Van Graan hits out at official’s decisions

MUNSTER coach Johann van Graan has called for greater consistency from officials after some controversial decisions cost his side in last night’s 30-22 defeat by Leinster in Lansdowne Road. Van Graan’s men dominated possession and territory but were denied what looked to be a clear try for Keith Earls just after half-time by referee Ben Whitehouse, who then failed to award a penalty try or issue a yellow card after Leinster conceded three scrum penalties in succession five yards from their own line. ‘It was a 14-point swing,’ said Van Graan when asked to comment on the disallowed Earls try, before observing: ‘if you conceded three penalties five yards from the line, sometimes you get a yellow card’ in relation to the scrum penalty controversy. ‘All you can ask for is consistency,’ he added. However, the Munster boss was quick to praise Leinster for their latest impressive showing while taking encouragement from his own team producing their best away performance of the season so far. ‘You have to give some credit to the opposition, we got beaten by the better team and it was a brilliant night for Irish rugby,’ said Van Graan. ‘I’m very proud of the team, we stuck to our guns and played some brilliant rugby against one of the best teams in the world.’ Leinster out-half and man of the match Ross Byrne acknowledged that Munster had made it extremely difficult for the Blues on the night. ‘It was incredibly difficult out there, they dominated possession and territory for long periods of the game and I thought we did well to come out of it with a win,’ said Byrne.