This game is only halfway, says van Graan

Johann van Graan’s assertion that Munster only have half the job done against Leicester has been brought into sharp focus by the likely return to the Tigers midfield next Sunday of Manu Tuilagi and Matt Toomua.

Toomua’s former Wallabies team-mate, hooker Tatufa Polota-Nau, is set to join the English club this week as well, to boost head coach Matt O’Connor’s hopes of gaining Champions Cup pool revenge on the Irish province at Welford Road following Saturday’s 33-10 defeat at Thomond Park.

Opposite number van Graan knows that whatever the personnel Leicester field in round four, home advantage and thirst for payback will make the return leg a very tricky affair for Munster.

“I think if you put these two weeks in two halves, well done on the first half, you dominated territory, created a lot of opportunities, defended well right at the end, but this game is only halfway,” said the Munster boss.

“We now have a massive game away from home next Sunday.”

Van Graan said Leicester “played very well at stages tonight. We possibly took our opportunities a bit better than the opposition.

"I thought they brought it in terms of physicality, their kicking game was pretty good, they put us under pressure quite a few times and it was a massive battle at the breakdown.

"I have been saying it the last few weeks that every game has got a different character. We got ahead by a few points early on and that changed the match. It might turn out to be a totally different game next week.

"It was cold, it was played late evening, so now we’ll just have to wait and see what happens next week.”