SUNDAY’S Champions Cup loss by Munster at Exeter Chiefs was hugely frustrating, according to coach Graham Rowntree.
The visitors appeared in control but leaked two tries in the closing-half.
“Frustration is the word,” lamented Rowntree to RTÉ Sport. “To do so many good things, to come here and get a bonus point and then to lose control in the last quarter. What can I say? I’m gutted.”
“We couldn’t wrestle control back from them in key moments. Look at how many times we got 30 metres from their goal-line in the second half, it wasn’t enough. They kicked a lot more in the second half. Big moments got away from us, particularly their third try, which is just freakish.”
Munster host deadly rivals Leinster at tea-time on St. Stephen’s Day at a sold-out Thomond Park. “That’ always another huge challenge, only around the corner.
“We have an opportunity to get back on the horse against our old rivals. We have to see what injuries we’ve got and what availability we have. The lads will be frustrated and determined from that performance (v Exeter), in equal measure.”
