Springbok legend and former Munster fan favourite Jean de Villers talks van Graan, Munster and revamped Pro14. 

Jean de Villiers only spent one season with Munster but in that short time scored eight tries in 23 appearances. But for a change in the South African Rugby Football Union’s policy on players plying their trade oversees not being eligible for selection to the 2011 World Cup, de Villiers may well have taken up the option of a two year extension on his stay.

But it wasn’t to be as de Villiers returned first to Western Province (Currie Cup) and then the Stormers (Super Rugby) who were then coached by none other that Rassie Erasmus meaning that the former Munster player has worked alongside both the outgoing and incoming Munster coaches.

It was confirmed this week that van Graan is in Limerick securing accommodation and putting the wheels of whatever handover period is required firmly in motion. De Villiers also played alongside van Graan at U21 level provincially but says it was during his time with the Springboks that he really got an appreciation for van Graan’s hands on approach.

“We spent time together with the springboks from 2012 until 2015 where he was one of Heineke Meyer’s assistants whilst at the Springboks but he also took on quite a significant role in terms of the on field coaching where the head coach or the director as it’s called these day tend to look at the macro plans and the assistants basically take over the on field coaching and he was big in terms of that.”

Eyebrows were raised in some quarters at the appointment of a relatively young coach with no experience of holding the top job at a club or province. De Villiers believes that van Graan is a coach very much in the Erasmus mould and will be going to Munster not start from square one but to build on the foundations already laid down from last season.

“The challenges I think he’ll face will be, this is going to be his first job as a head coach where the last decision lies with him and how he will be able to incorporate his assistants in a way that he was hoping to get incorporated as an assistant coach. That, I think in a way will be a challenge but definitely one he’ll be excited about and I also think he’s someone that understands the culture and history of Munster.”

“Having been there myself that is something that is very important. You don’t just go there an try and change everything, you need to understand what the club is about and he certainly does. I think he knows that and understands the value in that.”

The incoming coach has been described on multiple occasions as a student of the game. When delving a little deeper in to what exactly this means, you get the sense that this is a coach who is acutely aware of the importance of empowering his players to make the right decisions as well as working closely with all of his assistants. Van Graan is also no stranger to working with winning sides and more importantly sides that win silverware with the Bulls (Currie Cup) and the Blue Bulls (Super Rugby).

With a final and semi final defeat to show for last year, Munster know that their attacking game is very much a work in progress. Several back line acquisitions over the summer as well as a solid and ever improving pack mean the raw materials are certainly there and Munster look to be headed in the right direction. De Villiers believes van Graan will put a plan in place that will maximise the talent Munster have on their roster.

“I think it is very much based around a macro structure, creating a structure where all individuals on the field feel comfortable in. The sort of thing you go back to when you’re under the pump.

“Definitely a structured attack but also being able to make decisions within that structure and I think that’s very important so that when get off the ground you sort of know there is a certain area where you need to position yourself in.

“If you are in the right positions then it’s down to yourself to make the right decisions and hopefully create try scoring opportunities so structure is important in the way that he coaches, but the individual freedom will hopefully benefit from the macro structure that they have in place.”

Speaking to de Villiers there is no doubt that he enjoyed his time in Munster. So did van Graan pick up the phone to his friend as ask about Munster, Limerick and the surrounding area while considering the job?

“Once I started seeing it in the media I did speak to to him a couple of times. We never actually got the opportunity to sit down and actually discuss what was on the table. He’s very professional in that regard, he wanted to keep his focus with the Springboks while he was still there and not really get too side tracked with anything else going on.

“Once it was made official, we’ve chatted already I’ve sort of told him I would suggest where he could look at properties or where to live. From my point of view I absolutely loved the year that I spent there, to be involved with that club, it’s a great honour. It’s a challenge he is looking forward to understands the pressure from day one”

Of course the arrival of van Graan means the departure of Rassie Erasmus. Like de Villiers, Erasmus’ stay at Munster was brief but he has certainly left a mark. The 109 times capped Springbok with 27 tries to his name says that despite some confusion around Erasmus’ exact role that South African will only gain from Rassie’s return.  

“We’re getting a real good rugby brain back. The IP (Intellecutal Property) that we’re losing from south Africa in terms of the guys that have been in the game and been successful and that share good ideas around the game, we’re losing too many of them.”

“Any that can come back and add value to the system is only beneficial to the eventual springboks. I’m not 100% sure as to how his role will work and who will report to who but having worked with Rassie for a number years, the value that he brings and that he adds no one can take that away and take that away and deny the value he’ll add to the South African rugby environment.”

You can listen to the interview in full on the link below with de Villiers explaining how he knows Johaan van Graan.