Graham Rowntree 'hugely frustrated' after Munster loss to Exeter

The Munster head coach left Sandy Park feeling utterly frustrated by the outcome and elements of his team’s performance.

Munster head coach Graham Rowntree.

Graham Rowntree struggled to make sense of Munster’s 32-24 Champions Cup pool defeat at Exeter Chiefs on Sunday, a loss that leaves his side with a uphill battle to claim a home draw for the knockout rounds.

Munster had played some scintillating attacking rugby to rack up a try bonus point after 50 minutes for a 24-13 lead at Sandy Park, only to be hit by two quick tries from the 2020 champions around the hour mark and then concede a sucker punch of a late try to let a losing bonus point slip from their grasp. With two matches still to play in Pool 3 after Christmas, Rowntree’s squad lie in fifth place in the six-team pool and six match points off the top two positions and a home draw in next April’s Round of 16 knockout round.