Northern Edition
Select Edition
Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Johann van Graan sounds pleased after Munster's recent coaching overhaul

(Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Johann van Graan is hoping his newly recruited assistants can provide Munster with the fresh ideas necessary to break the glass ceiling their recent campaigns repeatedly hit.

ADVERTISEMENT

Back-to-back Heineken Champions Cup and Guinness PRO14 semi-finalists in 2018 and 2019 under the South African, van Grann has his fingers crossed that the Irish province’s recent coaching overhaul can make the telling end-of-season difference.

Former Wallabies assistant Stephen Larkham and current Georgia assistant Graham Rowntree have been respectively snapped up as senior and forwards coach and while both have yet to arrive at the club, van Graan is excited about what the pair can potentially bring to the mix.

“I’m really looking forward to Stephen and Graham coming in,” he said on the Munster club website after the departures of assistants Felix Jones and Jerry Flannery were offset by the quick-paced recruitments of Larkham and Rowntree.

“Stephen will be coming in in the second block (of pre-season in August). He was such a fantastic player and is a brilliant human being. He will fit really well with Munster and bring in one or two fresh ideas. I’m looking forward to working with him.

“I have known Graham for quite a long time,” he added. “He’s with Georgia at the World Cup now and as soon as he is finished he will join us.

ADVERTISEMENT

“He will bring something different. He’s a fantastic guy, a typical Leicester forward that knows how to get a pack going. I’m really excited to get Graham and Stephen in.”

It won’t be until September 13, when they host Declan Kidney’s London Irish in Cork in a friendly, that Munster will dust off the pre-season cobwebs.

It is van Graan’s second summer with the province and he values the importance of this time of year. “The players have to recover mentally and physically, to get away from training each day, to get out of your normal routine,” he said.

ADVERTISEMENT

“The most important thing is to find some balance, spend some time with your family and your loved ones and to get out of Ireland. A lot of guys travelled to widen their horizon. It was great to give the guys a bit off time off away from the game.”

WATCH: Joe Schmidt gives some insight on how Ireland’s World Cup preparations are going

Video Spacer
ADVERTISEMENT
Play Video

South Africa vs Black Ferns XV | Women's International | Full Match Replay

Play Video

England vs Spain | Women's International | Full Match Replay

Play Video

Classic Wallabies vs British & Irish Legends | Second Match | Full Match Replay

Play Video

Ireland vs Scotland | Women's International | Full Match Replay

Play Video

Should the Lions’ last-minute try have stood? | Whistle Watch

Play Video

Lions Share | Episode 6

Play Video

KOKO Show | July 29th | George Gregan Stops by to lift spirits after the MCG Madness

Play Video

Historic Lions Series win at the MCG | Ep 7: The Ultimate Test

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Long Reads

Comments on RugbyPass

TRENDING
TRENDING
Springboks roll out heavy-hitters for Rugby Championship opener