Johann van Graan, former Munster head coach and now leading Bath, has expressed admiration for Leinster’s dominance in world rugby, particularly highlighting their exceptional player development system. Speaking after Bath’s 47-21 defeat to Leinster, van Graan praised the Dublin-based club’s remarkable pipeline, which he believes is the best in world rugby.
Van Graan, who has a deep understanding of Leinster’s strength after suffering numerous defeats to them, acknowledged the team’s sustained excellence. He remarked, “Leinster are a very good side, you can see why they’ve got 23 of the 36 guys in the Irish national team.” He also pointed to the addition of key players like Slimani, Jordie Barrett, and RG Snyman, calling them a “phenomenal team” and emphasized their dominance in the United Rugby Championship (URC) and consistent presence in the last three European finals.
Leinster’s player development strategy is especially notable to van Graan, who lauded their schools system and academy alignment. “In my view, Leinster is – in terms of their pipeline – the best in world rugby,” he said, praising how well the club integrates young talent with international stars.
Despite Leinster’s ongoing success, van Graan highlighted Bath’s resilience, noting that they were competitive in the match against Leinster, particularly until the red card for prop Beno Obano. He remarked, “We went toe-to-toe with Leinster for 60 minutes,” and stressed that Bath, under his leadership, continues to grow and learn from such challenges.
Another significant aspect of the match was van Graan’s praise for RG Snyman, a player he had signed at Munster, who later joined Leinster after a long injury layoff. Snyman’s return to form was evident as he scored two tries and showcased his offloading ability, a facet that van Graan admires greatly. “He’s got incredible hands and a natural feeling for the game,” van Graan said of Snyman, who had been sidelined by ACL injuries during his time at Munster.
The former Munster coach expressed his high regard for Snyman, adding, “He makes something happen out of nothing,” and noted that his performances at Leinster are finally giving global rugby fans a chance to see his true talent. He also acknowledged the strategic acquisition of Snyman by Leinster, stating, “Fair play to Leinster for getting him, and he’ll make a big difference for the rest of the season.”
Van Graan’s insights offer a profound look into the development of rugby talent in Leinster and their strategic acquisitions, reinforcing the club’s reputation as a powerhouse in the sport.
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