No cheer for Rowntree as Munster dish out early presents

No cheer for Rowntree as Munster dish out early presents

Graham Rowntree will find it difficult to accept Munster’s failure to hold onto a 24–13 lead in the second half at Sandy Park yesterday,

especially with the major games coming up quickly.

With just three points from their two Champions Cup group matches,

the URC champions will have a difficult task ahead of them to finish in the top two spots of

the six-team standings and earn a home draw for the knockout Round of 16.

After losing by a sucker punch to the Chiefs and drawing at home to tournament newcomers Bayonne,

they have a difficult assignment simply to finish in the top four.

However, there are two interprovincial derbies with Leinster scheduled in Limerick on

St. Stephen’s night when the URC campaign rekindles to negotiate before their

European chances are decided in their two remaining fixtures in mid-January.

Unpacking this incredible match at Sandy Park could take that long.

After half an hour, Munster’s brilliant rugby allowed them to score four tries for a bonus point.

However, a three-minute period around the hour mark saw them give up two tries,

the second of which was the consequence of some horrendous backfield defending.

In addition, Mathieu Raynal’s officiating caused confusion for the Reds,

as they were wrongly awarded two penalties that gave Henry Slade of Exeter six more points.

The England centre also dealt a devastating blow with an intercept try late in the game,

which prevented Munster from earning a losing bonus point.

After the game, the head coach of Munster stated that he wanted to

gather his thoughts before commenting on those,

but in actuality, his team’s inability to maintain composure and

their lead on the scoreboard was what ultimately decided their fate against the English Premiership team.

When everyone has cooled down, we will examine it, Rowntree stated.

“We’ll examine those situations where we need to maintain composure, when passing the ball is not necessary, and when we must hold onto the ball.

“We’ll examine it. How do I put it? I’m incredibly irritated.

I haven’t got any more for you right now,

but I’ve done some nice things to let that get away from us the way it did and earned a bonus point.

I’ll have to go look it over and review it with the boys.

Rowntree disagreed, saying his teammates’ inability to finish the game was due to a lack of mental toughness.

“No, we often perform well in the final quarter of the game as a trait.

We had won a final in the last quarter and a semi-final the year before.

“In the games we have lost this year, we have performed well in the final quarter.

We will only examine the tactical and technical areas where we can improve.

“Giving you something more spectacular or outstanding rugby-wise than what

I just stated to you is difficult for me right now.

“I’m just incredibly frustrated, but I’ve learned to go home, examine it in the clear daylight tomorrow,

and we’ll start working on it Tuesday morning.

Another significant game is quickly approaching. There will be another major game soon.

After playing so bravely and confidently away from home at the end of the previous season,

Munster has yet to win an away game in the 2023–24 campaign.

They have drawn at Benetton and lost at Ulster, Leinster, and Exeter.

Rowntree said, “I would be concerned if they were all blowouts.”

“We were really one score away from winning all those games.

Leinster is chasing the game at the end, but just like today,

we’re giving opponents presents. We were held up over the line in Ulster.

“Have another one, have another present, and a Merry Christmas.”

“Those are the times we need to improve on. Yes,

there have been changes, injuries have affected everyone,

and some young men are still learning, but in the last quarter of the game,

we’ll examine our composure and how we may regain control.

The key lesson from this one that got away will be Munster’s collapse in the face of strong Exeter pressure,

despite their strong offensive play and brilliant tries from Calvin Nash,

Tom Ahern, and Antoine Frisch before halftime and Shane Daly shortly after.

After securing a try bonus point, Munster suddenly faltered as the Chiefs depleted their bench,

allowing replacement forwards Ross Vintcent and Jack Dunne to score a try.

Jack Dunne, a former Leinster lock,

took advantage of a moment of hesitation by Nash regarding a bouncing ball and stole between the

Munster wing and fly-half Jack Crowley, shocking the visitors.

Following an unusual knock-on from a lineout by Conor Murray,

the replacement scrum-half threw a pass that was intercepted by Slade,

who raced upfield to score the home team’s bonus-point try and take away the losing bonus point.

Slade’s conversions put Exeter ahead 27–24 and Munster was unable to rally.

The fact that referee Raynal failed to identify the offside situations of two

Chiefs players who were retreating and blocked Slade’s forward advance as

Murray blasted the ball wide added to the injustice of the score.

After everything is said and done, Munster is now six points behind the leaders in group 3,

Exeter and Northampton Saints, after finishing sixth in their group. After this setback,

the top appears to be extremely steep.

MUNSTER: S Daly; C Nash, A Frisch, A Nankivell, S O’Brien (B O’Connor, 77); J Crowley, C Casey (C Murray, 57); J Loughman (J Wycherley, 68), D Barron, S Archer (O Jager, 60); G Coombes, T Beirne – captain; T Ahern, J Hodnett (A Kendellen, 71), J O’Donoghue (B Gleeson, 69).

Replacements not used: E Clarke, R Scannell

EXETER CHIEFS: T Wyatt; O Woodburn (R O’Loughlin, 52), H Slade, J Hawkins (O Devoto, 61), B Hammersley; H Skinner, T Cairns (S Townsend, 52); S Sio (N Abuladze, 52), D Frost (M Norey, 52-72 ), E Painter (M Street, 52); R Tuima (J Dunne, 55), D Jenkins – captain; L Pearson, J Vermeulen, G Fisilau (R Vintcent, 55).

Referee: Mathieu Raynal (France).

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