Johann van Graan defended his decision not to start Simon Zebo in yesterday’s Champions Cup semi-final against Racing 92.

The heartache continues. This is six semi-final defeats in European competition since Paul O’Connell lifted the Heineken Cup in Cardiff ten years ago, writes Donal Lenihan.

This may be the biggest game of his fledgling career as a head coach but five months into his tenure as Munster boss, Johann van Graan is finally in familiar territory.

The team news ahead of Sunday’s Champions Cup semi-final.

As with Edith Piaf, Donnacha Ryan has no regrets.

It will take just over an hour by air for the Racing 92 players to fly to Toulouse for Sunday’s important Top 14 game at the Stade Ernest Wallon, writes Ronan O’Gara.

As a Munster man, Peter O’Mahony knows all about adapting to new coaches, and the Ireland flanker believes a change in management will do France no harm at all in Paris this weekend.

As a Munster man, Peter O’Mahony knows all about adapting to new coaches, and the Ireland flanker believes a change in management will do France no harm at all in Paris this weekend.

And then there was eight, writes Donal Lenihan. 

Just 27 months after his playing career was cut short, Felix Jones is developing quite the reputation as an innovative attack coach. Speculation of offers abound but Jones is keen to deflect the limelight and focus on adding more strings to Munster’s bow.

Last Sunday’s journey down the yellow brick road to the U Arena may have produced some dazzling rugby as well as a Champions Cup defeat but there will be a lot to be said for a return to the great outdoors of Thomond Park when Munster welcome Castres tomorrow (1pm) and bid to reach the quarter-finals.

Locking down Keith Earls to a new contract that keeps him in Munster until after the 2019 World Cup was a piece of savvy business Lansdowne Road mightn’t have got due credit for, says Ronan O’Gara.

Conor Murray is already acknowledged as being a breed apart in terms of his scrum-half play but the Munster and Ireland number nine is fast becoming a rugby man of remarkable talents.

Peter O’Mahony has pledged to clean up his act on the disciplinary front and lead by example as Munster bid to reach the Champions Cup quarter-finals at Thomond Park on Sunday.

The rise and rise of Jordan Larmour could go to another level today with Robbie Henshaw and Girvan Dempsey backing the young back-three star to be included in Joe Schmidt’s Ireland squad for the 2018 NatWest 6 Nations.

The European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR) officials, including board chairman and former England international Simon Halliday, congregated in the tunnel outside the palatial dressing rooms at the U Arena and had every reason to be pleased with themselves.

CJ Stander insists there will be plenty of plus points for Munster to take into Sunday’s must-win Champions Cup pool finale with Castres, despite defeat to Racing 92 in Paris.

As Racing 92 flanker Yannick Nyanga was praising new pack-mate Donnacha Ryan on Sunday night he reflected on the inside knowledge the Irish lock had passed on to the squad abut Munster’s threats.

Racing 92 star Yannick Nyanga admitted his side might not have beaten Munster without the presence of Donnacha Ryan.

Racing 92 star Yannick Nyanga admitted his side might not have beaten Munster without the presence of Donnacha Ryan.

The positive spin on all things Irish rugby continued unabated this weekend with all three Irish provinces sitting pretty on top of their respective Champions Cup pools heading into the final week of action, despite the fact that Munster came up just short in a captivating game against Racing 92 in Paris.

Defeat at the death in the first Champions Cup game at the new indoor U Arena means Munster lead Pool 4 by a single point from Racing going into the final round of matches.

Racing 92 34 - Munster 30

Munster have faced some heat before at this stage of the European pool campaign but until now it has been of the metaphorical nature.

Christchurch feels very safe and secure. And the Ireland in me had forgotten how much you savour those things. The contrast from Paris is huge. There is no anger in this world. On the RER in Paris, every nationality in the world is around you.

Playing what you see. We hear the phrase time and time again from coaches eager to empower their players with in-game decision-making responsibility and players keen to emphasise they are not mere automatons whose every move is controlled by puppetmasters up in the stands.

Whether you are a coach or a player, Donnacha Ryan is a man you want on your team facing into the biggest challenges, and judging by the uproar when the Ireland lock was overlooked for an IRFU central contract last season, Munster supporters felt the same way.

Racing’s vast resources are best illustrated by the options available to their management in the second row alone compared to Johann van Graan, writes Donal Lenihan.

Munster boss Johann van Graan has challenged his forwards to reach for new heights this weekend in order to counter a Racing 92 lineout defence he rates as second only to the All Blacks.

CJ Stander believes Johann van Graan will have headaches finalising his back-row trio for next Sunday’s all-important European Champions Cup game against Racing 92.

By New Year’s Eve, we had disconnected the television at the house in Paris, so I had to slip next door to a pub-restaurant I knew prided itself on multi-screen sports. Montpellier-Brive was on one channel and off in the corner, with a few quiet seats underneath it was coverage of Racing 92’s trip down to Oyonnax.

Munster left Paris last night disappointed at the lost opportunity to secure a place in the last eight but knowing their Champions Cup destiny is still in their own hands.

Johann van Graan’s first week as a head coach is one he is unlikely to forget, says Donal Lenihan.

Joe Schmidt was under no illusions as he surveyed the fast-approaching 2018 Six Nations Championship.

Ireland 28 Argentina 19: Another Guinness Series in the books, a handful of new Ireland caps and three satisfying if not perfect victories for Joe Schmidt to ponder before he gets his players back to build for the 2018 Six Nations.

Racing 92 owner and president Jacky Lorenzetti tried four times to persuade Ronan O’Gara to pass on a move to Super Rugby champions, the Crusaders, without success, the Munster and Ireland legend revealed last night.

New Zealand’s Canterbury Crusaders are targeting Ronan O’Gara for a sensational move to Super Rugby next season.

New Zealand’s Canterbury Crusaders are targeting Ronan O’Gara for a sensational move to Super Rugby next season.

Is there any particular autumn international I’d buy a ticket for?

Given how precious and frail dressing-room confidence can be, you’ll take all the positive bounces you can get, even if they are not of your making.

It’s part of the gig. Meeting agents. There’s been quite a few in the past two weeks and I’m never sure whether I’m energised or anxious at the amount of money sloshing around in rugby.