VANTASTIC TO END THE DROUGHT

JOHANN VAN GRAAN claims Munster are not burdened by the pressure of winning a first trophy in 10 years.

It was May 2011 when the Reds overcame newly crowned European champs Leinster at Thomond Park.

“There are players and management who have been here for a long time, and there’s guys who have literally joined us in the last year or two,” he said.

“So there’s obviously our history, that’s a very important part of Munster.

You take the good and the bad times and you move forward as a club.

“It’s certainly something we are looking forward to. It’s not something that adds extra pressure on us.

“That’s why we’re looking to enjoy and embrace this week, and hopefully be at our best on Saturday – and hopefully that will be good enough to beat Leinster.”

Asked what it would mean to the province to lift a trophy at last, van Graan (right) replied: “A sport is a very emotional thing and we’ve got incredible people supporting this team.

“This club is all about community so it will be massive for the people of the Munster province. We’ve got incredible support all over the world and this is important for the players and the management.

“We are all very proud of where we come from, whether you’ve been part of

Munster since you were born or you came to Munster.

“Earlsy (Keith Earls, inset) said to me the very first week I got here: ‘You can never go somewhere else now, you’re part of Munster’.

“That’s what makes this club special and it’s all about the community.

“This is very important to us, it’s very important for the people who support us through good and through bad times, and that’s why we are looking forward to this so much, because a final doesn’t come along very often.”