Rassie Erasmus' 'soft' jibe should steel Ireland for Paris collisions 

Simon Easterby: 'We've been working with John (Fogarty) on the scrum and the contact area, myself at the lineout time'. Picture: INPHO/IRFU/Ryan Bailey

Rassie Erasmus did much for Irish rugby during his two years here at the Munster helm but his greatest contribution could come tonight if his words provide the impetus for achieving Six Nations glory in Paris.

"They are not softies, they're not like Ireland,” Erasmus said of Wales to his Springboks during his pre-match team talk ahead of their 2019 World Cup semi-final. The moment was captured in Chasing The Sun, the documentary charting South Africa’s remarkable journey to success in Japan 11 months ago. The former Munster director of rugby also took down England in comparison and it clearly inspired his Boks to victory in both the semi and final.