Munster coach Johann van Graan says it’s good to be back in his hometown of Pretoria ahead of the Vodacom United Rugby Championship clash with the Vodacom Bulls.
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This week marks the first time a URC match will be contested on South African soil, an opportunity for local teams to dispel some of the criticism that came their way after a tough European tour in the opening weeks of the competition.
Munster will be up against a Bulls side languishing in 15th position on the table and desperate to lay down a marker to improve upon their record of one win from four matches.
Van Graan is no stranger to Pretoria, having grown up in the city and started his rugby there. Speaking to the Irish Times, he listed some of his fondest memories.
“Loftus has been my home as a small boy, starting out as a ball boy there. Some phenomenal moments and Test matches that I had the privilege to be a ball boy at.
“In 1994, standing next to Andre Joubert and meeting Nelson Mandela, the Rugby World Cup in ’95 when Emile Ntamack scored against the Scots, when Philippe Sella passed me and looking in his eyes, having Jonah Lomu run at Loftus when the All Blacks had their white jerseys, the ’98 Currie Cup win for the Blue Bulls, and starting to work at the Bulls officially on the 1st of November 2003.”
While van Graan admits there is a strong sense of nostalgia, he is adamant that he won’t let himself or his Munster charges get carried away as they know they have a mountain to climb this week.
“It got very real when we drove into Pretoria and drove past the old school [Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool/Affies] and past the university and Loftus Versfeld and into our hotel. Really looking forward to it, massive challenge ahead, but great to be in Pretoria.
“I’m from Munster now and great emotions to be part of it, from a team perspective, it’s not about me. It’s about Munster, the start of a new block, but personally great to come back to your home town and have some of the memories that I had the privilege of feeling. That’s the beauty of rugby, it’s the memories that you have out of it.”
