Felix Jones unhappy with try count despite Munster’s dismantling of Dragons

When a team rattles up 50 points it indicates everything in the garden is rosy.

Fri, 22 May, 2015 - 01:00

Barry Coughlan

Yet, there is still a nagging sense of annoyance with aspects of Munster’s display in the 50-27 Guinness Pro12 victory over Newport Gwent Dragons at Musgrave Park last week. The video analysts and squad were working overtime this week coming to terms with the fact that Munster leaked four tries - that for a team that boasted the tightest defence in the 21 games of the campaign up to then (1.3 average). Munster still managed to secure a home semi final and face the Ospreys, at Thomond Park tomorrow.

Full back Felix Jones may be delighted, but he is also wary in taking on a side that were the only team to beat his side twice in this year’s campaign. “We were massively disappointed with some aspects of our display last week conceding the way we did a couple of times. Look the day that was in it, a dry ball, a hard ground, there was a lot of rugby played, but while there was some great stuff, there was some not so good stuff.”

He admitted: “We can’t afford to slip tackles, I have been impressed by how clinical Ospreys) have been all season so we can’t afford to let things slip like that.”

While Munster did everything required last week in terms of winning and collecting a bonus point in the process, it was Connacht’s second half display in Galway, ironically against the Ospreys, that ultimately secured Munster that prized home draw. “I thought Connacht had a great second-half. Obviously I had watched a good section of it but I haven’t gone through it totally yet. They did us a massive favour in helping us get a home semi but we have got to stay focused.

Connacht were obviously fighting tooth and nail because they are eyeing Europe next year and with the new ranking system it has made for an incredibly tight Pro12.”

Last week’s action-packed weekend meant that Munster had to wait a few agonising minutes to learn where they were to play the semi final and against whom. “We have to uphold our end of the bargain now and get to the final. Yeah, we totally judge ourselves on silverware so yeah we’re hungry for it.

“It isn’t easy to win trophies and especially now going back to the league this year and how tight it is.”