Munster machine still rusty

Munster 30 Perpignan 21

The train is back on the tracks after the hammering in Gloucester the week before but on the evidence of both games, the only conclusion to arrive at is that Alan Gaffney’s men still face an uphill battle if they are to reach the knock-out stages of the Heineken Cup for the fifth successive year.

For one thing, Gloucester are in a class of their own in Pool 2 and put 80 points, including 12 tries, on Viadana on Friday. On top of that, Munster could only share the try count three-each with Perpignan thanks entirely to their own profligacy. It could cost them dearly at the end of the day.