Van Graan gets set for European baptism of fire
In fact, for all the decibels and bold-type headlines surrounding his squad this week for reasons other than this game, head coach Johann van Graan better hope his players have been travelling to and from training wearing ear defenders and blinkers in order to stay focused on the task at hand.
Talk of contract negotiations and the potential exits of lynchpins Peter O’Mahony and CJ Stander, in addition to the growing injury list, are hardly ideal circumstances in which to prepare for a European debut as a head coach, but if van Graan was under any illusion that being the main man in a professional rugby outfit was all wine and win bonuses then he has been rudely awoken from that idyll this week.
