Munster penalty count irks Penney

It’s not the norm to publicly berate rugby referees, but there are ways around protocol and Munster coach Rob Penney found discreet but forceful ways of airing his annoyance after Saturday’s match at Thomond Park.

Penney hadn’t had a chance to fully reflect on the handling of Munster’s Heineken Cup clash by stand-in referee Pascal Gauzere but was clearly perplexed by his side’s concession of 18 full penalties and three free kicks, twice as many as Saracens and five times as many conceded during the previous match against Glasgow.

When pressed on the performance of Frenchman Gauzere, Penney admitted, “passion, desire and fervour” took players into the danger zone and “we were rightfully sanctioned for these.”