Beirne refuses to accept notion Munster failed amid pressure of being top seeds

Beirne described a devastated home dressing room after the match and head coach Graham Rowntree’s tribute to a string of departing players, for whom Saturday’s loss marked the end of their careers as Munster players.

BITTER FINISH: Munster's Tadhg Beirne. Pic: Dan Sheridan, Inpho

Tadhg Beirne refused to accept that the end of Munster’s reign as URC champions had come as a result of the pressure of being top seeds coming into this season’s play-offs.

Munster had swept to the 2022-23 title as fifth-seeded outsiders, lifting the trophy with a Grand Final victory at the Stormers in Cape Town having played the last five games of the URC campaign, including the three play-off rounds, away from Thomond Park.