Munster’s new contracts to cement squad
JOHANN VAN GRAAN IN DEFIANT MOOD AHEAD OF LEINSTER SHOWDOWN
JOHANN van Graan is hopeful that Munster can retain most of their squad – with IRFU performance director David Nucifora commencing contract negotiations with a host of out-ofcontract players. Some of Munster’s top stars, including Peter O’Mahony, CJ Stander and Keith Earls, are in the final year of their current deals with the IRFU, while young prospects like Ben Healy and Jack Crowley have attracted interest from abroad recently. A host of other senior players are also believed to be coming to the end of their deals this summer, including the Scannell brothers and
Jack O’Donoghue. The majority of contracts would be signed off by now but in the wake of the financial impact caused by Covid-19, the IRFU have delayed talks until this month. Having assembled one of the strongest Munster squads in recent times, Van Graan is keen to keep his best players on board. ‘It’s ongoing, we’re busy talking to players but in fairness everybody knows it is a difficult time in the world and rugby is no different,’ said the Munster head coach. ‘Once we got something to confirm, we will. It’s a good thing that people are part of a club that they’re proud to
AWRY smile shot across Johann van Graan’s face as he listened to the line of questioning. During yesterday’s press conference — conducted across a video call, as is the way these days — it was suggested to Munster’s head coach that Leinster’s recent loss to Connacht had exposed some frailties in an operation that has looked invincible for some time.
Van Graan wasn’t buying it. For all of Connacht’s brilliance in the RDS, there was plenty of mitigation to explain Leinster’s underperformance that evening. A lengthy injury list, a Covid-19 outbreak in the camp and perhaps a hint of complacency all played their part in that 35-24 home defeat. Normal service resumed a week later when Ulster were put to the sword in a 24-12 win.
It was Leinster’s 27th victory in 28 Pro14 outings and the 11th time in as many games when they bagged a bonus point for good measure. And Leo Cullen should have all the heavyweights on board for the trip to Limerick. Johnny Sexton should be back at No10 with a galaxy of international backs outside him and a raft of Test-quality personnel providing the platform up front.
It’s the reason why they are hunting their fourth league title in a row. Munster have failed to halt their progress at the semifinal stage on the last three occasions. The most recent defeat was the most galling, given Munster’s much-criticised tactics on the night. Given the grim forecast for Saturday night, the hosts may well deploy Conor Murray to rain box kicks down on Leinster’s backfield again. Van Graan will make no apologies for that.
Anyway, Munster have grown as a team since that 13-3 loss at the Aviva five months ago. Their attacking game has evolved while the likes of Gavin Coombes, Ben Healy and Shane Daly have brought youthful energy. The lineout maul has been an especially potent weapon recently while JJ Hanrahan has found his goalkicking range again. There was no shortage of steel and skill in the recent victories at Clermont and Connacht.
And they’re at home this time around. Add all of those elements together and Munster look primed for a big one.
Van Graan seemed quietly confident about the assignment.
‘It’s nice to play at home. We’ve got some good momentum.
‘We are four or five months down the line in terms of our development and in terms of playing time together. We’ve gone through a series of games where we had to win in different ways. No game is the same, sometimes you have to find a way to win.
‘If you look through our season, some games we won convincingly; some we were down and out. Some games were won in the 83rd or 84th minutes. It’s a new game, we believe we can win every game we play.
‘The difference when you play these big games, the interpros, you’re playing quality opposition and the teams know each other so well. Most of these guys will go into international competition next week, there’s not a lot of secrets. It’s literally individuals that have a huge influence on the game.
‘Then, individual moments of brilliance. We’ve had some, they’ve had some. Those are the small moments.’
There is no doubt that Munster have the firepower to inflict plenty of damage on the visitors. Damian de Allende is settling well into life in the midfield and is showing all the attributes which made him central to South Africa’s World Cup-winning campaign in 2019, while Tadhg Beirne has hit another rich vein of form.
The big task facing Van Graan and his backroom team of JP Ferreira, Stephen Larkham and Graham Rowntree is devising a plan which can shut down the visitors at source. As many coaches and players will often tell you in the wake of another loss to the defending champions, once Leinster get into their rhythm, they are very hard to stop.
‘They play a very pressurised game. Scrum and maul, they’re potent,’ Van Graan explained.
‘Once they get scrum penalties, they get into your half and will either maul you or they’ll play off
‘You have to repect their standards’
that six-man (lineout) of theirs which they get into the vacuum, which they do very well with their centres. Then, they phase-play and once they get on to a roll it’s very difficult to stop. If they get a penalty, Johnny either kicks the three (points) or they’ll go to the corner and maul again.
‘So, they’ve got a very solid kicking game. They vary it very well off No 9 and 10. Whether they go long or short, they’ve got a very specific way of defending — of getting 14 guys on their feet.
‘They’ve got very good decisionmaking as to when to poach and when not (to poach). They’re a very experienced group of internationals all over, they’ve got young guys like Hugo Keenan that have come in seamlessly and played some terrific rugby in my opinion.
‘They’re a proud club with a very good coaching team. It’s one of the clubs in world rugby that I respect, you have to respect quality and standards and that’s what they’re about. That’s why they’re currently top of their European pool and have won the Pro14 the last three years.’
They certainly don’t sound like a team that is vulnerable. Van Graan will be expecting nothing less on Saturday night.