Johann van Graan takes glass half full approach after Ulster defeat

OUTNUMBERED: Ulster’s David McCann and David O’Connor get to grips with Munster prop Roman Salanoa during the PRO14 clash at Kingspan Stadium, Belfast. Picture: Ryan Byrne

Events, dear boy, events. Saturday night’s doings in Belfast and then Dublin, which saw Munster lose 15-10 to Ulster and Connacht upset Leinster in fine style, have suddenly brought a new complexion to this weekend’s round of Guinness PRO14 inter-provincials.

Munster’s 12-point lead over Connacht at the top of Conference B has been reduced to eight as Johann van Graan’s team prepare to travel to Galway on Saturday to meet the rejuvenated westerners while Ulster’s position as the only remaining unbeaten team in the league means they head to the RDS the night before not only with confidence sky-high but their destiny in Conference A still in their own hands having kept the now-beaten champions at a greater distance, 10 points adrift but with two games in hand, than most people expected last Saturday lunchtime.