Fans’ gut reaction was the right one

DID you feel a pang of regret when you saw what he did against Ulster last weekend? Did you think that maybe he should have started against Racing 92 in the European Cup semi-final the weekend before?

It’s quite likely that he would have improved matters had he done so, but it does say something that until last Saturday evening nobody was calling out Johann van Graan for not starting him the way they had been doing for van Graan’s failure to start Simon Zebo.

That’s because of the baggage the man carries. Gerbrandt Grobler, you see, was a doper. He served a two year ban for his offences – he tested positively for the anabolic steroid drostanolone – and that’s not something anybody wants associated with their club.

In the abstract it was easy for a lot of fans to lament the decision of the Munster branch (and the previous coaching ticket) to bring this guy on board. Now, however, that we’ve seen what he can do, what kind of impact he could have had at the club it becomes a lot more difficult for fans to hold onto their principles.

That’s the nature of fandom, the word does derive from fanatic and fanatics aren’t exactly known for their level-headed approach to life. Still though most Munster fans’ gut reaction was the right one. Munster shouldn’t have signed Grobler and it’s a good thing that he’s not going to stay beyond the end of this season.

Ceasar’s wife must be beyond reproach.