Defensive frailties cost us, says Gaffney

THE CRESTFALLEN expression on his ashen countenance told it all about the deep disappointment of Munster coach Alan Gaffney.

He wasn't making excuses for Munster's latest Heineken Cup disappointment even if he did feel that some of the penalties deliberately conceded by Wasps bordered on the cynical and that they might have accrued more than two yellow cards. The loss of Ronan O'Gara clearly hurt the side badly but Gaffney accepted in the final analysis that the game was there for the taking but that defensive frailties, so evident in the semi-final win over Stade Francais, again cost the side dearly.

"We knew Wasps were a side capable of scoring tries and we missed too many first-up tackles", said Gaffney. "We got ten in front and the game was there to be won but you can't miss first-up tackles against a side like Wasps. We allowed them to gain momentum which was our critical aim to stop. We were unsuccessful in doing so in the last twelve or thirteen minutes. We needed to slow the game down but allowed Howley to keep the ball in play and counterattack."