Gaffney’s rallying call
The squad is still smarting from the criticism heaped upon them after the shocking defeat to the English side at Kingsholm last week, but coach Alan Gaffney has rallied behind his players.
Yesterday he stood firm in support by naming the same 22 for this back-to-back clash, and he expressed confidence that the result can be turned around.
Gaffney admitted: "We were a long way off our peak in England, but in my view it wasn't as bad as was painted. It seems we were damned by all and sundry, but I felt that to be totally damned was quite a bit unfair.
"I know the expectations are very high whenever Munster play. That's a price the team has to pay for being so successful over the years. That's fine, that's good. It puts pressure on the players, but they all have to live with pressure.
"We are very aware that Gloucester outplayed us, but I don't believe we were that much off the pace."
In a guarded reference to Munster players' involvement in an Irish squad training session the previous weekend, Gaffney observed: "Maybe it might have been different if our preparation for the game had been better. It wasn't, so we have to live with what preparation we had and we have to live with the result.
"We've got to improve this week and we're going into the game looking for a big performance from ourselves.
"We have trained very hard this week to rectify the problems that arose in Kingsholm and we also spent a lot more time studying the video because we had more time together. Hopefully that will help us better prepare.
"One result like this does not make Munster a bad team and I think that the guys can prove that on Saturday."
Captain Jim Williams is in no doubt that the record can be set straight at Thomond Park.
"There were obviously areas where Gloucester outplayed us and we have to accept that. I would say, however, that we also created problems for ourselves.
"Our line out play was sloppy and that is an area where we have done very well over the last few seasons. It appeared to be one of those days when we just couldn't put that aspect of our game together.
"There was probably a lack of communication as well and we have to take responsibility for that ourselves.
"There were times in the match when it seemed things were turning around but then we appeared to take the wrong options.
"There is no doubt we were up for the game but we were not switched into the game.
"We didn't get into the game from the start and played most of the 80 minutes on the back foot. We didn't get much opportunity to play the field position we wanted and lost possession on the few occasions we did get into threatening positions.
"In my view, every team has days like that. Certainly, I'm not worried about the guys being motivated for this one or, indeed, being capable enough to beat them."
Last time out, Gloucester appeared to benefit by being allowed shore their defence in offside positions out wide, but Munster have no complaints about the referee or his interpretation.
"Really, that's up to the referee to call. It sometimes felt as if the Gloucester defence was in our faces all day, but we're not making any excuses.
"Our sole focus after the match was to re-group, put the outcome of the game behind us and prepare for the second game at home.
"There is no point in looking back, no point in complaining. What's done is done, but the matter is now in our hands this week. Basically, we've got to be a lot smarter and we have to play a lot better than we did in England," said Williams.
That determination was echoed by Munster second row Donnacha O'Callaghan, who admitted the percentage return from line outs would have to improve considerably at Thomond Park.
"We pride ourselves in that aspect of play and before this game had the best return 94% of any team in the Heineken Cup.
"I'm sure that this week we will be more street-wise and will do much better. We've gone through our various options this week, changed bits and pieces around and I'm confident that we will get the throw-ins, and all the movement between players, back to what they should be."
Williams, meanwhile, promised the fans they would see a difference, more like the usual Munster.
"We will respect Gloucester but the defeat won't make us any more fearful of them.
"I believe you must always have some bit of fear because otherwise you just become complacent. But what happened last week does not make us believe any less in ourselves and we're looking forward to a positive rather than a negative outcome."
MUNSTER: S. Payne, J. Kelly, M. Mullins, R. Henderson, A. Horgan, R. O'Gara, P. Stringer, M. Horan, F. Sheahan, J. Hayes, P. O'Connell, D. O'Callaghan, J. Williams (captain), A. Foley, D. Wallace.
Replacements. J. Staunton, J. Holland, E. Reddan, S. Keogh, D. Pusey, J. Blaney, G. McIllwham.
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