Wood calls on Munster to sack Van Graan immediately

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Munster great Keith Wood has called on the club to let coach Johann van Graan go with immediate effect.

Van Graan is set to leave Munster at the end of the current season when his contract expires, after the South African opted against signing an extension to stay on as head coach.

But in the wake of the team’s “turgid” 10-8 defeat by Irish rivals Connacht, Munster icon Wood has called on the club to get rid of Van Graan now and appoint an interim coach until the end of the season.

Speaking on ‘Wednesday Night Rugby’ on Off The Ball, Wood said that he worries the brand of rugby Johann van Graan coaches could have a negative impact on otherwise exciting young talent.

“There’s no point in talking about Munster’s attack, that doesn’t exist at the present moment in time,” Wood said.

“I think we’re beginning to ruin some of the players. I’m finding it incredibly hard to watch.

“I know Fiona mentioned the disruption in the coaches, well, I’d rather the coaches went if that was the case, than stay and play that level of turgid nonsense.

“We’re at a point where we need enough people who are interested in the province to put their shoulders to the wheel.

“I would say to someone like Stephen Larkham – who is going at the end of the year – I’d say, ‘Steve, there’s an expectation that you can make players play if you are just given the temporary head coach role until the end of the season, can you make that happen? Can you see if you can change Munster?’

“I like Van Graan, I get on well with him. His comment after the game was that this was a derby and this was going to be tough. Well, that’s a lovely comment, if you show some effort.

“There was no effort shown. No thinking went into that game.”

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