REDS’ HIGH HOPES
More to hosts than altitude advantage, insists Van Graan
JOHANN van Graan acknowledges the advantage of playing at altitude for Munster’s opponents this evening, but insists there is real quality in the Cheetahs side, too.
Van Graan hopes his side can lay down a marker for the Champions Cup semi-final against Racing, but also has the more immediate goal of securing home advantage in the Pro14 quarterfinal as his side gears up for their second South African assignment in a week.
The Reds’ boss is no stranger to the demands placed on visiting teams at Toyota Stadium in Bloemfontein and he knows it will take a big performance if they are to become only the second Pro14 side after Glasgow Warriors to record a win at the Highveld.
In four of their last five wins, the Cheetahs have snatched victory in the closing few minutes, with the demands of performing in thin air often sucking the life out of the visitors.
Van Graan insists, however, that conditions alone do not win games for the Cheetahs and has selected a side to meet a difficult challenge.
‘I think their attacking ability is one of their strongest points. They put you under a massive amount of pressure with their width,’ he said.
‘Francois Venter is definitely one of their best players. I have been lucky enough to have coached him, he is a quality player.
‘But they have threats all over the park and in Bloemfontein they are always a force.
‘They also finish games very strongly. Connacht found that and so, too, did Cardiff last weekend. It shows they are a very fit team.’
He has made nine changes to the side which secured a bonus point 39-22 win over the Southern Kings after a stuttering start.
Conor Murray, who is on the bench, is the only one of Munster’s frontline players not to start either game on the South Africa tour.
But, with Racing next up in the Champions Cup semi-final, the return of Simon Zebo and Darren Sweetnam is a timely boost.
Zebo has shaken off a hip issue and Sweetnam has recovered from a minor hamstring problem.
James Cronin, who went off early against the Kings with a shoulder stinger, is not included in the matchday squad, but is expected to be available for the Racing clash.
Brian Scott, who can play both sides, comes in at loosehead, while JJ Hanrahan partners James Hart at half-back.
The Cheetahs need to win this one to keep their hopes of a home quarter-final alive — they look like they will be heading to Scarlets if they finish third in the table — and have gone for broke by starting South African international Johan Goosen.
Goosen is no stranger to Munster but astonished the rugby world by walking out on Racing 92 a year and a half ago to return to South Africa to run a horse stud farm.
But Montpellier owner Mohad Altrad has bought out his contract at Racing 92, with Goosen recently joining the Cheetahs in a bid to get some game-time ahead of his summer move to the south of France.