Rassie Erasmus: ‘It wasn’t tough to be united when Irish people are standing together’

Munster’s director for rugby Rassie Erasmus came qualified from South Africa, but nothing could have prepared him for the loss of Anthony Foley — nor the outpouring of emotion it triggered in the province. His steady hand has impressed many.

Rassie Erasmus had not been in Ireland long before some friendly Irish persuasion drew him out of his shell.

For an Afrikaan-speaking family moving more than 10,000km out of their comfort zone to start life afresh in Limerick, landing at Shannon Airport last June was, Erasmus admitted, intimidating, even for a former Springbok flanker.