'Abject... shocking at times' - Ire mixed with relief as Munster's Van Graan era ends

Any hope that Johann van Graan might have been holding to that he could end his thoroughly mediocre rein as Munster head coach on high were rudely ripped from his grasp on a balmy evening in Belfast.

Munster put in the most un-Munster-like of performances at Ravenhill, offering very little of the fight that has traditionally characterized the province. When Springbok centre Damian De Allende fumbled a ball halfway through a second half in which the men in red were chasing a scoreboard, the referee might as well have blown it up right there.

This was not Munster's evening. It never was.

Against that, a razor-sharp Ulster were well worth their 36-17 victory, a result that has seen them through to the semi-finals. But one couldn't help but feel this current Munster iteration is well off the pace.

The online reaction has been one of initial shock at the nature of the performance, a response tempered by a significant amount of relief that the Van Graan era had come to an end, even if on a bum note.

"Ulster very good, Munster not so much," wrote Brian O'Driscoll on Twitter. "A lot of work is needed in Munster’s re build - in the coming season(s) but Ulster seem very much on the right path. A bit to go yet but vastly improved on the past few years. Some international selections this summer will be interesting!"

"Munster are being completely dominated by Ulster, you won’t see a more abject performance from the men in red, shocking at times," wrote former England flyhalf and RugbyPass columnist Andy Goode.

Writing in his Irish Times report, Gerry Thornley bemoaned the inaccuracy of the Van Graan's charges: "A lamentable Munster performance, riddled with handling inaccuracies and ill-discipline as well as a defence which again bunched up narrowly too often, ended their uneven and anticlimactic season and also the Johann van Graan/Stephen Larkham/JP Ferreira era."

Popular Munster fan account, Overthehillprop summed it up well, writing: "If nothing else I'm glad this Munster era is over. They have regressed even further this year and JVGs tenure will be remembered for creating apathy within the fanbase. As for Munsters [sic] attack.... well best of luck to the Brumbies."

"The season ends with a whimper," wrote Munster blogger Three Red Kings. "Munster were sloppy, got key selection calls wrong pre-game and multiple lads backed after Leinster two weeks ago didn't back it up. A massive reset needed."

One fan noted what many have observed, that the South African should have been shown the exit after committing his future to Bath.

"Embarrassing stuff from Munster - abject end probably sums up Van Graan tenure - overpaid & underdelivered - should’ve been shown the door minute he signed for Bath anyway... Fair play Ulster excellent performance."

The one most optimistic note struck on social was the amount of talent that Munster have unearthed under the Van Graan era -  in what could be - by accident or design - the legacy he leaves in the Limerick. The emergence of Gavin Coombes, Craig Casey, Alex Kendallen and the Wycherley brothers, among others; is evidence at least that the province can produce the talent.

The Graham Rowntree era can't come quick enough.