SOUTH AFRICA’S WORLD Cup-winning coach Jake White has tipped Rassie Erasmus to be a success as Munster’s new director of rugby — and said that he himself was never in the running for the job.
White said that he is enjoying his time as head coach with Montpellier, where an infusion of South Africans has them bidding for glory on two fronts in the Top 14 and Europe.
“No, there was never anything in that,” said White when asked was he in contention to take over at Munster.
“I have my hands full here. We are through to our first ever European final and we are second in the Top 14 and that’s more than enough to keep me busy,” said White, after his side defeated Dragons 22-12 in the Challenge Cup semi-final in Montpellier on Saturday to set up a final showdown with Conor O’Shea on 13 May in Lyon.
But White said that his South African compatriot Erasmus will do a great job at Munster if, as expected, he is shortly appointed.
The 43-year-old former Springbok flanker has held a number of coaching roles in South Africa and White believes he could be the right man to revive Munster.
I’ve heard that he might be going there. I don’t know the detail but reading between the lines Foley has obviously been given that job and they want to surround him with someone who has got more experience.
“And Rassie has coached at a high level, has coached well in South Africa and has been running the rugby programme in South Africa.
“So you have David Nucifora, an Australian, running the national set-up, with Rassie from South Africa adding another dimension.
“So you will have a Kiwi as head coach, an Aussie running the national programme and a South African running it in Munster. That brings a lot of experience for Ireland,” added White.
