Munster’s Director of Rugby Rassie Erasmus says he doesn’t know the identity of his successor and is adamant the province have made a "really competitive" contract offer for Simon Zebo.
Speaking after Munster’s 39-16 bonus-point win over Cardiff Blues in the Guinness Pro14, the South African again insisted he is not privy to who will takeover in the Munster hotseat.
Earlier this week IRFU high performance director David Nucifora confirmed that a replacement is expected to be confirmed shortly, stating that the IRFU was down to "one person more seriously" after a lengthy recruitment process.
That was believed to be 36-year-old Dave Wessels, but he was confirmed as the new boss of the Melbourne Rebels.
The Irish Times subsequently reported that South Africa assistant coach Johann van Graan has been chosen and will arrive before the end of December.
"I know people speculated and said it was Dave Wessels, now they are talking about Johan van Graan," he told RTÉ Sport.
"I know there are more names I saw, so I’m not 100pc sure who the last person is, but they are all quality."
He also revealed that the length of transition between the incoming and departing coaches will depend on the appointment.
"If I don’t know him at all, maybe the period will be a little longer. Somebody I know and I have worked with, then I think it can be a shortened version.
"The deal was always until Munster is fine. We’ll work around that."
The former Springbok also spoke about the speculation linking Simon Zebo with a move to France when his current contract runs out at the end of the season.
The 27-year-old, who is not on a central contract with the IRFU, has previously rejected Top14 advances, but Pau are reported to be the latest club looking to entice the French-speaking winger away from Munster.
"We really want to keep him. At this stage he is the guy to make that decision."
"There are so many things that players are talking to other clubs, some of it gets to the media, some of it doesn’t. Obviously it got to the media about Simon.
"We made him a really competitive offer. If I was him, it is would certainly be an offer I would really consider.
"We really want to keep him. At this stage he is the guy to make that decision."
Back to matters on the pitch and Erasmus was particularly pleased with Munster’s second-half performance against the Blues, where the visitors failed to score.
John Ryan and JJ Hanrahan (2) and Robin Copeland were among the try scorers as Munster scored 14 unanswered points while Cardiff prop Taufa'ao Filise was in the bin and a host of returning Irish internationals were bedded back into the provincial set-up.
"It takes a while for them [returning internationals] to get in sync with what we have been trying to do the last few months," he said.
"The guys recognised where the problems were at half-time and they changed it in the second half. That’s a positive.
"We’ve played many games in the last 14 months where we didn’t capitalise when teams have 14 men, so it was great to do that."
Jaco Taute’s early injury paved the way for Hanrahan’s first taste of Irish rugby in two years, albeit in the somewhat unfamiliar environment of full-back.
"He came on and slotted in really well," Erasmus observed. "He played at full-back which was nice."
"It gives you another option to think about for the tough games coming up against Leinster and in Europe.
"With Jaco injured, we might have to do a little reshuffle in the backline."
