No excuses for outclassed Munster

Munster 13 Glasgow Warriors 31: Thoughts that the blood on Gregor Townsend’s hands at Ravenhill on Saturday night was Anthony Foley’s proved unfounded as the Glasgow Warriors head coach looked forward to this Guinness Pro12 final victory providing a springboard to greater things for his club.

“I think I’ve mangled my hand,” Townsend said at the end of his post-match press conference as blood trickled from a finger. The former Scotland star was celebrating his first trophy as a coach but the minor injury had nothing to do with chewed fingernails.

Foley’s Munster ensured there was very little tension in Belfast at season’s end with a lacklustre first-half performance. For the large band of the province’s supporters in the 17,057 crowd, watching this was every bit as uncomfortable as this season’s European defeats at home to Clermont Auvergne and at Saracens.