'As someone from the southern hemisphere, it is a phenomenal achievement just to get out of your group'
Johann van Graan has called on Munster’s critics to show some respect and acknowledge just how difficult it is to negotiate qualification from a Champion Cup pool.
The Irish province have recently restored their proud reputation as a serial quarter-final qualifier, reaching the knockout stages in the last three seasons.
However, rather than this consistency be celebrated as a decent achievement in this more competitive era of the 20-team Champions Cup compared to the old 24-team ERC European Cup, they have been ridiculed for falling at the semi-final hurdle in the last three seasons, twice with van Graan at the helm.
With a new season set to start, rather than just dwell on their poor semi-final record, the South African has placed the spotlight on how challenging it is in the first place to even escape a European pool.
Eighteen clubs have qualified for the quarter-finals in the five seasons of Champions Cup under EPCR, but Munster rank high on that list as 11 of the clubs have only reached the knockout stages on either just one or two occasions, an inferior strike rate to Munster.
(Continue reading below…)
The Irish province’s record of three last-eight appearances in the last five seasons is shared by Clermont and Wasps, and only bettered by Leinster, Racing and Toulon, who have each reached four quarter-finals, and current champions Saracens, who have made the knockout stages in all five recent tournaments.
With Munster now up against Racing and Saracens in their latest pool, the scale of the task involved in even getting back into the knockout stages is as steep as ever, never mind the holy grail of actually lifting the trophy for the first time since 2008.
“We’re in this competition to win so obviously there has been huge disappointment from our side,” said South African van Graan about the semi-final defeats on his watch, the 2018 loss to Racing in Bordeaux and last April’s loss to Saracens in Coventry.
Johann van Graan could have stayed working with the Springboks but he took a leap of faith with Munster in late 2017, a decision he has no regrets over despite South Africa going on to win the World Cup https://t.co/Q5TVYCnxpR
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 7, 2019
“All I can say as someone from the southern hemisphere coming into the northern hemisphere is I think it is a phenomenal achievement just to get out of your group.
“Rob (Baxter) and I just had a chat, it’s the first time we meet up after that (January) game in Thomond Park which was 9-7. Had we lost that game we would not have got out of our group.
“The Chiefs are a team I respect so much. That draw in Sandy Park, 10-all, it is one of my favourite moments yet in the northern hemisphere because it is so difficult to play in that wind and we chose to take that wind head-on in the first 40.
Effectively, despite years of change under EPCR, European rugby is back where it was under ERC as clubs are again playing for the Heineken Cup https://t.co/Q1TVczJL21
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 15, 2019
“I remember that last kick off, Joey (Carbery) going literally 80 metres and we defended 21 phases, so I don’t think people appreciate how difficult it is to get out of your group.
“I just looked at the groups again – they say our pool is the group of death but I think every pool is a pool of death. Twenty fantastic teams, that is why it is the Champions Cup. If you win this one you are good.”
Munster open their latest campaign at Ospreys on Saturday and they have recalled Keith Earls and Conor Murray for their first provincial starts since World Cup duty with Ireland.
Andrew Conway, Niall Scannell, John Ryan, Jean Kleyn, skipper Peter O’Mahony and CJ Stander are other Munster players from that Japanese adventure starting in Swansea.
CHAMPIONS CUP QUARTER-FINALISTS IN THE EPCR ERA
5 – Saracens (2015, 16, 17, 18, 19)
4 – Leinster (15, 17, 18, 19); Racing (15, 16, 18, 19); Toulon (15, 16, 17, 18)
3 – Clermont (17, 17, 18); Wasps (15, 16, 17); Munster (17, 18, 19)
2 – Northampton (15, 16); Glasgow (17, 19); Toulouse (17, 19)
1 – Bath (15); Exeter (16); Leicester (16); Stade Francais (16); Scarlets (18); La Rochelle (18); Edinburgh (19); Ulster (19)
WATCH: Former Saracens player Jim Hamilton discusses the salary cap scandal surrounding his old club
Comments on RugbyPass
Beautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
30 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
30 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
30 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
30 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to comments