Johann van Grann aiming to get ‘balancing act’ pitch perfect

With derbies against both Leinster and Connacht in their first games back, Van Graan urged against going hell for leather in Munster’s preparations

Munster head coach Johann van Graan. Photo by Diarmuid Greene/Sportsfile

On your marks… Irish rugby players are preparing for a sprint rather than a marathon as the provinces ready themselves for the resumption of the Guinness PRO14 after what will have been a more than five-month suspension due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Covid-19 may have consigned professional athletes to back gardens instead of high-performance training centres but now they are back in their state-of-the-art surroundings it is full steam ahead to the return to action on August 22-23.