Johnny Holland wants to be part of European adventure

Munster rising star Johnny Holland may be new to the rough and tumble of top-flight professional rugby but he is wise enough about the way things are done in his native province to understand qualifying for next season’s Champions Cup is not “non-negotiable”.

The 24-year-old steered his team to a vital bonus-point victory over Edinburgh on Friday night at Musgrave Park, his conversion of Francis Saili’s 77th-minute try denying the Scottish side a losing bonus point that would have made Saturday’s 22nd and last round of Guinness Pro12 games an even nervier affair than it already is.

Munster instead head into their final-day showdown with Scarlets at Thomond Park knowing they control their own destiny once more. Victory over the West Wales region, a place above them in the table and chasing a top-four play-off berth, will secure sixth place and guarantee their name goes into the hat for Europe’s top-tier club competition for a 21st consecutive season.