TRAVELLING to tackle two top French teams in eight days took its toll on Munster.
The atmosphere on the approaches to the outside and inside the stadium in Bordeaux on Saturday was spectacular and surely had a disturbing effect on the visitors, particularly in the opening first half.
There were moans from the 3,000 visiting fans, many of whom were also at the La Rochelle match, as four successive lineouts were botched before Munster had to switch to four-man throws around the half-four mark.
Imagine the frustration for the coaches.
What looked like the strongest team that the Reds could field this season crumbled at their most important fixture of 2025.
The mini-revival proved to be too little too late and Bordeaux fully deserved their victory.
Munster coach Ian Costelloe admitted that “the first 50 minutes were disappointing”.
“There were two key areas, the lineout and the amount of times that we turned over possession. Against a team like Bordeaux you get punished.”
There were certainly below par performances from key players and Tadhg Beirne accepted some of the blame. He stated: “Obviously I call the lineout but Bordeaux were class. We kind of ran out of ‘four-mans’ and then there were calls that went wrong.”
So, it’s another season of Champions Cup exits for Munster who have not lifted the trophy since 2008 and the focus now is on the URC and an opportunity of winning a second title.
They are now in fifth place and face the Bulls on Saturday at Thomond Park, kick-off 5.15.
This is a crucial game for the home side and they will certainly want to bounce back from the disappointment of last weekend.
Munster have been known to find top form around this time of the season and there is every possibility that The Reds can achieve a high place in the table, and thus a home game in the last eight.
