AS RASSIE ERASMUS spoke in Munster’s conference room in UL yesterday, it was striking how he was able get through the full chat without matters of coaches and contracts coming up.
The former Springbok announced a big chunk of his team, outlined the sliver of uncertainty he has with JJ Hanrahan and admitted, for a big game, he’ll probably put Jean Kleyn in the team if the medics leave the call with him.
It’s been well over six months since South Africa’s interest in re-hiring Erasmus became apparent and it feels as if he has been dealing with the myriad of questions ever since. And every answer he delivered, seemed to raise a few more questions.
With Johann van Graan all but confirmed though, Erasmus had the space to show again that when he speaks about rugby, there is clarity in spades.
Van Graan, 37, is scheduled to begin working alongside Erasmus in the middle of next month subject to a work permit. South Africa have granted him an early exit from his contract to step into his new role, so the Springboks will have a vacancy of their own to fill before Allister Coetzee takes his side to the Aviva Stadium on 11 November.
The timing offers a good window for Erasmus to hand over the roles and share his notes while also providing a few weeks grace before Munster crank back into high gear to recommence their rivalry with Leicester Tigers in December before the Christmas inter-pros.
Arriving in the middle of the season gives Van Graan little room to impose much in the way of his own structures and processes, particularly given that is a time when Munster’s leading lights will be housed in Kildare for the international window.
Instead, Van Graan’s role this season must be to maintain a steady ship. Peter O’Mahony and his players have almost gone hoarse pointing out how player-led this Munster success has been and insist that team meetings this season have been no different to last.
The clarity of purpose Erasmus instilled last season, and then built a more expansive attacking threat on top of, will remain after his exit and that should allow Van Graan to ease into a first stint as a head coach, focusing on physical coaching and analysis.
Of course, the title Van Graan will fill is head coach, meaning a return to the coaching structure Munster utilised before Erasmus’ appointment as director of rugby above Anthony Foley last year.
The promotion of Jerry Flannery and Felix Jones — to forwards and attack and backs coach respectively — during the summer will give greater continuity during the winter changeover ahead. However, there remains ample space in the coaching box Garrett Fitzgerald has lined up for 2018 as defence coach Jacques Nienaber will exit alongside Erasmus.
Whether Van Graan requires a specialist to take ownership of defence or will opt to share the role out across the confirmed trio will be among the first discussions on the agenda when he zips up his Munster tracksuit next month.
But we’ll enjoy the opportunity to talk rugby with Rassie while it’s still there.
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Let’s hope for a smooth transition and he can build on the impressive foundation.
@Mark Smith:
Are two articles on the same subject really needed
@Greenthor16: Escaped again….
Hope it works out. Would like to just move on with the new man now. Raspier managed the club through a very difficult time and for that deserves a lot of credit. Team selection and tactics left a lot to be desired at times in my opinion. The perception is that Rassie had a big say in this appointment and I really hope it works out and we push on.
My biggest issue is and maybe this is more systematic than resting with just one coach is that we have persisted with players in key positions who are average at best. While they have improved, our failure to develop alternatives has cost us dearly on big days (Harlequins s/f last year). There is still too much ambiguity as to what our best 15 is and that rests with this coach who has not made decisions to back a player in a certain position and allow partnerships to develop.The picking of 3 10s last weekend was a further illustration of this. We begin a European campaign at the weekend with not enough clarity as to who best to go with in at least 5 positions. That solely rests with this coach in my opinion.
@DJ Cronin: You mean Saracens right? But there’s definitely doubts over what exactly Munsters best 15 is, and the confusion at 10 over the weekend was testament to that.
@DJ Cronin: that’s a bit of an exaggeration. I’d say at any given point the starting team is definite in 12 or 13 positions. Right now we have a selection debate at 10 but that’s very new. There’s a debate about Conway v Sweetnam and that’s about it.
Kilcoyne Scannell Ryan Holland Kleyn OMahony O’Donnell Stander Murray Scannell Farrell Earls Zebo are all nailed on at this moment in time.
Last year it was even easier as Bleyendaal was undisputed first choice 10.
I admire your passion but neither Duncan or Keatley are good enough to take us where we want to go and have been indulged in key positions for a few years now. We do not have an established 2nd row combination bedded down and if it is 2 converted back rows like last week, I don’t think that will give us the platform we need. We do not have a definite 10, the competition is healthy but that ambiguity has a huge impact on a team. Farrell looks good at 13 but have he and Scannell played enough together to have the understanding required. I’m not sure our back 3 whoever he goes with and in whatever position have played enough together to form the necessary undrstanding.
Some of these are beyond Rassies control but he also bears responsibility for a lot of this in my opinion.
All fair points but I think the failure to develop alternatives from within or target “project” imports in those positions is an indictment of the organisation. Both are honest professionals and I’m not “having a go” at them but just think a call should have been made a few years ago to look elsewhere.
They were not good enough, are not good enough and never will be good enough to allow us to win either competition we are involved in and no matter how much you write or what you quote will convince me otherwise. It is a professional game, hard decisions have to be made and we need to maintain the ambition of success we have always had.
You are missing my point, by backing Keatley, JJ left, by having Duncan in situ others were not developed brought through from the schools game. As I say, your passion is admirable and your knowledge is soundbut my opinion on this issue is unchangeable.
Do you honestly believe that those players and others were kept because they were the best available in those positions at that time?
The alternatives were never sought as it was easier and cheaper for the organisation to put up with such mediocrity. If you are happy with that, more luck to you. I come from a tradition that strives for more and aims higher,
All these things you talk about, I’m involved. While you are watching, I’m doing so save me the high moral piece. Those players are not good enough and anybody who knows anything about rugby other than that learned from the Internet knows that. Go to any rugby club in the province (map of your local one online) and see how your argument and great wealth of knowledge flies there. As to the notion that I am to provide alternatives, you show a deep misunderstanding of my argument. The organisation backed these guys, they backed mediocrity.
You are wrong, it happens sometimes. So do you wait to see what Joe and Ronan do and say before you make your own mind up.
The two of ye haven’t a fiddlers.
@Paul K Murphy: Munster didn’t need to sign anyone instead of keatley, they just needed to start the better OH when they had him, but now he is back and will hopefully get a fair chance.
Just a few things before I leave you Paul.
1. This thread was about the coaching ticket and the organisation overall and not to be personalised to a few players, that was not my intention.
2. Both players are honest and hardworking. This is a professional results driven environment though and hard decisions have to be made.
3. If Joe has so much faith in Keatley, how many caps does he have in light of Sextons unavailability for many matches in last 5 years.
4. If ROG is such a fan of Duncan’s why didn’t he take him to France like he has with Donnacha and if he has now sent a 9 the other way, did a player like that not exist a few years ago.
You make one or two good points but there are always other arguments.
@DJ Cronin: Rassie seems to be copping a lot of criticism for Williams and Keatley. However neither of them have ever been first choice players for him.
It sounds to me like you are attributing a lot of issues to Erasmus that predated his arrival. He’s literally only been at Munster a year. By contrast Williams is at Munster since 2009, Keatley has been here since 2011.
Replacements in James Hart and JJ Hanrahan have been signed by Erasmus to address the issue. I literally don’t see what more he could have done since his arrival.
@Donal Treacy: keatley has been first choice.
I’d hate to be the one to break the news to this @swipe https://youtu.be/PMBSwyLyx8c
@Macus Mc Mahon: wow…. he’s narky alright ha ha!