I would have been lost without Foley’s help, says Erasmus
EMOTIONS will run high this week at the Erasmus home in Limerick’s Castleconnell. There is Rassie’s first big outing as Munster’s first director of rugby to negotiate, but that’s not all. Tomorrow heralds a nervous first day at new schools for his three daughters, 12-year-old twins and a starry eyed five-year-old. ‘It’s going to be an interesting week,’ he admits.
Erasmus could have stayed in South Africa. His role as SARU high performance boss was his for a considerable time to come. However, he felt Munster’s spring approach was too good to ignore.
‘All my moves in the last while evolved around my family,’ he elaborates. ‘My twins were born in my last year of playing and then I started coaching. Then when they turned six we moved to Cape Town.
‘Now they are 12 and going to secondary school for the first time. In six years my twins will be out of the house, so to have a family adventure together these are the last years I can really do that.
‘That’s the family side of things. With rugby I feel an international (team) coach should be 50 years plus, so if I wanted to make a move this was the right time as I’ve a few years to go until I am 50 [he turns 44 in November]. I tried to find the best club to do that with so I’m fortunate to have found Munster. I have always been a big fan. Most South Africans are.’
He didn’t sound out any one specific to check what he has let himself in for. But memories of watching Munster from afar during their European Cup winning pomp were enough to convince him this was the job he wanted.
‘Games are shown all over now and you see them all. You see the Leinsters, see the Connachts, but when I was analysing, coaching and playing you only knew about Munster. In South Africa that was the one Irish team you knew about before the game went global.
‘For me it’s a bit of a dream to be coaching Munster. Talking to the other guys who’d been here, they all said: “You are right (to join)”. I didn’t do a lot of homework because it was a passion to come here.’
Not that he has arrived oblivious to Munster’s current low ebb. In fact, the challenge of solving the state of flux is driving him to succeed.
‘If you want to do something great it won’t be in ideal circumstances. If you go to a club where everything is going well and they are winning it’s almost like you are not there because they really want you. The other guy has retired or ended or gone and done other things. Here, it’s an opportunity to create something great with the whole group. It’s a good challenge that is not only a dream. It’s actually something that can be achieved.’
Invaluable in helping him and defence coach Jacques Nienaber lay foundations for a three-year reign has been the downgraded Anthony Foley, head coach the past two seasons whose brief is now restricted to breakdown and lineout. Friction was predicted but, insists Erasmus, there hasn’t been any.
‘What Anthony brings to the party is the soul of Munster, the way things have been done. He knows the way Munster fans think, the way players think. He has been there, done it at the highest level as a player, as a coach.
‘I would have been lost without him. If there was somebody new coming in from that side of things I would have been lost. He has played a massive part and is going to continue playing a massive part.’
First things first, though, getting through this big first week. Both at home and at Scarlets in Wales.