Erasmus has a 'razor-sharp rugby brain'
Rassie, as Erasmus is affectionately known, was linked to the Springbok coaching job before he moved to Ireland last year.
Now they are singing his praises in Limerick in the wake of the way he helped turn around Munster's fortunes.
Journalist Gerry Thornley, in an article in the Irish Times, said Erasmus has handled himself with dignity and class at all times, hardly putting a foot or a word wrong.
The most telling point he made was that Erasmus has brought 'emotional intelligence' and a 'razor-sharp rugby brain'. to Ireland.
"He has embraced the methods and memory of Anthony Foley with whom it was clear – and insiders confirm as much – he had built a genuinely close and fruitful coaching relationship in their all too short time working together, despite Erasmus having effectively been brought in to usurp the head coach. And this worked both ways," Thornley said.
"Erasmus is evidently not your archetypal South African.
"Aside from his rugby knowledge and absolute love of the game, those inside the Munster set-up talk of his emotional intelligence as well.
He can be ruthless too, as all directors of rugby or head coaches need to be, but this is always first and foremost for the good of the team.
"He knows what he wants from all his staff and while always maintaining a coach/player relationship, he remains approachable."
After last week's defeat to Munster, their one-time flyhalf and current Racing coach Ronan O'Gara referred to the "brilliant coaching" his former province are now benefitting from, and he was particularly struck by their attention to detail under Erasmus.
This is, perhaps, most evident in attack.
For Jaco Taute's try against Glasgow at Thomond Park in October, when David Kilcoyne trucks it up and Peter O'Mahony and Jean Kleyn complete the clear-out, Munster are perfectly aligned, with a three and three behind. Tyler Bleyendaal pulls the pass back for Rory Scannell, coming onto the ball from behind, who links with Taute for a well-executed try with Keith Earls to spare on the outside.
Similarly, take Simon Zebo's landmark try last week, Munster's first on the day, their 400th in the competition and the fullback's 50th for his province.
From a scrum, Scannell takes Conor Murray's flat pass steps onto the inside shoulder, for Taute and Tommy O'Donnell to complete a perfect two-man clear-out coming from either side. Then O'Mahony trucks up Murray's pass, with Bleyendaal and Donnacha Ryan completing the clear-out from either side. Then Murray skip passes Niall Scannell, who feints to take the ball but lets it go past him, doing enough to keep the inside defenders honest and check Anthony Tuitavake in giving Zebo a two-on-two. Zebo steps off his right foot and twists in the tackle from Tuitavake to score.
Simple, detailed and accurate.
Source: Irish Times
