‘Shattered’ McGahan backed

MUNSTER rugby chief executive Garrett Fitzgerald last night backed his coaching staff in the wake of the province’s first Heineken Cup pool elimination in 13 seasons, but stressed the importance of sealing Amlin Challenge Cup qualification this weekend.

Munster’s run of reaching the quarter-final stage in every campaign since 1998-99 ended with a whimper rather than a bang in Toulon on Sunday as the two-time champions were roundly beaten 32-16 in the heady atmosphere of Stade Mayol.

Munster head coach Tony McGahan admitted he was left “shattered” by the manner of the team’s exit in Toulon and pointed to his players’ indiscipline, anxiety and frantic play during the defeat. Yet McGahan’s boss, while admitting the province had been deservedly eliminated, backed the Australian and his backroom staff as the right men to lead Munster into a new era.