AN EMOTIONAL RASSIE Erasmus said that his time in Ireland was the ‘best 18 months of my life’, as the curtain came down on the reign of Munster’s sixth lead coach in the professional era.
Erasmus, the province’s first Director of Rugby, fought back tears as he recounted his short time in Munster following Friday night’s 49-6 drubbing of the Dragons in Cork.
He took over in the summer of 2016 with Munster in struggling through a period of transition, but happenings on the field were made irrelevant in October when head coach Anthony Foley died suddenly in Paris on the morning of their opening Champions Cup game against Racing 92.
Erasmus paid tribute to everyone in Munster for the way they handled the tragedy and after his final game— his 42nd in charge – before he returns to take charge of South African rugby, he said this was a period of his life he would never forget.
I will treasure these days for the rest of my life. And the performance was wonderful to sign off with.
“I’ve definitely enjoyed my time here. This has been the best 18 months of my life, not just in rugby. I have learned so much from Irish people.
“I will miss the Irish people. It is very hard to leave Ireland and to leave Munster specifically. People have been good to us here. To me and my family and to Jacques Nienaber and his family.
“On behalf of him I would like to thank everyone. He doesn’t always get the opportunity to talk to the media. He certainly feels the same way. We are staying together for the last week.
“We are in the same house. Our wives and families have already gone back to South Africa. We had have a lot to talk about and to ponder and sometimes to feel sorry for ourselves and stuff like that.”
Erasmus said that he would take a lot with him back to South Africa after his first period coaching outside that country, and he believes both Munster and Irish is a good place.
“I’ve learned so much here. The players have showed me what professionalism means, the Munster culture is amazing. It is a privilege for them and not just their jobs.
“Irish sides all have that, they may not have 400 players but they have 160 quality players and that is why they set the standard.
“The supporters here are passionate always support you in a tough time and I would like to be a fan like that. I’ve learned a lot.
“I will bring a lot of things back. On the field, the players certainly showed me what professionalism is. I am sure it is not just a Munster culture, I am sure Leinster, Connacht, Ulster are the same. Irish players are super professional.
“I think they see it as 100% a privilege to play for Munster, but also they see it as their jobs.
“It is wonderful to work with guys like that. Ireland certainly doesn’t have 300-400 players, but it does have 160-180 professionals, so that is why Ireland are competing at the top 2-3 in the World all the time. That is something that is certainly a standard setter for me.
“Off the field, it is definitely the supporters. They are just that, supporters, they are not fans. They support you in the tough times and I would like to be a fan like that.
“I have learned a lot,” added Erasmus, as he choked back the tears before he headed back into the Munster dressing room on Friday night for the last time.
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Best coach we’ve had in a while.
Gotta take your opportunities, to
Be asked to coach your national team is a great honour, can’t turn it down. Excited to see where we kick on to. Been slow going for many years now feels like we’re getting somewhere tho
Got opportunity to manage his Country good luck to him ! Coached Munster in a difficult period after axel passing ! Spoke from the heart !
Owes Munster absolutely nothing. Took charge of a team that was in transition and rather than come in steady the ship through one of the toughest periods in the club’s history, he developed Munster into a team challengeing for silverware. Ask any Munster fan after Foley’s passing would they have accepted a semi-final Champions Cup and final of a Pro12 at the end of the season, they’d have taken the hand off ya.
Best of luck to him in the South Africa job, can’t deny a man his dream. He’ll be held in high regard amongst almost everyone at Munster.
Still a snake
@Bob Joe: get over it
@Bob Joe: pathetic comment
@Bob Joe: sad Comment !!! Professional Game !!! He was good for Munster !!!!
@Bob Joe: Why?
“Best time of my life” ya right…… Exact same as when every big music act plays in the 3 arena saying “how crazy the Irish fans are and how different it is from everywhere else”
@.: It is though. Irish football fans at the Euros are proof of that.
@Callum: oh come on get real
@Marcodub: I finally liked one of your comments
F@#k the begrudgers, two quality coaches that will be sorely missed, very best of luck to them. New horizons ahead for Munster, where will the journey take us now?
Pity to see him leave but he was offered his dream job
Also he came to Munster and turned things around
He is a bluffer. He didnt make Munster into a team that could win silverware at all like people would have you believe. With his brand of negative rugby you are never going to win a trophy. Munster attack game plan was non exsistent under him. People seem to forget how bad Munster were made look against Saracens and the Scarlets last year, they looked like they were afraid to have the ball against Sarries, ill never forget Duncan Williams putting up a box kick in the sarries 22 after a series of phases not breaking the gainline. Just a team lacking any thought under him, I think its a blessing in disguise.
@Tommy Bread: not as bad as they wer against sarries the year(s) before that. That slaughtering was the most embarrassing game to date.
@thesaltyurchin: okay but a few weeks before that slaughtering they actually beat saracens. I agree Rassie has made Munster harder to beat but they would never win a trophy under him in my opinion. Being just hard to beat isnt good enough for Munster. Rob Penny got munster to two semi finals in two years by actually playing rugby and gave toulon and clermont a bloody good game, unlucky to not go through. Yet Rassie is given hero status for a shambolic showing in the business end of the season.
Why didnt he just jack it in at end of last year ,this is pat lam in connaght written all over it
@Ger Lyons: He couldn’t…six.month notice clause same as Lam.
I don’t think he’s always handled himself in the most genuine manner but he’s a fine coach and for the way he handled the Axel situation alone he deserves huge credit.
@Paul K Murphy: is it the medias fault for directly quoting a Munster player who said the squad were told by Rassie he would be staying on?
He’s essentially been trying to get a job with the springboks from the moment he left for Munster.
I don’t fault the ambition and wish him well. The man’s done a fine job but I think he’s been disingenuous at times.
@Paul K Murphy: we’ll have to wait until the season’s over to see how much of an issue players and staff have.
If Munster tail off you can guarantee it’ll be pointed to.
I don’t begrudge him and I hope he has a positive impact with the Springboks but I do think he has been disingenuous publicly.
@Paul K Murphy: how about “this has been the best 18 months of my life”?
Did he or did he not tell the players privately and the go on to tell the media that he would be staying on as Munster head coach?
Why is he seemingly above criticism?
He’s undoubtedly a good guy and a great coach but he appears to have been disingenuous with his statements regarding his position at Munster.
For the way alone he handled Axel’s psssing the man should be commended. Leaving Munster rugby in a better place. Pity he is going, but good luck Rassie
This guy is so full of it. He is full of the platitudes but has completely suited himself and dumped Munster in it. He has used the province to advance his own career quite callously…. if I was a Munster fan I’d drive him to the airport myself and boot him up the arse onto the plane….
What bullshit to be spouting and for people to be actually buying it… Rob penney played an expansive game plan, got us to two semi finals and people were saying good riddance when he left
Thought he was just on an Erasmus year..
“We thought they knew how to rock in Shelbyville! But nobody rocks like… Springfield!!!”