ADMITS REDS BOSS

good rugby now. The challenge is to put it together for 80 minutes.

“But yes, we do need a reaction on Saturday evening and we do need to get a positive result.”

Van Graan, who notched back-to-back Champions Cup wins over Leicester Tigers after earlier wins over Zebre and Ospreys, believes Munster are in a good place overall at the outset of 2018.

He said: “The good thing is we’re sitting pretty well in the PRO14 table with still a long way to go.

“After this game, the competition takes a month break and I think there will be eight games left so it will hopefully pan out that we are there come the play-offs. We know in Europe our destiny is in our own hands.”

Van Graan has made 10 changes to the side that lost 24-17 against Ulster at Kingspan Stadium earlier this week.

There are five changes up front with loosehead prop Dave Kilcoyne and hooker Rhys Marshall coming into the front row.

Jean Kleyn starts in the second row while Conor Oliver makes his first appearance of the season at openside flanker and CJ Stander comes back into the side to skipper the team at No8

Van Graan has also made five changes in the backline with Conor Murray and Ian Keatley restored at half-back. Chris Farrell returns from injury and Andrew Conway starts on the right wing.