LET’S JOH!
Fired-up van Graan takes charge of Reds for first time
MUNSTER head coach Johann van Graan believes he has inherited a team in prime condition as he takes charge at a critical point of the season.
After this PRO14 clash, Munster go on to face their vital Champions Cup double-header with Leicester Tigers.
And because he has just taken control, the new coach says he will not be shy in asking his backroom team for guidance with so much at stake before Christmas.
“The Ospreys game is pretty important for us in terms of the table and we will give them the respect they deserve,” said South African van Graan.
“We’ve got to finish that first and then our attention will turn to Europe on Sunday.
“I definitely don’t have all the answers, I don’t think any coach in the world has all the answers. I will use all the expertise that is available to me to get the results. The team is in a very good space mentally. In my opinion the way the competition has been handled in terms of the players has been brilliant, they are very settled in terms of the leadership group.
“We’ve been planning for this for quite a while. I wasn’t here but all the information was available to me and from last Sunday night we’ve put in place what we want to achieve over the next nine weeks up until
January 22. We’ll just take it day by day.”
The coach has practiced what he preaches and has made minimal changes to his first team selection after last week’s
15 was picked by
Jerry Flannery and Felix Jones.
Ian Keatley and
John Ryan are the only two fresh faces in the team, both of whom have returned from positive November showings with Ireland.
Simon Zebo has shaken off a knee injury to retain his place at full-back while James Hart has also recovered from a dead leg and keeps the No9 shirt ahead of the fit-again Duncan Williams.
Munster have already claimed a 21-16 away win against Ospreys this season and the continue to be out of form after suffering a 47-6 hammering at home last weekend to Glasgow.
Coach Steve Tandy knows they need the points badly and said: “Going to Munster always presents a sizeable challenge, any time of the season and whoever is on the field.
“Clearly we have to see a reaction after the huge disappointment of Sunday, with the circumstances meaning the onus is on this group of players and us as coaches to find a solution.
“We certainly won’t be sitting in a corner feeling sorry for ourselves. We know we are in a fight and will stick together to do the Ospreys badge justice.”