Graham Rowntree: 'Our effort was huge tonight, we've got to be more accurate'

MISSED OPPORTUNITIES: Munster head coach Graham Rowntree rues missed opportunities during their clash against Leinster. Picture: ©INPHO/Dan Sheridan

Graham Rowntree rued Munster’s lack of accuracy as his side succumbed to first-half blitz from Leinster in a 26-12 derby defeat in front of a URC record crowd of 80,486.

Munster never recovered from a poor start and string of front-row injuries in the opening quarter which saw Leinster take a 21-0 lead inside 14 minutes and go into the half-time break 26-5 in front on their way to a fourth successive bonus-point win at the start of this 2024-25 league campaign.

First-half tries from James Lowe, captain Caelan Doris, Hugo Keenan and former Munster man RG Snyman lit up Croke Park with Munster having a Calvin Nash try ruled out for a forward pass that looked to be a very tight call against Alex Nankivell but was not sent up the Television Match Official by referee Chris Busby.

Sean O’Brien did score for Munster in the second quarter to finish a well-worked lineout move but that set-piece had earlier proved to be the visitors’ Achilles’ heel as try-scoring opportunities were spurned.

In addition, Munster were disrupted by the loss of both hookers, starter Niall Scannell and replacement Diarmuid Barron to Head Injury Assessments in those opening 20 minutes as well as loosehead prop Jeremy Loughman to a blood injury on an evening when replacement prop John Ryan and Leinster sub Ryan Baird were also removed for HIAs.

Leinster scored their third try of the half on 14 minutes with their opponents down to 14 men through those injuries and Munster head coach Rowntree said of the first quarter: “It certainly wasn't our best 20 minutes that I've seen against Leinster. It was chaos.

“A double HIA, we didn't have a hooker on the pitch at one point, trying to get 15 players on the field. Jeremy Loughman got a blood injury as well.

“They sensed we were a bit disjointed and got the ball to the edge of the field and took their opportunities. As a headline to the game, from us, it wasn't a lack of effort. We just have to get better at taking opportunities. They had minimal opportunities, but took them all. They're a dangerous team like that.

“I though end of the first half, a try disallowed for a forward pass, would have changed the complexion of the game going into the third quarter… I'm pleased with our effort there. They're a challenging team to play against but accuracy has got to be better.” 

Rowntree insisted his team had played well for the most part for the rest of the game, keeping Leinster scoreless after half-time as Mike Haley scored the only try of the second period.

“I thought we had opportunities. We showed we could attack, we stuck to our plan - we had a good plan tonight.

“We kept playing, but I thought that would have changed the complexion in the third quarter. We had our chances late on in the game, Nanks (Alex Nankivell) could have put Tom Ahern away late on in the game. We didn't stop playing. Fitness is good, but we've got to nail those opportunities.

“There were a couple of occasions where we were late getting to the breakdown, our lineout had a few challenges tonight against a very good lineout defence.

“I'm not going to sugarcoat anything. I never have done, but I'm not one for panic either. Our effort was huge tonight, we've got to be more accurate.”