Munster Rugby's Graham Rowntree: "In the white hot heat of battle we need to be better"

MUNSTER Rugby head coach Graham Rowntree was left to rue his side's concession of 14 points when Leinster were down a player due to a sin-binning as the home side fell to a frustrating 20-19 defeat to their arch rivals in the United Rugby Championship at a sold-out Thomond Park on St Stephen's Day.

Munster looked well-placed to end Leinster's three game winning run in Limerick when leading 14-6 early in the second half after being awarded a penalty try.

Leinster's task was also made more difficult by the sin-binning of Max Deegan who was carded by referee Chris Busby for collapsing the maul which led to the awarding of the penalty try.

However, the URC leaders stormed back when down to 14 players, scoring two tries from Scott Penny and Dan Sheehan, both from tapped penalties. The scores proved crucial in Leinster's win as Leo Cullen's charges made it 12 wins from 12 in all competitions this season.

Afterwards Munster Rugby head coach Graham Rowntree said: "Without having a load of territory in that first half we were ahead, and then in the third quarter we worked hard for a penalty try, they had a guy in the bin and we concede two soft tries. We can't do that, we just can't do that.

"We lost our way towards the end of our way there against a good team, whoever they seem to put on the field. There's a lot of familiar faces in that Leinster, team, whoever they field, they're a class team. 

"The most disappointing thing for me was how we dealt with that time after the penalty try, conceding two soft tries.

"I'll have to watch it again in the cold light of day. We spoke about it a lot, they have an armoury of quick-tap moves. We spoke about it, and previewed it in the week, and trained it, but we have to be better. 

"In the white-hot heat of the battle we have to be better than that."

Rowntree insisted the side could take positives from the game as Munster switches focus to a crucial New Year's Day meeting with Ulster at Kingspan Stadium in Belfast.

"We have to be better in every game, and particularly against a classy team like that (Leinster). There are lots of positives, but when you lose a game like that you focus on the negatives. We'll review it again as coaches, and move forward in six days in Belfast."