What is your view of the Johann van Graan era?
Image: Laszlo Geczo/INPHO Image: Laszlo Geczo/INPHO IT WAS APPROACHING 10.30pm on Friday when Johann van Graan’s press conference came to an end.
That’ll frame the narrative around his legacy, that inability to make Munster more than just a quarter-final or semi-final side. Other criticisms require scrutiny though. Still, some balance is required. Tactically, he has been the recipient of a fair deal of grief, a lot of it from Munster fans on social media, plenty more from ex-players, some from these quarters, too. Two points need to be made here.
Those are the names of every Champion Cup winner bar La Rochelle, since Munster last won the trophy in 2008. That isn’t the work of a failed coach.It’s the work of a coach who played the hand he was dealt fairly well, who made shrewd signings, who identified the dead wood in the squad and got rid of it, who integrated youth with experience, who achieved consistency throughout the winter months but who didn’t do enough in the play-offs.
“I wish he was a nasty man because then at least I can grumble at him. But such a nice fella so it’s really difficult. And it makes it difficult to go and have a beer with him now.