MUNSTER Rugby’s new director of rugby is set to make his coaching debut with the province this weekend in Waterford. Zebre will provide the opposition for Rassie Erasmus’ first game in charge. (Fri August 19 in RSC)
“We have the first game this week so it’s time to deliver on what we have been practicing for the last five or six weeks, so we’re excited about that” commented Erasmus this week. The former Springbok has to make do without his Irish international contingent until at least September 17, round three of the Pro 12, while also having to plan without Francis Saili who will be out until at least December with a shoulder injury.
“It is a huge blow, not because it is Francis, but because of what we have been trying to build over the last five or six weeks which he was a great part of. A lot of the planing with the guys, although he is a young guy, he certainly has played almost like a senior player in the team. We will definitely miss him on and off the park. But I know being the guy that he is Im sure he will contribute off the park. I would be lying if I said it was not a big blow” said of the loss of the former All Black.
With injuries and international absentees unavailable, Munster are expected to give several fringe players a run this weekend. One local Limerick player who will benefit from injuries to those in front of him in the depth chart is Ard Scoil Rís’s Conor Fitzgerald.
“Young fly-half Conor Fitzgerald is going to do well. He’s been training from the beginning with us but he’s a young guy. He’s going to get an opportunity this weekend and sometimes guys like that get an opportunity and they just take it. There’s also pressure on some guys like that to come and perform all of a sudden”
With Tyler Blyendaal due back for the Worcester clash the following week, Munster are slowly looking to build on what has been a very busy and productive preseason. Ahead of the game this weekend, Erasmus believes that his side can get several markers for the season ahead.
“Certainly we have yardsticks and if you put it in compartments or departments you know from defence to attack, to breakdown to contesting to line-outs, all the different facets of the game. We have been really working hard in isolation on a lot of that and trying to bring it together, bring the puzzle together. Now on Friday it is the first time with real contact. It is not one of your own mates tackling you. It is not just a training session. We will definitely break it down and see how we succeed in the compartments, but you also want to get that winning culture going. We have got definite markers for ourselves in all departments of the game. We want to see what we have tried and implemented actually come to the fore in the game.”
In other squad news, returning internationals Conor Murray, Keith Earls, CJ Stander, Donnacha Ryan and Dave Kilcoyne, and rehabbing players such as Sam Arnold (knee), Mark Chisholm (concussion), Sean McCarthy (knee), Peter O’Mahony (knee) and Johnny Holland (hamstring) will all miss out, while newcomer Jean Kleyn has linked up with the squad as of last week, however this Friday’s game comes too early for selection as the South African lock continues to settle in and familiarise himself with the new set-up.
