“Today was also tough, I’m going to miss it a lot.”

Rassie Erasmus admitted after Saturday’s Champions Cup win over Racing 92 that it was likely his final European game with the southern province.

The South African is set to take up a role with the Springboks, and has been patiently waiting for Munster to appoint a successor before he leaves. Johann van Graan has now been handed that task, and spent the last week or so in Limerick, shadowing Erasmus and co.

Van Graan’s work permit is set to come through mid-November, and its arrival will likely spell an end of Erasmus’s involvement with the province. This will leave van Graan in sole charge when Munster return to Europe with a double-header with Leicester Tigers in December.

“It’s going to be very tough. Today was also tough, I’m going to miss it a lot,” Erasmus said when asked about leaving.

“The players, the fans, the atmosphere. I’m going to miss a lot of it.”

“When he (van Graan) comes over here, apart from this week, we want to make sure that he’s 100% comfortable, the players are comfortable and the club is comfortable. So we’re still not 100% sure, I might be still involved for those games, but I think the time is coming closer now.”

Before that happens, Erasmus must first focus on Connacht this weekend and getting a result. It could be his final game with the province and no doubt he’ll want to leave with his head held high.