Another Saffa set to take over at Munster

With Rassie Erasmus set to return to South Africa to take up the role as director of Rugby at the South African Rugby Union, Wessels has been identified as the perfect candidate to succeed Erasmus.

The South African, who has worked under Erasmus at the Cape Town-based franchise the Stormers, has been in Ireland discussing his future.

According to rugby.com.au, Wessels is likely to sign the contract in the next few days.

"Are we getting close to getting someone? Yes, we are," the Ireland Rugby Football Union (IRFU)  performance director David Nucifora said, adding "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.

"I'd be hopeful that we'd have news for you in the short-term,"

If the South African were to leave Australia for greener pastures it would be a heavy blow for the struggling rugby nation.

Wessels has been set to take over the reigns at the Melbourne Rebels, and potentially succeed Michael Cheika as Wallabies head coach after the 2019 World Cup.

While the IRFU's  performance director Nucifora didn't reveal the name, he did confirm that there is only one candidate.

"We're working diligently on it," he said.

"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,"

Source: @rugbycomau