Munster may cite Mustoe over Horan incident
Mustoe was yellow carded for the incident midway through the half, but Munster coach Alan Gaffney will study the video of the match and then decide whether to follow the matter through with European Rugby Cup Limited, the organisers of the Heineken Cup.
“I really didn’t get a good look at what happened but once we see the footage we’ll decide whether we will follow it up,” the Munster coach said.
He expressed delight at the win. “It’s always been a tough place for visiting teams and while it was a close run thing, we figured it would be.”
The huge army of Munster supporters were critical of French referee Joel Jutge but Gaffney refused to point the finger of blame.
“We can complain all we like but if we made mistakes and gave away penalties we can only blame ourselves.
“From where we were last week I thought we have moved forward. Our lineout was better and our scrum much stronger. They had a bit of a reputation in those areas and I was very happy with the way things worked out.”
Captain Anthony Foley refused to rule out either Ospreys or Harlequins as Munster head the table on eight points from Castres on seven.
“I suppose it’s going to be difficult for the Ospreys but I can see them doing a bit of damage somewhere along the line and they’re certainly capable of mounting a challenge in the next four matches. Harlequins are by no means out of it and Castres will obviously be very dangerous.
“We’re going in the right direction with two wins but we’re by no means safe in our drive for qualification. There are four matches to go and they will all be hard. I don’t think there is much between any of the teams in this group and the results have shown that so far.”
Trust in Munster’s defence, said Foley, was crucial. “We’re happy with the way we have defended in the two games to date and we have yet to concede a try. It’s good to know that we’re capable of soaking up pressure and then working our way out of trouble. Having said that, I’d like to see us a bit more proactive in attack although defences are so well organised these days it’s always difficult.”
Munster’s past experience in the Heineken Cup was the key to their victory at the Gnoll yesterday, according to Ospreys coach Lyn Jones.
“There were periods of the game there when their experience showed,” said a disappointed Jones.
“They won because they had fewer errors in their game than we had. But that’s Heineken Cup rugby for you.”
Errors aside, Jones felt his team played as well as they could on the day. “If we’d have won 21-20 we’d be singing and dancing here and thinking what a great performance. There wasn’t an awful lot more we could have asked from our players.
“These games have fine lines and sometimes it goes with you and sometimes against you. We’ve just got to move on, try to keep improving and turn things around. Hopefully, this time next year we’ll draw Munster in the group and beat them.
“We’ve got four games left and we’ve got to win them all,” he said. “If that means going to Thomond Park and winning, that’s a tough ask but if everything goes well for us we can do it.
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