Johann van Graan: 'I don't believe it matters who you face, you've just got to beat them'

The Munster Head Coach was speaking at the Irish Examiner Rugby World Cup Tournament Preview last Monday.

Munster Head Coach Johann van Graan has played down the significance of Ireland's potential Rugby World Cup quarter-final opponents, saying of South Africa and New Zealand, "you've probably got to beat both to win the World Cup." The crunch tie between the two southern hemisphere teams tomorrow morning (kick-off is 10:45am Irish time) will go a long way in determining Ireland's potential quarter-final opponents.

Van Graan was asked, if he were in Joe Schmidt’s shoes, whether he would have a preference in facing either South Africa or New Zealand at the quarter-final stage, the Munster Head Coach joked, “No, that’s why they are Joe Schmidt’s shoes,” before adding that he thinks Ireland "believe they can win the World Cup."