Munster set to confirm replacement for Rassie Erasmus

The 36-year-old, who has previously worked with Erasmus as a consultant analyst during the pair's time with the Stormers, is understood to have already been in Limerick for an interview and the province are now ready to get the deal over the line.

The South African has been on the look-out for a new job after the Force were cut from Super Rugby and although he was linked with the Melbourne Rebels, Munster are believed to have already identified him as the man they want to lead them.

Erasmus is due to return home to South Africa to begin his new role as the Springboks' director of rugby in December and it is expected that Wessels will be in situ in the coming weeks to begin the handover.

The IRFU's performance director David Nucifora confirmed that Munster are currently talking to just one potential candidate and are "close" to confirming the deal.

"Are we getting close to getting someone? Yes we are," Nucifora said.

"I'm hopeful we will have an answer to this sooner rather than later so we can engineer a really well-delivered handover between the two coaching groups. You don't usually get that chance, this is a coordinated approach.

"We've spoken to a number of people over the last number of months. We are well advanced at the moment. I'd be hopeful that we'd have news for you in the short-term. Hopefully it would be permanent (appointment).

"We're working diligently on it. Yes, we feel we're getting close to doing something but in any negotiation things can move at the last minute, you never quite know until it's done but we feel that we're close. We're making good progress.

"At the moment we're talking to one person, but we've spoken to multiple over a period of time. But at the moment we're talking to one so that's why I can say we are getting closer."