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Erasmus breaks silence on Munster return and his 2019 Foley promise
South Africa director of rugby Rassie Erasmus has revealed that he will next month keep the poignant promise he made in 2019 about the late Anthony Foley, his former colleague at Munster who tragically passed away in his sleep at a Parisian hotel ahead of a Champions Cup match in the French capital in October 2016.
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It was on his way out of his media briefing following the 2019 World Cup final win over England in Yokohama that Erasmus, the then-Springboks head coach, made an unsolicited promise to an Irish reporter attending the game that he would visit Foley’s grave in Co Clare with his medal sometime in the future.
With the pandemic travel restrictions now largely in hibernation and with Erasmus’ lengthy World Rugby ban from matchday involvement having recently expired, the SA DoR has been busy making plans for the upcoming European tour that will feature four Test games for the Springboks and two South Africa A games – including a fixture versus Munster in Cork.
On Tuesday, Erasmus and head coach Jacques Nienaber named a 26-strong squad for the three-day training squad in Stellenbosch from next Sunday ahead of the upcoming tour. Along with Mzwandile Stick, they hosted a virtual media briefing from Cape Town – Erasmus’ first official media briefing since before his ban last year – that went on for more than an hour.
Having been quizzed by other media on multiple selection issues, including the ongoing omission of Elton Jantjies, RugbyPass reminded Erasmus about his Yokohama promise to the late Foley and asked for his thoughts about bringing his South African team to play a game in Munster that was quickly sold out when tickets went on sale in September.
“The decision to play against Munster, I wouldn’t say I had a lot of influence there but I do know that Munster has got this history of really putting it up against international teams. The All Blacks lost to them and I know when we coached there they beat the New Zealand Maori. I know it is a sell-out crowd and know how passionate Munster people are but also how respectful they are when a team is playing there.
“We are the South African A side playing there but there will be a few of the guys that are actually in the Test match group, overflow guys. There will be some big names playing in that game against Munster, so that is exciting. That competition is going to be stiff and I know the way the Irish people support.
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“What Munster did for me on a coaching level, not just the people but the players and the assistant coaches and when Axel passed away, the way I hopefully grew as a person and understood things and people better because I maybe wasn’t great at it and was maybe average at it.
“I will certainly make a plan. I will definitely meet up with his sister and hopefully, Jerry (Flannery) is around there if he is not at Harlequins… Yeah, I will definitely keep my promise because Axel played a big part in those short few months. It was tough times for us when we started out but we ended really as two close friends and I love the Munster and Irish people.”
Erasmus was only months into his job in Limerick when Foley, the former Ireland international who had inspiringly led the Irish province as captain to their breakthrough European Cup glory in 2006, passed away in Paris. It was November 2017 when Erasmus stepped away from Munster, handing the reins to fellow South African Johann van Graan.
Having finished his post-match media conference following South Africa’s 32-12 win over England in November 2019, he spotted Derek Foley, a journalist from the Irish Daily Star, offered his hand and said: “Tell Anthony Foley the next time I am in Limerick I promise I will bring my medal to visit him.”
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Comments on RugbyPass
Great article. No insights to add, just wanted to say that. :)
1 Go to commentsLeinster are going to win the world cup.
13 Go to commentsSuper Rugby desperately needs to lose at least 2, but up to 4 teams. Rebels quietly going bankrupt would have made that a bit easier. Teams like the Rebels and Force serve only to weaken Australian Rugby and Super Rugby more widely. In 13 years in the comp the Rebels are yet to win more games than they lose in a season, have never finished in the top half of the competition, and have come dead last a number of times. The Western Force, barring a brief stint of mediocrity under John Mitchell from 2007-2009 have been even worse. Sadly it’s hard to see a future for Moana Pasifika in Super Rugby. Likewise I think the writing is on the wall for the Highlanders, it’s hard to see how NZ rugby can continue to support 5 SR teams, and population distribution suggests one team in the south island would make the most sense.
42 Go to commentsNice that Connor Evans is happy to stay on here, that JD Schikerling is returning and Steven Kitshoff. Dobbo is careful to bring back just anybody but having a new financial lease of life, it has made the Stormers a more attractive club. On top of being good quality, having the financial backing helps a lot
1 Go to commentsEngland-qualified too, I believe.
1 Go to commentsThis might turn out to be emblematic of a real issue in Irish rugby. Ireland have one of the best -if not the best - senior sides in the world, and one of the best under 20s sides as well, but don’t seem to be giving graduating under20s players many opportunities to break through into URC starting lineups. There is a risk that a lot of the junior talent they are developing will either be wasted, or lost to other nations.
