Oct 17,2024
Munster have a full list of excuses available but Mike Prendergast insists they are looking inward following Saturday's loss to Leinster.
A long list of injuries before kick-off, some questionable refereeing decisions and chaos on the sideline, which led to an admission from the URC that play should have been held up prior to Leinster’s third try when Munster were reduced to 14 players following three front-row injuries.
It was the last thing Graham Rowntree’ side needed against a pumped-up home side, who were still good value for their 26-12 victory.
However, had Munster taken the opportunities they created, they could have taken Leinster down the stretch.
"When you peel it back and dissect the game, [we] scored two tries and a potential disallowed try that wasn’t looked at, and then two 2v1s, four or five metres from the line that you have to take, against the best teams, and Leinster being the best team.
"We would have spoken about it, when you do break them, which I felt we did on a couple of occasions, especially in the second half, we got in behind them, they are a very good team for creating another ruck.
"That’s where they come in and come up with a big play to stop you.
"Because our breaks were a good bit out, distance-wise, we actually had opportunities without them creating a ruck to finish off twice, 2v1s and we didn’t and it was that killer instinct.
"On the other side, the first 20 minutes, they did that, albeit, as we know, one of the scores [against] 14 men but they had that, they took their opportunities when they appeared, and we didn’t.
"It’s something we’ve spoke about, it caught us against Glasgow in the semi-final last year, you are talking three or four metres, you’ve an awful lot to do to get in behind good defences like that and it’s about the ability of pulling the trigger and being calm.
"I presented this morning to the players and we were honest and frank about it, of all the stuff they done well.
"I know from the outside when you look at the performance and the scoreline for the majority of the game it looks different than what it was.
"When you strip it back and look at those occasions, you’ve got to be taking them at high-level rugby.
"Unfortunately, we came up short against Glasgow in a semi-final and against a team like Leinster, you just got to be taking them."
On Rowntree’s call with referees' boss Tappe Henning, Prendergast said: "It was fed back to us that the officials came back and put their hands up in terms of where they came up short.
"We don’t have the time to look back and think ‘what if’ in terms of officials."
Munster arrived to Cape Town yesterday to prepare for a round-five clash against the Stormers, who have lost two of their opening three games.
The 2023 champions look set to welcome back Billy Burns (shoulder), Shane Daly (elbow) and Rory Scannell (ankle) for the game, while Alex Nankivell (shoulder), Tom Ahern (ankle) and Ruadhán Quinn (head) all returned to action at the weekend and came through the game with no issues.
The hosts will be without Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Steven Kitshoff, Manie Libbok and Frans Malherbe for the match.
