The journey will not end when this season does.
As Simon Zebo told us, “This is not a full stop.”
Rassie Erasmus, Jacques Nienaber and Felix Jones have added so much to the Munster story this season and they are keen to write another chapter. Or two. Or three.
Munster are out of the Champions Cup at the semi final stage but there is still the PRO12 to play for and they are well set. They could yet be back at the Aviva Stadium before the season is out.
There has been real concern that Erasmus and Nienaber would be returning to South Africa this summer to take up coaching roles with the Springboks. They may return one day but it won’t be any time in 2017/18.
Following Munster’s 26-10 loss to Saracens, hooker Niall Scannell told us:
“There was a lot of speculation but Rassie clarified it to us [that he was staying] a couple of weeks ago.
“I’ll be honest, at the time it was reassuring to hear because himself and Jacques and Felix and Fla [Jerry Flannery] are a top quality coaching ticket and they’ve done so much for us this year. If you just look at the turnaround – and obviously Axel [Anthony Foley] had a big hand in that – we’ve had in nine or 10 months, I can’t speak highly enough of him and what a great coach he is.
“It’s brilliant that Rassie is staying around. It’s brilliant for our club and it’s brilliant for Irish rugby – the players he is bringing through and the confidence he has given us. It’s something I haven’t had in a coach before but he comes into the changing room after and says, ‘They are further along in their curve, they were the better team today’, and you trust him.
“You believe he’s got the plan that we will evolve and we will get there.”
Munster supporters will be highly relieved that the talk about Erasmus’ future can be swept to one side now.
Three games to go and there could be four. There could be more.
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