Van Graan braced for battle-hardened hosts

Munster head coach Johann van Graan knows all there is to know about South Africa’s major domestic competition, the Currie Cup. Given that the Cheetahs — one of his side’s two Guinness PRO14 opponents over the next fortnight — were recently crowned champions of the 130-year-old tournament, he is aware of the challenge awaiting his team.

They meet the Southern Kings in Port Elizabeth on Saturday and six days later face the Cheetahs at altitude in Bloemfontein. You suspect from listening to van Graan that Munster would happily return with a share of the spoils, with the Cheetahs particularly dangerous opponents. A 48-14 thrashing of an admittedly very understrength Glasgow Warriors last Friday, to follow their domestic triumph, is ample demonstration of that. The return home of the great Springbok and former Ulster scrum-half Ruan Pienaar has been hugely influential in their success.