Erasmus and the Springboks as they fell to defeat at the hands of the British and Irish Lions in their series opener.

Erasmus, who was once again on ‘waterboy’ duties for the reigning world champions in Cape Town, was as close to the action as anybody, had no excuses for South Africa’s defeat despite the challenging build-up they’ve had to endure.

The Boks have been struck down by outbreak after outbreak of COVID and were playing just their third game on Saturday since the 2019 Rugby World Cup final.

The former Munster man transformed the entire nation of South Africa when he took over 18 months out from Japan 2019, before stepping back into the director of rugby role and handing the head coach job to long-time assistant Jacques Nienaber.

He Tweeted the Lions account directly after the game, congratulating the tourists on a “well deserved” victory.

Pure class from one of the most brilliant minds in world rugby.

Roll on the second Test. It should be an absolute cracker and we simply cannot wait for it.