Relieved Rowntree proud of resolve shown by Munster players in second half

CRUCIAL WIN: Munster’s Shane Daly, Dave Kilcoyne, Mike Haley and Paddy Patterson celebrate after the game. Pic: INPHO/Billy Stickland

A relieved Graham Rowntree spoke of the pride he had in his Munster team after they withstood a strong Northampton Saints second-half comeback to hang on for a crucial 27-23 Heineken Champions Cup pool win in Limerick on Saturday.

Munster had taken a 24-0 lead into the second half but having lost flanker and try scorer Jack O’Donoghue to a red card after just 22 minutes, Rowntree’s men had to storming fightback from the English side, who closed the deficit to just four points before Jack Crowley kicked a late penalty to ease some frayed nerves among the Thomond Park crowd.