Rassie Erasmus has weighed in on which of his former teams, the DHL Stormers or Munster, will have the upper hand when the sides clash in Cape Town on Saturday.
Defending champions, the Stormers under the guidance of John Dobson are set to face Munster in a highly-anticipated Vodacom URC finale at a sold-out DHL Stadium.
While Erasmus hopes for a Stormers victory, he also highlighted the threat of Munster, having embarked on a run of four unbeaten away games, including ending the Stormers’ long winning run in the Mother City.
Speaking during a Springbok media conference on Thursday, SA’s director of rugby told reporters: “With the previous Munster game, Dobbo asked me to come and do the team talk and, this is a bit embarrassing, that was the one they lost!
“I say with the home ground and that Stormers crowd and the way that Dobbo has managed that team [they’re favourites to win]. But Munster did come here and hang in there, and they’re mentally strong and made for playoff rugby and semi-finals and finals.
“I think the rain [in Cape Town this week] will definitely suit Munster because they play a lot in the rain and train a lot in the rain, and they’re certainly used to that.
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“So, if there’s one team – but I don’t want the Stormers to lose – I’ll feel ‘ah, that wasn’t too bad if they won…’” he admitted.
A 2016-17 Pro12 Coach of the Season with Munster, Erasmus coached the Stormers between 2008 and 2011, and praised Dobson for the culture he has created with the team.
“The way he has done that, it’s almost making all players equal; guys from clubs or who haven’t played a lot. We’ve always tried to do that with the Springboks since 2018, and I think he has succeeded,” Erasmus said.
“I’ve coached the Stormers, and when I came from Bloemfontein to the Stormers, it was quite a challenge to get these guys not to think about the J&B Met and model shoots and kitesurfing, and rugby fits in there somewhere,” he half-joked.
“And with his history here and the way he understands Cape Town… there were games when I thought, ‘you’re resting five Springboks’, and they don’t moan and just pick the next guy. And they play and they win, and they win again.
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“They’re playing at home and are the current champions, and people are going to turn up… and they’re also used to playing in the rain.
“Munster are going to be really, really tough; they’ve got heart and rugby knowledge but from what I’ve seen of what Dobbo has done, I believe they’re in with a good chance.”
Meanwhile, Bok head coach Jacques Nienaber predicted that the Stormers won’t retreat into their shell for the final and would stick to their attacking style of play, which has been instrumental in their success this season.
“I think they’ll do what they do, I don’t think they’ll change now. Because they’ve been so good at what they have been doing up to now, they’ll continue.
“They took a lot of lessons out of the first game playing Munster. They surely will adapt a little but their soul will be their soul, and they are very good at that.”
Photo: Shaun Roy/BackpagePix
Stormers do it again, according to @mark_keohane and Zels! @Vodacom #URC pic.twitter.com/rMeVhNk1Xj
— SA Rugby magazine (@SARugbymag) May 26, 2023