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Rugby

Wood: Munster need to appoint new head coach until end of season

Wood was not happy with the performance against Connacht.



Wood: Munster need to appoint...
Rugby

Wood: Munster need to appoint new head coach until end of season

Munster legend Keith Wood said the province should appoint a new head coach until the end of the season after their 'turgid' performance against Connacht at the weekend. 

Connacht ran out 10-8 winners in the inter-pro match in the United Rugby Championship.

It was the manner of the defeat however that frustrated the former Ireland captain, who described the performance as 'turgid nonsense' and said he would change the head coach until the end of the season if they intended on playing the style of rugby on display.

Speaking on Wednesday Night Rugby on Off The BallWood said that he worries the brand of rugby Johann Van Graan plays could have a negative impact on otherwise exciting young talent.

"There's no point in talking about Munster's attack, that doesn't exist at the present moment in time," Wood said.

"I think we're beginning to ruin some of the players. I'm finding it incredibly hard to watch."

"I know Fiona mentioned the disruption in the coaches, well I'd rather the coaches went if that was the case, than stay and play that level of turgid nonsense."

Johann Van Graan will leave the province at the end of the season, as will senior coach Stephen Larkham, while forwards coach Graham Rowntree signed a new deal yesterday, committing to another two-years at Limerick.

So with the chopping and changing already causing some disruption, Wood admits that more change might not be ideal, but he says it may be necessary.

"We're at a point where we need enough people who are interested in the province to put their shoulders to the wheel."

"I would say to someone like Larkham - who is going at the end of the year - I'd say 'Steve, there's an expectation that you can make players play if you are just given the temporary head coach role until the end of the season, can you make that happen? Can you see if you can change Munster?'

"I like Van Graan, I get on well with him. His comment after the game was that this was a derby and this was going to be tough. Well that's a lovely comment, if you show some effort."

"There was no effort shown. No thinking went into that game."

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