Graham Rowntree: 'Jager and O'Donoghue two injuries we really didn't need'

Jager was floored by a double tackle from Connacht forwards Joe Joyce and Finlay Bealham that was deemed to be fair by match officials while O’Donoghue was the victim of an illegal cleanout.

Oli Jager of Munster awaits medical attention after sustaining an injury.

Graham Rowntree was left to rue a late collapse that cost Munster the game at URC derby rivals Connacht on Monday while counting the cost of further injuries to his already threadbare squad.

A late Jack Aungier try and the goal-kicking of JJ Hanrahan consigned Rowntree’s men to a third successive defeat that leaves them winless since December 1 after 22-9 defeat played out in appalling conditions as heavy rain fell throughout at The Sportground.

Munster’s woes were further compounded by the first-half losses of tighthead prop Oli Jager to a head injury and Jack O’Donoghue to serious-looking knee injury that resulted in both players leaving the field on stretcher carts.

Jager, the Irish-qualified prop signed from New Zealand’s Crusaders in November, was floored by a double tackle from Connacht forwards Joe Joyce and Finlay Bealham that was deemed to be fair by match officials led by referee Chris Busby, to the confusion of the Munster head coach, while O’Donoghue was the victim of an illegal cleanout that saw Connacht wing Byron Ralston yellow-carded on the stroke of half-time.

“They're not in a great state,” Rowntree said of his two injured players. “Oli sustained a head injury from a strange looking tackle that was apparently checked (by the TMO), and then Jack O'Donoghue got cleared out, a horrible side entry and his knee got twisted. It's not great if I'm honest with you. Two injuries we didn't need.

“They didn't look great in my opinion, but it's not why we lost the game. We lost the game because we lost control of it, particularly in the last 10 minutes, where we were starved of field position.” Munster, who had lost hooker Eoghan Clarke and lock Fineen Wycherley to injury before kick-off, had been trailing 12-9 with 67 minutes gone before former player Hanrahan kicked a long-range penalty and then converted Aungier’s 77th minute try after the URC’s problematic lineout malfunctioned yet again.

“Terrible conditions. We were starved of possession, particularly in that second-half. Until about ten minutes to go, we were managing the game quite well. We just needed to find a way to get up field. But then we lost the way. We lost our way tactically in the middle of their field there around 71 minutes. And then we were trying to force the game. And then the next thing you know, we’ve had everything taken away from us. Bonus point. Hugely disappointing.

“Player wise, I’ve a dressing-room who are down. We have a couple of days off, which we need physically as much as mentally. And then we will reconvene on Thursday with a view to reviewing the game and looking forward to next week. I’ll have more news on the guys from today and the two who pulled out.” Connacht were not without their injury issues either, including centre Cathal Forde on 10 minutes and Ireland wing Mack Hansen to a shoulder injury late on.

“Fordy went off with a shoulder injury, like an AC joint, not sure at this stage of the severity of it,” head coach Pete Wilkins said. “Hopefully not too bad but it was enough for his immediate removal.

“Straight away your 6-2 bench split starts to look a little bit skinny in terms of that, but we trained for that, losing one of our backs with JJ (Hanrahan) going to full- back and Jack (Carty) going to 10. I think that was important in terms of the lads having some cohesion but also mentally in terms of riding out what could have been a major disruption.

“Caolin Blade failed a HIA which he went off with, with 15 minutes to go and then Mack injured his shoulder, receiving a cleanout at that breakdown.

“The severity of that we will have to see. Mack is pretty sore downstairs to be honest but we will get the scans and see where he is at. To finish the game with 14 men and see it out in that fashion, I suppose that is the satisfaction.”

Munster's crowded treatment room

Hookers: Niall Scannell (groin), Diarmuid Barron (foot), Eoghan Clarke (undisclosed). 

Props: Dave Kilcoyne (shoulder), Roman Salanoa (knee), Oli Jager (head). 

Locks:  Edwin Edogbo (Achilles tendon), Cian Hurley (ankle/Achilles), Jean Kleyn (eye), RG Snyman (chest/shoulder), Fineen Wycherley (shoulder).

Back rowers: Peter O’Mahony (shoulder), Jack Daly (ankle), Jack O’Donoghue (knee). 

Inside backs: Joey Carbery (wrist), Alex Nankevill (ankle). 

Back three: Patrick Campbell (shoulder), Liam Coombes (shoulder), Mike Haley (hip).