Rowntree gives his assessment of Munster’s Croke Park defeat

Munster were unlucky after a hard-fought battle against Leinster in Croke Park. Photo: Sam Barnes.

MUNSTER coach Graham Rowntree was forthright in the wake of Saturdayโ€™s heavy 26-12 URC loss to arch-rivals Leinster at a packed Croke Park.

The home side were quick into their stride and the visitors simply never caught up.

โ€œIt certainly wasnโ€™t our best 20 minutes that Iโ€™ve seen against Leinster (who led 21-0 after the first quarter). It was chaos,โ€ admitted Rowntree.

โ€œA double HIA (head injury assessment), we didnโ€™t have a hooker on the pitch at one point, trying to get 15 players on the field. Jeremy Loughman got a blood injury as well.

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โ€œThey sensed we were a bit disjointed and got the ball to the edge of the field and took their opportunities.

โ€œAs a headline to the game, from us, it wasnโ€™t a lack of effort. We just have to get better at taking opportunities. They had minimal opportunities, but took them all. They’re a dangerous team like that,โ€ the Munster coach confessed.

Rowntree concluded: โ€œIโ€™m not going to sugarcoat anything. I never have done, but Iโ€™m not one for panic either. Our effort was huge tonight, we’ve got to be more accurate.โ€

Munster now travel to South Africa for a two-match tour where they face the Stormers and Sharks.

Munster: Mike Haley; Calvin Nash, Tom Farrell, Alex Nankivell, Seรกn Oโ€™Brien (McCarthy 65โ€™); Jack Crowley, Craig Casey; Jeremy Loughman (Ryan 11โ€™ blood-sub 23โ€™, 52โ€™), Niall Scannell (Barron 7โ€™HIA Scannell 16โ€™), Stephen Archer; Jean Kleyn (Ahern 49โ€™), Tadhg Beirne, captain; Jack Oโ€™Donoghue, John Hodnett, Gavin Coombes (Quinn 55โ€™).

Replacements: Diarmuid Barron, Kieran Ryan, John Ryan, Tom Ahern, Ruadhรกn Quinn, Conor Murray, Tony Butler, Shay McCarthy.

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