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'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.
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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.
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“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.
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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
I hope Leinster’s proud of themselves fielding a poor team. They should decide if they’re all in or not.
1 Go to commentsJordie is looking at 16 games maximum if Leinster reach both the URC and champions cup finals. Thats not guaranteed. Some of those home URC fixtures will be cakewalks as well for Leinster and there is not much doing during the 6 nations in Feb and March so he can probably get a decent rest then. He will have to really put in it for maybe 7 or 8 games max. It should be a good move for both.
13 Go to commentsThe game was a quarter final, not a semi final. Barrett will be here for 6 months, he is no one's replacement at 13. That mantle will most likely ultimately go to Jamie Osborne, though Garry Ringrose has at least 4 more years in him. The long term problem position (in the next 3 years) for Leinster is tighthead prop, though there are a couple of prospects at schools level.
25 Go to commentsSo much for all that hype surrounding the ‘revival’ of Aussie rugby. The Blues were without the likes of regular starters Perofeta, Sullivan, Christie etc… This was a capitulation of the highest order by Australia’s finest. Joe Schmidt definitely has his work cut out for him.
2 Go to commentsYes they can ignore Sotutu. Like Akira Ioane plays OK at Super level but gets lost in tests. Too many chances too many failures.
2 Go to commentsA wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
13 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
13 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
6 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
25 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
6 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
10 Go to comments