'That's what you're working for, for weeks like this' - Van Graan ready for special derby at Thomond Park

If Johann van Graan is to get his hands on some silverware before his time at Munster ends, in all likelihood that road he needs to take goes through Leinster.

The four-in-a-row URC champions have generally had the better of Munster since Van Graan's arrival in 2017, and while the South African's team did come out on top in their last meeting back in April 2021, it was just his second win against the near rivals in 11 attempts.

The Bath-bound coach is heading into his final months in Ireland, but he still has multiple cracks left at Leo Cullen's side.

The first is tomorrow afternoon at Thomond Park, a game that's been rescheduled twice; first due to Leinster's Covid-19 outbreak before Christmas, the second due to Ed Sheeran, a man who's single-handedly wreaking havoc on the Munster sporting calendar.

They'll meet again in the final round of URC regular season in May, while history dictates there's a good chance their paths will cross in the play-offs.

As well as that, there would also be a potential Heineken Champions Cup semi-final between the sides, should they advance through the next two rounds.

While Munster came out on top in their Rainbow Cup fixture last April, the result was ultimately just a consolation prize for what had been a painful loss at the RDS a few weeks earlier in the Pro14 final (below).

Having looked the sharper of the two teams in the weeks preceding, many believed the time had come for Munster to end their 10-year wait for silverware.

However, Van Graan's side barely landed a jab on the hosts that day, Leinster winning the decider 16-6 while playing nowhere near their best.

"Every loss hurts," Van Graan said this week when reminded of the defeat in last year's final.

"Small margins, and we came up short