Rassie Erasmus, the current Springboks head coach, recently opened up about his decision to join Munster instead of an English club in 2016, as well as his strategy to bring Jacques Nienaber into his coaching team.
Weighing His Options After Missing Out on the Springboks Job
After being passed over for the South African head coaching role in favor of Allister Coetzee, Erasmus was considering his next move. He had two interviews—one with a Premiership club and another with Munster.
Speaking in the debut episode of his podcast Rassie+, Erasmus recalled how his decision was influenced by the contrasting interview experiences. At the English club, the focus was heavily on media skills and corporate communication, which he felt did not align with his coaching style. In contrast, Munster presented a different atmosphere, emphasizing rugby culture and work ethic.
First Encounter with Felix Jones
Upon arriving at Munster, Erasmus was introduced to several key figures, including Paul O’Connell and Jerry Flannery, who recommended he meet Felix Jones. At the time, Jones was a recently retired player whose career had been cut short by a neck injury.
Erasmus admitted he was unfamiliar with Jones before arriving at Munster but was quickly impressed by his work ethic after a long conversation in a hotel room. That meeting convinced Erasmus to offer Jones a coaching role, marking the beginning of their collaboration.
The Plan to Bring in Jacques Nienaber
Unlike Jones, Nienaber did not have a guaranteed position when Erasmus decided to move to Munster. However, Erasmus, confident in his longtime coaching partner’s abilities, encouraged him to travel to Ireland. He told Nienaber to pack his bags, even though he had not officially secured the job. Eventually, Nienaber underwent the interview process and was successfully appointed to the coaching staff.
This insight into Erasmus’ early coaching decisions provides a glimpse into his approach—one that values rugby knowledge, strong work ethic, and team chemistry over corporate expectations.