LAST UPDATE | 10 Jan 2022
AT ONE STAGE of his post-match media briefing on Saturday, Johann van Graan said the last seven days constituted a ‘normal week’. It was anything but. It started with a loss to Connacht, continued with the loss of their captain during Saturday’s warm-up, before they lost Simon Zebo to a red card after 14 minutes.
Significantly, Munster – van Graan’s Munster – didn’t lose the plot at that stage. Had they done so, Ulster would have cruised to their first win in Thomond Park since 2014, and the volume on the outside ‘noise’ would have been deafening.
It’s loud enough as it is. Despite losing just twice this season, van Graan’s tactics have been subjected to blunt criticism, Keith Wood and Donal Lenihan delivering a stinging analysis within the last seven days.
Van Graan’s reaction to the criticism was calm. “It is all about the people on the inside (of the camp),” he said. “There will always be noise when you work in professional sport but luckily we have a very good leadership group and a very good coaching team.
“I can understand when people get carried away or when people make statements and that is part and parcel of the job. All we can do is focus on our process and inside the HPC we are all pretty composed. It was a normal week for us.”
This week is even more intense, two days training leading into a trip to France to face Castres. It’s worth remembering Munster have nine points from their two Champions Cup games so far. A place in the knock-outs is practically guaranteed already while their position in the URC is also healthy. Winning matches with 14 men – as Munster did on Saturday – often prove to be a turning point in a campaign.
“The Ulster game was a pretty physical encounter,” said van Graan. “We won’t get carried away. The last time we played Castres away we lost 13-12. The way they came back against other teams in the last two weeks means it is clear they will be a handful over there. We will look at the game in isolation, prepare well, and hopefully deliver a good performance.”
It would be easier to do so if Peter O’Mahony and Damian DeAllende are given the green light to travel. Both players are nursing injuries, and a decision on their availability won’t be known until this evening at the earliest.
As for Joey Carbery, he won’t feature for ‘a number of weeks’ – which suggests he will not be around for the start of Ireland’s Six Nations campaign. “We are very glad Joey is staying in Munster Rugby,” said van Graan. “He is such a big part of the squad here, he is happy here, and I felt during the Wasps game, he got back to his best – but unfortunately he picked up a freak injury.”
You’d swear Munster lost the way some supporters and ex players are carrying on. Beating Ulster with 14 men is nothing to be sniffed at. JVG is leaving at the end of the season – whatever about the ex players who are chasing coin for their opinions, he deserves a bit of support from the fans. If people think we won’t win something with JVG this season then grand but they’d want to get their heads checked if they think we will with some make shift coach til the end of the season.
There was plenty to be happy about after the weekend – beating Ulster is always satisfying.
@Jim Demps: I agree Jim, but his pre game interview annoyed me. His head is not in Munster anymore that’s clear to see.
That attuide will transfer into the dressing room over time.
Great achievement at the weekend but sorry, Zebo does not belong in that team. Red card or not.
Also looks like ( not confirmed) we’re losing all our SA players end of the season aswell.
JVG has done some really good stuff, but alot of false starts aswell.
@Paul Power: you’d be a bit snippy too if you’d gotten the same coverage he’d gotten after the connacht game. The guy has been exemplary in how he has carried himself publicly for the last number of years and for people ( not just you) to somehow conclude that he wants out immediately because of that interview I think is a bit bizarre.
@Jim Demps: a make shift coach or should i say another make shift coach because in reality thats what JVG is would at least change some things around like one idea would be to pass the ball to conway and earls a few times a game.
Very few actually beleive hes 100% committed to munster for the rest of the season.
@Jim Demps: can’t disagree with you Jim he has gotten enormous stick as of late. It’s a complete lack of emotion lately win or lose is what’s getting people’s back up I think and that interview on Saturday night just seemed to be I’ll answer as little as possible and get out of here.
@Jim Demps: Well said Jim. You get some criticism for your own opinion every once in a while, and your not getting any compensation for it.
JVG is probably in the same boat as a NZ head coach. A lot of fans won’t give any praise for the good days, but quick to criticise on the bad days. I don’t know anyone who would appreciate being called ‘van grand’. Personally I feel as long as he hasn’t lost the dressing room then let him see out his contract.
Much easier to block it out on gardening leave. Just sayin
Some of the crisis talk is getting ott!
Some fans need to be reminded: only 2 losses, both away, in 9 games.
While things aren’t rosy, its hardly end of days.
Van Graans gameplan went out the window after the sending off and that win was down to the players rolling up their sleeves and playing what was in front of them.
A potential coach looking in will know that these players have serious charachter and fight!!!
Munster are a mess. All over the place recently. Kidney is the man for the job with great coaches around him. Munster identify is gone and Kidney is the man to bring that back.
@Tombmunster:
I think Kidney too, knows the province and the people…
The next coach is going to have to drop the old faithful to bring the new blood… Kidney might be the right guy for that job
The Munster coaching job carries a high degree of expectation. Always has. No trophy in 12 years is not good for a team with the players and support Munster have. VG has done little in the four years he has been in charge. The SA style of play firstly relies on s huge pack of forwards which Munster just don’t have (one big second row wasn’t going to change that). Anytime they came up against a bigger pack they got rumbled. The issue I have with VG is there was no plan ‘b’. They possess a classy set of backs with decent half backs yet they rarely run the ball around and when under the cosh revert to up the jumper. Not good enough anymore, the game has moved on and Munster have failed to keep up with the pace of change. Not only do they need a new coach but they also need a new front row.
The long goodbye has been on the cards for more than a year, most saw it coming when considering the time the coaches have had next to the end of contract dates. Munster aren’t going to put them out on gardening leave, especially given the global situation and it’s effect on the coffers, and theres still quite a bit to play for. As a member of the Munster board set up it’s great to see Wood speak out against some of the blind naivety tho, it will be hard to keep him quiet, just like it was on the pitch.
Not sure why Ian Costello is not being proposed ad interim coach?