Wessels a "good fit" for Munster, says Erasmus

Rassie Erasmus says fellow South African Dave Wessels would be "one of the good fits" to replace him as Munster's director of rugby.

Erasmus will take up the director of rugby role at the South African Rugby Union in December, and will be joined by his assistant at Munster, Jacques Nienaber.

Wessels, 36, previously worked as head coach for Western Force, but the defensive coaching specialist is currently without a job after the Super Rugby competition dropped the Perth-based franchise from the tournament. 

Erasmus, who worked with the Cape Towner at Super Rugby franchise Stormers, says his former consultant analyst has the "character and work ethic" to thrive at Munster. 

"I know him really well. He was defence coach at the Brumbies, head coach at the Force." Erasmus said.

"He is an intelligent guy, I can vouch for his character. I don't know how far along the line it is... I think he is one of a few good candidates. I'm not sure how close they are to really finalising that, but he is one of the good options.

"He came into the mix at first as a consultant analyst. He is a very intelligent guy when it comes to tricky situations, stats and those kinds of things. That is the way he got into the game with us at the Stormers.

"Then he went on to coach a local varsity team and then he got into defence specifically. I know then he went to help Jake White at the Brumbies as a 'D' coach and then to the Force, but I'm not sure in what capacity. Eventually he became head coach there, but yes, he started with us at the Stormers."

Erasmus does not see Wessels' age as a factor, pointing out that rugby teams are increasingly turning to younger coaches, and notes that his compatriot is six years older than Munster's 30-year-old backs coach Felix Jones.

"I think the game is going that way where it is rapidly changing laws wise," Erasmus, 44, continued.

"There are so many things that happened two years ago that are not relevant anymore and I think coaches are becoming younger.

"It is young, but I think there is a trend like that, guys currently coaching the Cheetahs [40-year-old head coach Rory Duncan] and teams like that are all fairly young in a South African context."

Munster have no new injury worries ahead of this Friday's Pro 14 game against Glasgow Warriors at Scotstoun Stadium.

Loosehead prop Dave Kilcoyne suffered a knee injury against the Cheetahs on 9 September but scans have comfirmed that the injury is not as bad as first feared, while fly-half JJ Hanrahan [shoulder], hooker Duncan Casey [groin] and Sam Arnold [calf] have all returned to training.

Image: Getty Images/ Paul Kane

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