Gritty Munster get the job done

IT was more spit than polish at Musgrave Park as a workmanlike Munster kicked off their RaboDirect PRO12 campaign with four winning points on Saturday night.

Tony McGahan’s young side deserved a win illuminated by two brilliant tries in front of the biggest crowd of the opening weekend (7,250), but a poor second-half and, once more, unacceptable disciplinary lapses, tarnished the victory. Another three yellow cards to add to three against London Irish the previous week.

Man of the match James Coughlan admitted: “If we get three players carded next week against Glasgow Warriors we probably won’t win the game; the positive, I suppose, was that guys manned up defensively in difficult circumstances, particularly when we were down to 13 at one stage. But we’re going to have to look at this and stop giving away stupid penalties if we’re to progress as a team.”