Van Graan: Returning players may suffer from 'mental block'

Munster coach Johann van Graan fears that the twelve players returning from the bitter disappointment of the squad’s World Cup flop may well suffer from “mental block” that will not be easily overcome as they head into a desperately demanding of thirteen successive matches in as many weeks.

“I was a member of the South African back room that lost by two points in the semi-finals of the World Cup four years ago and I know how much that hurt all concerned”, he said in Limerick today. “I don’t want to comment on how the players will be hurting after the disappointment of the loss to New Zealand but it can’t be easy for them. You just have to put these disappointments behind you. A week is a pretty long time in rugby.