MUNSTER HEAD COACH Graham Rowntree said he was proud of his team’s efforts despite coming away from this evening’s United Rugby Championship derby meeting with Leinster on the wrong side of a 27-13 defeat.
The province made the trip to Dublin without the services of Tadhg Beirne, Peter O’Mahony, Craig Casey, Keith Earls, Andrew Conway and Simon Zebo, to name only some of their absentees, but a youthful Munster side brought a level of aggression and intent that has too often been missing from this fixture in recent years.
“I’m proud of the lads. I just told there, I’m proud of them,” Rowntree said.
There’s a sombre mood in there, some young men who wanted to do better. I thought they deserved better than the scoreline. But I’m proud of them. I asked them to fight, keep fighting, get off the floor, keep fighting. I asked them to be brave and they did that.
“I thought they deserved more from that game. They managed the yellow cards quite well. Tight game at half-time and then we had a raft of injuries, which didn’t help momentum.
“And then a couple of key opportunities where we gave them access to our 22 and they are exceptional there.”
The visitors trailed by just one point at half-time, but a Leinster team stacked with internationals eventually pulled clear in the second period.
“You can’t deny the experience that they’ve got on the field and how they play the game and how they kicked tactically,” Rowntree said of Leinster.
“There is no denying we had a lot of young men but they will be better for that experience. I can’t tell you again how proud I am of their effort.”
Now Munster head into another testing URC derby, with Ulster coming to Thomond Park next Saturday. With just two wins under their belt from the opening six rounds of fixtures, the pressure is on with the province needing to start putting points on the board.
Rowntree admitted today’s defeat leaves them in a tough position ahead of the final round of URC games before the international break.
“Yeah, it does and that’s undeniable but we drive on. We keep improving. I’m seeing elements of our game coming through, elements of how we are training coming through as I did last week.
“We keep driving that and look at what we can do better. It’s been challenging. The injury list has been mounting. Everyone gets injuries, I’m not blaming that, it’s a fact.
“There’s a lot of young men there having to step up and they’re learning. They’ll be better for it. We’ll have a very honest review again and we drive on.”
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Rowntree is right, they were brave and they put in a serious shift. The difference in quality between the two benches was inevitably the difference but that was entirely expected. Hopefully a favourable injury update on Monday will let them kick on and improve again for Ulster.
@Jim Demps: agree with could do with some luck
@Chris Tobin: Certainly need it on the injury front. One fellow commenting on this site last night said he was looking forward to Munster embarrassing themselves today. They certainly didn’t.
If the injuries keep going we’ll need medical jokers to fulfill fixtures.
@TL55: the break in november will soften things. Its been a very tough block but itll stand to them.
@Jim Demps: Yes it will but I was thinking of next week’s game. Could do with something positive out of that – minimum a bonus point.
@Jim Demps: They were fantastic, what a rattle they gave.
@Jim Demps: defense has been good all season, prob the best in the league, which is a solid foundation to build from, scoring points was lacking, but we all knew it was a big change under Pendergast but would click. Not fully clicked yet but getting there. Think with new coaching team and lot of inexperienced players there will be inconsistency this season, some big wins, but also think there will be a surprise loss or two still to come. Think Munster will up game for Europe, like they always do and surprise a few.
Even if Ulster beat us next week it looks much more promising for us than it has in a long long time and I’ve faith Rowntree and his team are the right people in there.
We should all be proud of the players after tonight. In the end I don’t think we deserved a losing bonus point. We stuck with them for 55/60 minutes which is a huge credit to the players up against this leinster side compared to where munster are at the moment. But when they emptied they’re bench and we ours it just shows the gap between us. Our back line play looked crisper even with what in my opinion would be our weakest centre partnership. Healy was a bit of a worry when he came on, just not sure about his potential yet.
@whoowhat?: Agree on Healy. Seems to have lost confidence. Crowley has a higher ceiling imo.
@whoowhat?: He was shook, first time back at Aviva since Euros.
As a Munster follower have to acknowledge this team is really struggling. Joey a pale imitation of his form some years ago and I lost count if the number of Knick-ins by Ben Healy after he came in. Don’t think he caught a single high ball.
@Stephen O’Byrnes: knick-ins?? Lol
@Stephen O’Byrnes: at least Joey has the brain to make plays and run an attack. All Healy does (and has ever done) is lamp the ball VERY high or VERY far. Neither of which a component ten would do.
@Stephen O’Byrnes: We will win nothing with Murray and Carbery at 9 and 10. Healy is an average player with a big boot, nothing else. To me it couldn’t be more obvious that Crowley is the best 10 in Munster, by a good distance.
It’s great to see Munster get so much positivity from another loss. Their third loss in six games. The grasping of straws really show a club who are struggling at all facets. That’s Munster completely gone out of the URC now, Leinster, Ulster and the SA teams are the only show in town.
@Almight Joe: Calm down Maureen it was a great game, after bemoaning selection heavily, was pleasantly surprised by how well some of the players stood up. Also its
Provinces, a minor point for rugby fans who still follow the AIL clubs. Still unbeaten at home kid
@Almight Joe: troll
@Almight Joe: 4th loss
Have to say the moral victory stance from Munster is depressing after all these years. Leinster were poor but the only reason this wasn’t a cricket score is because they dropped the ball at key moments. Nothing to do with pressure defence or any such waffle, they simply made boneheaded errors at key moments after cutting Munster open again and again. Munster took their try well (shocking but if defence) but other than that they showed absolutely nothing in attack. Thankfully they eventually decided to kick, otherwise we might still be in the stands watching them pass it back and forth along Leinster’s 22 as if the seas would magically part. Also disappointing to see Munster, self anointed best fans ever, already slating and looking to discard yet another young 10.
Happy out with the performance tonight, Crowley & Loughman were unreal. Time to say goodbye to Healy, a big boot does not equal a smart boot.
Worst performance of the season from Leinster, massive amount of simple mistakes kept Munster in the game for far too long. Crowley looks fantastic as did Frawley for Leinster but beyond him not a lot of other positives for Munster.
Centre of the field is where most improvement is needed.
Campbell at FB would allow a Carbury / Crowley 10/12.
Ringrose influence on the game was immence, defensive reads and taking the right option on the ball, not forcing things.
Munster could do with that calmness at 13.
Can we move on from Murray yet? Thanks for your service, great times etc. But enough is enough.