Munster must take hard look at themselves, not at referees

If you’re a beleaguered fan of Munster or Leinster, pining for the glory days when knockout rugby in European competition could be taken for granted at the turn of the year, then you’re in good company.

At least both Irish provinces put in performances that, with a bit more accuracy, discipline and execution could have generated wins over Leicester Tigers and Toulon last weekend. Not so Toulouse. The former standard bearers and only four-time European champions were nothing short of embarrassing in their utter annihilation by a very polished Ulster side in Belfast on Friday night.

That victory, coupled with Connacht’s third win on the bounce in the Challenge Cup, provided the perfect start to the weekend for the provinces. Unfortunately that was about as good as it was going to get.