Ulster v Munster Talking Points: Munster face a long road back

Munster fans will hope Graham Rowntree can lead that revival but it could be a long road back

United Rugby Championship Quarter-Final, Kingspan Stadium, Belfast 3/6/2022. Ulster vs Munster. Munster’s’s Keith Earls scores a try despite John Cooney of Ulster. ©INPHO/James Crombie

Hot and cold 

It began in Parma on a cold Sunday afternoon in November 2017 and it ended in June sunshine in Belfast. Johann van Graan just had an overseeing role in Parma that day four and a half years ago as Jerry Flannery and Felix Jones were temporarily in charge after the departure of Rassie Erasmus. Flannery subsequently departed to help guide Harlequins to the Premiership title, Jones followed Erasmus and won the World Cup. The following week van Graan took charge for the first of 122 games in charge of Munster and he now departs the fourth head coach in a row not to win silverware.