Springbok head coach Jacques Nienaber has provided further clarity over Rassie Erasmus’ role after the director of rugby joined the team for the tour of the United Kingdom.

Erasmus is the subject of a World Rugby misconduct hearing, on 30-31 October, having criticised referee Nic Berry after the first Test against the Bristish & Irish Lions in a 62-minute online video.

However, Sunday newspaper Rapport has revealed that, behind the scenes, World Rugby believes Erasmus was right on 23 of the 26 errors highlighted in the video.

It appears that at the centre of the hearing will be how the video was leaked to social media. Erasmus has denied responsibility but, in another twist, it now appears that the clip was first leaked and viewed in Australia before it went viral on social media.

During this year’s B&I Lions series, Erasmus was the Springboks’ water carrier during matches.

However, he also conveyed messages from the coaching box to the players during stoppages, causing much debate over whether he was coaching the team from the sidelines.

The Springboks arrived in France between this coming Saturday and Sunday for a pre-tour camp, with Nienaber already having confirmed that Erasmus will be joining the team on tour, after distancing himself from the squad during the latter stages of the Rugby Championship.

This past Sunday, Nienaber said that Erasmus will no longer be on the sidelines and will instead be up in the box with the rest of the coaching staff.

“In the Test games against the British & Irish Lions, World Rugby came out and made a third water-carrier spot available,” Nienaber said.

“It was a role we fulfilled internally and gave Rassie the opportunity.

“We’re now back to two water carriers, so there’s no space for him. He will be in the [coaches’] box with us at the top,” he added.

The Springboks begin the tour against Wales on 6 November, before facing Scotland a week later and then concluding with a trip to Twickenham to take on England on 20 November.

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