1 Go to commentsYou ask good questions, Nick. The group who have put together the proposal to play out of Tarneit and participate in the growing of the ground’s capacity are not a bunch of white knights who have been dragged in post-crisis; they were around whilst the Rebels accummulated $23m in debt. Why do we come up with ideas that might make the franchise affordable after it’s broke and not when it might have prevented the trainwreck this offseason was? As for Gordon/Kellaway v Lolesio/Wright, they are both good options. I think the former are better rugby players but the goal kicking of Noah may be decisive when Schmiddy makes his choices. I know Harry Jones has the hots for Edmed but I think it’s one of his few poor choices and he and Jorgensen aren’t close to the other pairs. By coincidence, the wife and I went into town over the weekend to watch Brian Cox and Patricia Clarkson in Long Day’s Journey into Night. Beautifully acted but it was 3.5 hours in the chair and very hard work. Like the Rebels, there were only small bursts of joy to go with a lot of bad news and a depressing story line. In the end, I was hoping it would end and I could give my sore butt a break. Again, familiar.
42 Go to commentsGood decision, very good player but not international quality. But so was Jamison Gibson Park …..
3 Go to commentsLoose forwards always look good going forward and winning. It’s the same loose forwards for the Crusaders and the Canes this year as last year. Too much of the shiny new things getting noticed here while older consistent ones getting bagged. It’s early days. Calm the farm.
6 Go to commentsThanks Nick, and on the money. We tend to be apathetic until something REALLY BAD happens, then we aren't! At least this applies to the Reb players and coach, if not the spectators. They seem to be getting very quick ball at times. Have they altered something, or is it just all of the skills coming together at the right time? It seems almost the opposite of the Reds, who started the season with quick ball, but haven't been showing that in the last 3 losing games. Is it attitude (McDermott hasn't looked “right” to me for 3 weeks), or something else?
42 Go to commentsGood summary. As said, Sevu Reece has been electrifying for the Crusaders. Great try and he has been everywhere. Amazing he is now equal with Caleb Ralph , club record of 52 tries for the Crusaders. That record beckons. Good to see Dallas McLeod getting regular starts at last. A big few weeks are ahead.
6 Go to commentsGood article/interview.As was said Christian Lio-Willie was barnstorming when he came on for the Crusaders. What happened at the end, self-explanatory.Captain fantastic Scott Barrett is due back soon as well, once they are back from Aussie. Great to see Ethan Blackadder back last week.
1 Go to commentsYou must have been watching one team, Andrew - and even then you missed the brightest star in the Chiefs pack - Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 2 turnovers, genuine line-out presence and grunt around the field, and the soft hands of a back.
6 Go to commentsHaha what a crock of sh!t these headlines are. Moorby’s best year was that first. Still doesn’t seem to have the same game about him as when he was fresh but has bounced back well this season to be playing consistent tight accurate footy
3 Go to commentsIt’s even dumber than Bernard Foley not kicking the penalty to touch in the Melbourne Bledisloe in 2022.
3 Go to commentsYes, they are traveling well but it’s early days. The Chiefs were in front with 20 to go while they snatched a last minute win v the Reds. Keep calm.
1 Go to commentsThe failure of the Irish system / rugby playing style to produce their own backs has them looking elsewhere for innovation and flair - not that Jordie has much flair. He’s a converted fullback. The Canes have plenty of other younger options.
13 Go to comments1.Watch Wallace Sititi be the wild card AB. A genuine full time no 8 2. Luke J like Sotutu has not delivered. 3. Chiefs have all the right cattle but badly miss the leadership of Webber. LJ is about as unconvincing as Sam Cane when under the pump. They had the winning of that game in the second half then fell apart.
6 Go to commentsYes the Rebels are showing signs of life because they are literally playing for their live -lihoods and thanks to their Australian attack coach. However they are still playing an essentially dull boring south african style for the rest of the time. And Geoff Parling must be the most useless lineout coach ever. Worse than Steve Hansen even. Interestingly we are starting to see more cheap shots and attempts to get away with cheating by Australian players, now they are being influenced by Joe Schmidt. It was exactly the same when Rennie started out as Wallaby coach and thru his tenure. Trying to teach Australians to play like kiwis doesn’t work, as the last 20 years has conclusively demonstrated. Especially when we are not as good at it as kiwis. Which of course is the whole idea …..
42 Go to commentsGreat signing, not sure where he’ll fit in though. As for him ‘playing alongside RG Snyman, that’s highly debatable given the likelyhood that the latter will spend most of the season on sick leave.
13 Go to comments