Horan makes mark but fails to stem the tide

Gloucester 35 Munster 16

He appeared to be facing the most enenviable task of any Munster player - a scrummaging duel with Gloucester captain and England and Lions prop Phil Vickery. Horan, only now establishing himself in the team because of the retirement of Peter Clohessy and he came through with flying colours.

“To be honest, I was a bag of nerves all last night thinking about Vickery”, Horan admitted.

“I did interviews during the week and they were all about Vickery. I was happy after the first scrum and I’m pleased now at how it went. We knew going into the game that they didn’t usually start well scrummaging-wise. But we’re still very disappointed. A few decisions went against us. At one stage in the second half, Vickery was on his knees and I got penalised .

"I was full sure we had got the penalty and couldn’t believe it when I saw the signal. There was a good buzz going in at half-time after that big scrum when we blew them off their own ball. And it wasn’t only that. We felt we were getting on top, finishing in their half after playing against the wind and to be so close to them. I think everybody was just dying to get back out there but we just let it slip for ten minutes and they got the tries and it was gone”.

Anthony Foley has played in all but one of Munster’s 46 Heineken Cup matches and agreed “it was up there” with as tough a game as they have encountered in that time.

“We were well in it at half-time”, he said. “We conceded a fairly soft try, a turnover, a kick ahead and their man won the race for it. We were holding out well, playing to what our plan was, but they came at us in the second half. They got three tries and after that we were trying to get the try count back some way in our favour and eventually we did that. It was the only pleasing thing about the second-half.

“This result means we can’t afford to lose again in the group. That means beating Gloucester at home and Perpignan away as well as at home. It’s another challenge, we’re looking forward to it, and it starts next week.

Munster may have to prepare for Saturday’s crunch tie against Perpignan at Thomond Park without Rob Henderson. The Lions and Ireland centre suffered a knock to his ankle and left bicep during the Gloucester game and was replaced by Jason Holland after 34 minutes. He carried his arm in a sling on Saturday night and won’t know until today whether the damage is severe bruising or the muscle is torn.

GLOUCESTER: H. Paul; M. Garvey, T. Fanolua, R. Todd, T. Beim; L. Mercier, A. Gomarsall; T. Woodman, O. Azam, P. Vickery capt, A. Eustace, M. Cornwell, J. Boer, P. Buxton, J. Forrester. Replacement, E. Pearce for Eustace 66.

MUNSTER: J. Staunton; J. Kelly, M. Mullins, R. Henderson, M. Lawler; R. O’Gara, P. Stringer; M. Horan, F. Sheahan, J. Hayes, M. Galwey, M. O’Driscoll, J. Williams capt, A. Quinlan, A. Foley. Replacements, J. Holland for Henderson 34; E. Halvey for Galwey 59.

Referee - J. Dume (France).