A BELOW-par display by Munster resulted in a heavy 26-5 URC loss to Connacht in Galway at the weekend.
The visitors played 20 minutes with 14 players and were also minus some frontline regulars, but coach Clayton McMillan will have been disappointed with the overall showing by Munster, for whom this outcome would have secured a knock-out berth.
“Got beaten by a better team on the night. Always knew it was going to be tough coming here,” McMillan said.
Connacht’s Ben Murphy, Shayne Bolton, and Shamus Hurley-Langton scored first-half tries, with Craig Casey nabbing Munster’s only try of the game in the second half.
For Munster, Alex Kendellen made his 100th appearance.
Thaakir Abrahams came in to start the game after Shane Daly was ruled out with a knock.
Munster host the Lions in Thomond Park next weekend, and a win will secure a play-off position and champions Cup for 2027/’07.
Munster: Mike Haley; Thaakir Abrahams (O’Brien 54’), Alex Nankivell, Dan Kelly, Andrew Smith; JJ Hanrahan, Craig Casey, captain, (O’Donovan 73’); Jeremy Loughman (Wycherley 54’), Diarmuid Barron (Kendellen 37’), Michael Ala’alatoa (Bartley 70’); Edwin Edogbo (O’Donoghue 41’), Fineen Wycherley; Tom Ahern, John Hodnett (Barron 25’), Gavin Coombes (Gleeson 48’).
Replacements: Lee Barron, Josh Wycherley, Conor Bartley, Jack O’Donoghue, Brian Gleeson, Ben O’Donovan, Seán O’Brien, Alex Kendellen.