Out of the braai into the fire. Johann van Graan's first media briefing in Munster could never be as agonising as what the rookie head coach witnessed in the recent past.
Heyneke Meyer openly wept on South African television, live from a Birmingham hotel, in those tense days after the Springboks' defeat to Japan at the 2015 World Cup.
Allister Coetzee, Meyer’s successor, blew a gasket last summer following the 59-0 defeat to the All Blacks when it was mentioned that his forwards coach (van Graan) was Limerick-bound.
“It was 57-0,” he corrected.
In fairness Van Graan didn’t duck a single question yesterday. Well, he understandably swatted away one about the monumental task facing Rassie Erasmus back in South Africa.
“For every new beginning in life you have got to fly on your own,” he said.
Almost sounds like scripture. Lots of impressive sentences were delivered at the University of Limerick.
“Niall O’Donovan is a diamond of a person ,” he has already decided.
Earlier in the morning Van Graan addressed the entire panel of players and coaches.
“We will speed up one or two things but it will be about enhancing not changing over the next seven months.”
There simply isn’t time.
But Van Graan is on the clock to replace Jacques Nienaber (Joe Schmidt loaned Munster Andy Farrell this week) and he has inherited a growing injury crisis, particularly in midfield now that Chris Farrell joins Jaco Taute, Dan Goggin, Keith Earls and Tyler Bleyendaal on the treatment table
Erasmus encountered similar problems last season but he was allowed bend the rules and cherry-pick genuine quality, like Taute, from South Africa.
Alas, everything nowadays must be signed off by David Nucifora. When Andy Farrell heads away somebody still needs to fill the gaping hole left behind by Nienaber. Otherwise Munster could find themselves in the very same situation that forced them to go recruiting Erasmus in the first place.
The average age of this coaching ticket is 35.
Big say
“Felix [Jones] has done brilliantly over the past two weeks but we are exploring some names and hopefully sooner than later we’ll have – not an announcement – but someone coming in.”
Who makes that decision?
“That’s definitely my decision, in accordance with the powers-that-be at Munster and the IRFU, but obviously I’d like to have a big say in that.”
In the meantime expect more “consultants” like Andy Farrell.
“There are some pretty amazing people here in Limerick that I’d also like to get involved at some stage.”
The shadow of Paul O’Connell – not to mention Ronan O’Gara – may never pass until one or both are given formal full-time coaching roles in the organisation.
“I briefly spoke to him [O’Connell] at the Racing game and we’ll meet up at some stage in the next few weeks . . . A guy like Doug Howlett, I spoke to him at the Springbok Test and there’s previous coaches involved in Munster that I’d like to spend some time with.
“I believe you’ve got two ears and one mouth in life and for the first two months I’d like to listen as much as I can and kind of take it from there.”
The problem Van Graan faces is that results across December and January could leave Munster’s season in ruin.
A new problem will surface every day. He may not have seen the Peter O’Mahony contract situation creeping up the rails but it certainly gives him a taste for life on the throne, whatever the formal title he holds.
“I thought that question might come. I’m not a man for titles. I don’t know why the wording is head coach or director of rugby so, definitely, I’ll be involved with contracting. Obviously I need to get up to speed as quickly as possible. In all the communications ever since I was appointed, obviously I wasn’t here up to last Monday, but definitely that will fall onto my table together with David Nucifora at the IRFU.”
There is no questioning Van Graan’s ability as an analytical coach.
“Will I make mistakes? Yes. But ultimately what happens is my responsibility.”
The full weight of that responsibility is already weighing on his young shoulders.
“You know if it doesn’t go well people will say ‘well that’s his first head coach job.’ I say you’ve got to start somewhere. For every new beginning in life you have got to fly on your own.”
