Johann Van Graan: Let’s embrace the expectation

Johann van Graan has been involved in some pretty significant semi-finals in his coaching career and as he began preparations for Munster’s mission to succeed in Bordeaux this Sunday he urged his players to “embrace the expectation”.

The South African’s career as an assistant coach in his homeland saw him experience the highs and lows of last-four showdowns, winning a Super Rugby semi-final with his hometown Bulls en route to a title success but also suffer the devastation of a defeat with Springboks against the All Blacks one game out from the 2011 World Cup final.

Now he stands 80 minutes from a Champions Cup decider in Bilbao on May 12, just six months after succeeding compatriot Rassie Erasmus as the Munster boss.