Former Ireland scrumhalf Peter Stringer has torn into Johann van Graan, saying the South African is no longer sufficiently emotionally invested in Munster. 

Van Graan is bound for Bath at the end of the season, but with the poor quality of rugby Munster are playing at the moment, many are calling for him to go sooner.

Before their match against Ulster this past weekend, Van Graan was asked about his decision to leave for Bath, but he gave an abrupt response.

“I’ve spoken to that before, I’m not going to answer that tonight. It’s all about Ulster,” he said.

Speaking to the United Rugby Championship’s live programme before the match, Stringer said it’s clear that Van Graan is not really committed to Munster’s cause for the rest of season because “he doesn’t really want to be here anymore”.

“We very seldom have got that kind of emotional response from Johann, when Munster play well or Munster play poorly,” said Stringer.

“Be honest, show your colours and put it out there, give us something to show that you feel you are part of this place and what the supporters are craving.

“You talk about the 80% [wins last season] stat, he’s thrown it around a lot.

“For me, rugby is more than just a stat, it plays on supporters’ emotions, players’ emotions and as a fan, for me, over the years.

“That stat stands for many other clubs around the world but for here, [there are] two reasons why it doesn’t: because of the history that has gone on here, previous successes.

“And also because of Leinster’ success up the road, because of your fiercest rivals winning silverware, Munster winning three of the last 16 games against Leinster.

“All of those emotional things, on and off the field.

“You need to be bitter about it. I’m just not getting any emotion from Johann, feeling that he wants to be here and I think he doesn’t really want to be here, he changed his mind about his contract.

“For me, it’s about letting someone put up their hand and say: ‘I want to take control of this place, I want to show my emotion and what it means to me as a person to run this organisation’ and I’m just not getting that from him.”

Former Leinster and Ireland No 8 Jamie Heaslip also slammed Van Graan after the interview.

“The Munster fans deserve a little bit more of an answer than that, if I’m honest,” he said.

“I don’t think they are getting enough from it, they deserve more. I’d be a bit disappointed with that response.

“In terms of him snapping back at Murray, saying we only lost last week, we won the week before if you check.

“He’s missing the big picture here, which is actually the style of rugby that he is forcing them to try to play, it seems, does not fit the squad of players that his has.

“He’s missing the point completely. That’s as good as him throwing the 80% stat at us last season.

“As an organisation, are they happy with an 80% season? Or do they want a trophy?

“If you ask the players, who have been here for the last 10 seasons, like Peter O’Mahony, they haven’t had any trophies. I think they deserve more.”