Tag Archives: Johann van Graan

Sean McMahon reports from Coventry Johann van Graan has backed Jack O’Donoghue to deliver as Munster take on Saracens in the semi-final of the Heineken Champions Cup on Saturday. For the most part and depending on injuries, van Graan has stuck with the same team throughout the Champions Cup as he looks to reward the players who have brought the …

Sean McMahon reports from Coventry Munster head coach Johann van Graan has said that he and his staff gave Keith Earls every opportunity this week to prove his fitness but ultimately, they had to decide to leave him out as he was not 100%. Van Graan was speaking alongside Peter O’Mahony and CJ Stander at a sun-kissed Ricoh Arena in …

Munster head coach, Johann van Graan, has refused to rule out the possibility of Ronan O’Gara and Paul O’Connell joining his coaching ticket at the province in the near future. The South African signed a contract extension with the province last week that will see him remain in his post until 2022, however, he has indicated that he may look …

Head coach Johann van Graan confirmed that Joey Carbery is “highly unlikely” to be available for Munster’s Heineken Champions Cup semi-final showdown with Saracens on Saturday.  The talented out-half pulled up with a hamstring injury in the first half of the quarter-final win over Edinburgh at Murrayfield less than three weeks ago. It was a recurrence of the same injury …

Munster head coach Johann van Graan has confirmed today that out-half Joey Carbery is a doubt for the Heineken Champions Cup semi-final clash with Saracens at the Ricoh Arena in two week’s time.  Carbery was removed from the fray with a hamstring injury in the opening half of Munster’s quarter-final victory over Edinburgh at Murrayfield and the southern province will …

One of the major positives coming out of Munster’s 31-12 bonus point win over Zebre was the performance of Jack O’Donoghue.  The 25-year-old Waterford man was one of Munster’s better performers on the day and supporters will be buoyed by the fact that he got 80 minutes under his belt for the first time since he suffered a knee injury …

In the regularly spoken words of head coach Johann van Graan, Munster will go “back to zero” when they regroup on Monday ahead of their Heineken Champions Cup quarter-final clash with Edinburgh next weekend.  Preparation for that season-defining match came in the shape of a bonus-point win over Zebre at Thomond Park on Saturday but don’t let the scoreline fool …

Munster head coach, Johann van Graan, has defended the form of his players involved in Ireland’s Six Nations campaign as they prepare to return to the provincial camp. The performances of many Munster players including Conor Murray, CJ Stander and Peter O’Mahony were criticised through the disappointing campaign, especially during last week’s loss to Wales in the Principality Stadium. The Irish …

Munster head coach, Johann van Graan, has insisted that his side will need to be “really top-notch” to secure an away win against Ospreys on Friday. All four teams at the top of Conference A are in action against each other with Connacht set to face second-place Glasgow in Scotstoun Stadium, also on Friday.  With only two points between themselves …

There is likely to be many sore bodies after Munster’s bruising 9-7 victory over the Exeter Chiefs at Thomond Park on Saturday night.  In what was an incredibly physical affair, the southern province secured an away trip to Edinburgh in the quarter-finals of the Champions Cup thanks to three penalties from the boot of Joey Carbery. Head coach Johann van …

There are games like Saturday night at Thomond Park where a team needs their out-half to edge them over the line.  Munster’s 9-7 win over the Exeter Chiefs which secured an away quarter-final to Edinburgh was exactly that. A match where the defence of both sides dominated proceedings, it was likely going to be a kick of the ball which …

Sean McMahon reports from Thomond Park.  Joey Carbery continued his excellent form from the tee since that disappointing day in the south of France as he has now brought his kicking stats to 20/20.  Carbery has been involved in wins over Leinster, Connacht, Gloucester and most recently, the Exeter Chiefs and they all yielded a 100% success rate at goal. The type …

The main concern this week for Munster as they prepare for their deciding clash with the Exeter Chiefs at Thomond Park on Saturday is the fitness of captain Peter O’Mahony.  The Corkman suffered a rib injury in the bonus-point win over Gloucester at Kingsholm and head coach Johann van Graan rated O’Mahony’s chances of featuring at the weekend as “50-50, …

Munster captain Peter O’Mahony has been rated as “50-50” by head coach Johann van Graan ahead of the southern province’s crucial winner-take-all clash with the Exeter Chiefs on Saturday evening.  The Thomond Park clash is a 1st v 2nd matchup with a win for the home side guaranteeing them progress to the quarter-finals. O’Mahony was removed from the Kingsholm turf …

On reflection, a crazy 15 minute period in the first half at Thomond Park had a huge impact on the outcome of the latest instalment of the longstanding rivalry between Munster and Leinster.  The southern province ended their four-match losing streak against the eastern province and that 15 minute period, which yielded two yellow cards and one red card for …

Munster head into Saturday’s eagerly anticipated clash with Leinster on the back of two defeats and with the knowledge that their last four meetings with Leo Cullen’s side have all ended in disappointment.  With that in mind, there is certainly pressure on this Munster team going into the weekend and the sold-out Thomond Park crowd will be hoping their side …

Munster’s upcoming clash with Leinster takes on even more importance as the southern province will be desperate to halt a run of form which has seen them lose two games on the trot.  Munster’s disappointing loss to Castres in the Heineken Champions Cup was followed up by an away defeat to Ulster at the Kingspan Stadium on Friday, albeit with …