Rassie Erasmus is a man of substance who won’t be resting on his laurels
Amazing what a win over New Zealand can do for a country’s rugby psyche. After 111 years of heartache and defeat, the feelgood factor resulting from that famous win in Chicago has seemingly had a knock on effect, permeating all the way into the provincial changing rooms.
With all four provinces represented on that emotive day in Soldier Field, the Irish players have returned with a confidence and swagger that is bound to rub off on everyone in close proximity.
Across the board, the quality of performances delivered by the Irish provinces, including Connacht in defeat, over the weekend offers real hope for Champions Cup knockout rugby to sustain us after the excitement of the Six Nations championship has run its course.
In a revealing interview with this paper last weekend, Rassie Erasmus has asked any initial judgement on his period at the helm be suspended until the end of January by which time Munster will have completed challenging Champions Cup fixtures along with a number of tasty local derbies in the Guinness Pro 12.
Personally, I think he is selling himself a little short as the task he inherited in attempting to return this proud province to the glory days of the mid noughties was challenging in itself. It will take time to effect long-term change. What we can say at this juncture, with Munster sitting pretty on top of both the Pro 12 league table and their Champions Cup pool, is that significant progress has been made already.
A bit like Ireland under Joe Schmidt, there is a clarity in the way Munster are playing at present with everyone having a clear understanding of what is expected of them. Erasmus has married the traditional strength that Munster has always carried up front to a very clever continuity game that is enabling the players retain possession for long periods.
Even when Munster kick, they do so with such accuracy more often than not, they regain possession or, at worst, put the recipient on the back foot with an effective chase. Indeed right across the board, all four Irish sides look extremely well organised and coached.
Contrast that with what we saw from Northampton and Leicester in their games against Leinster and Munster last weekend. Both looked rudderless and devoid of ideas with Northampton in particular looking like a disorganised rabble.
Ireland’s performances last month featured a number of key elements but none stood out more forcibly than the collective discipline of the side. That is a mindset that stems from the top and is forged on the training pitch. Eleven penalties and no yellow or red card in three outings against top class Southern Hemisphere opposition proved a key factor in Ireland’s successes.
Contrast that with Leicester last Saturday who had three yellow cards issued against them and Northampton with a yellow and a red, their third red card this season. Leicester conceded twice as many penalties in the opening half alone than Ireland did in either game against New Zealand and 11 in total. Munster conceded five, another remarkably low concession.
In fact Ulster were the only Irish side to pick up a yellow card across the four Champions Cup contests over the weekend, an indication the standards set at national level have begun to trickle down to the provinces.
lmost unnoticed Erasmus has also begun to bolster Munster’s back up strength with a number of interesting acquisitions that have gone under the radar somewhat. Given the newly created role of director of rugby encompasses all recruitment and contract negotiations, his in-depth knowledge of the professional playing pool, especially in his native South Africa, has already proved beneficial.
Despite the fact Jaco Taute had accumulated three caps for the Springboks, he arrived here as a relative unknown on a short term contract, to cover for the loss of Francis Saili and Sam Arnold to injury. That proved an inspired signing. No surprise therefore to learn Erasmus is now exploring all possibilities with the IRFU and the Stormers to extend Taute’s stay.
Munster fielded a bench against Leicester last Saturday containing three recent recruits in New Zealand hooker Rhys Marshall, South African prop Thomas Du Toit and second row Jean Kleyn. By all accounts Du Toit can play on both sides of the scrum and is seen as a future Springbok. His introduction on the loose head side against Leicester didn’t weaken the scrum to any degree and, at 135kgs, offers a massive physical presence. He looks a decent player as does the 6, Kleyn.
Te Aihe Toma has also arrived from New Zealand to offer more cover at scrum half.
Factor in home grown talent in Darren O’Shea, Conor Oliver, John Madigan and Peter McCabe, all of whom impressed in that excellent win over the Maori All Blacks last month and that promising Ireland U20 centre Arnold is now back playing again. In addition three Irish international forwards, James Cronin, Dave Foley and Robin Copeland, all started for the Munster A side in their B&I Cup win over Rotherham over the weekend. With injury playing such a massive part in the ability of all squads to compete on two fronts over the course of a long season, Munster badly needed more reserve strength to have any hope of remaining competitive and in the hunt for honours. Quietly Erasmus is making that happen. He is taking his time in getting to know and assess every player on the roster he inherited on arrival and hasn’t been slow to offer opportunities to a number of the younger players. He has already formed an opinion on the changes he needs to make and it will be next season before his stamp is firmly placed on this squad.
Early impressions have been extremely positive as has the manner with which he dealt with the unprecedented set of circumstances presented with the passing of Anthony Foley. Erasmus is clearly a man of substance.
Things change rapidly in professional sport as Connacht found out last week. Pat Lam has done a magnificent job in shaping the future of the game in the province and it is imperative Connacht continue that development by making the right appointment to replace him.
Highlighting the fact his three counterparts in Munster, Leinster and Ulster when he arrived three years ago - Rob Penney, Matt O’Connor and Mark Anscombe - are all long gone goes to show that, in a results driven business, you don’t always get the time to see your vision come to fruition.
In many respects, the fact Lam delivered on his vision by landing the Guinness Pro12 title, even earlier than he had envisaged, has only served to hasten his exit. Overseeing such a cultural revolution has attracted the attention of other organisations in a similar position and forced Bristol to dangle an offer that proved impossible to refuse.
Erasmus has similar plans for Munster and one sincerely hopes when a new challenge comes calling, it is because he has fulfilled his ambition in making Munster a real force in European rugby once again. The first tentative steps on that journey have been taken but, with three of the remaining four Pool 1 games to come away from home, there is still a road to be travelled.
