Erasmus: ‘People underestimate what Ronan knows about soul of Irish players in Leinster and Munster’

When asked if La Rochelle’s 27-26 Champions Cup final win had provided a template for the world champions this autumn, former Munster boss, 2019 World Cup-winning coach and current SA director of rugby Erasmus saw the result as a triumph for O’Gara against his native province’s greatest rivals.

Pic: ©INPHO/Morgan Treacy

Rassie Erasmus tipped his cap to Ronan O’Gara yesterday for the way La Rochelle’s boss plotted Leinster’s downfall in the Heineken Champions Cup as the South African contemplated the Springboks’ upcoming World Cup defence and a pool game against Ireland.

Leinster’s narrow final defeat to the French Top 14 side and defending champions on home soil in last Saturday’s decider made the rugby world sit up and take note given the province had 14 Grand Slam winners in their squad and Ireland have a potential World Cup quarter-final in Paris coming up in October if they can emerge from a pool also containing Scotland and 2019 winners South Africa.