Champions Cup: Munster’s Johann van Graan is looking to rely on the ‘16th man’

Munster coach Johann van Graan believes “nothing is impossible” as he looks ahead to his side’s Champions Cup quarter-final clash with Toulouse in Dublin.

The cup tie will be played at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin as Thomond Park was booked for an Ed Sheeran concert. The club has made tickets, and travel plans affordable for their fans to make the trip from Limerick.

Van Graan completely understands how vital fans can be in the sport and looks forward to a big occasion this weekend.

“It’s one of those things that you can’t explain if you’re not there,” van Graan told the 42.

“That feeling of everywhere you go, everyone is just talking about what a great journey it will be on Saturday travelling to Dublin by bus or train, going on the day before or the morning, people travelling from all over Europe, Munster people coming to watch this game.

“It’s what this club are known for, that saying we have, “To the brave and faithful, nothing is impossible.’

“To a lot of people from the outside, this might seem like it is impossible, but it is a game of rugby. It’s Munster in Europe versus Toulouse, a team that we respect a lot. How many occasions have the 16th man pulled us through?

“And that doesn’t win it for the team on the field. We have to play well, we have to perform well. But subconsciously, knowing that we have that support and noise, that sea of red for 80 minutes, that’s why you want to play at home in knock-out rugby and that’s what we have on Saturday.”

Toulouse are the defending champions and have shown the ability to create tries in the blink of an eye to change games, much like they did with Antoine Dupont’s late winner against Ulster in the round of 16.

Van Graan believes finding structure in the chaos will be