Munster head coach Rassie Erasmus was disappointed that defeat at home to Cardiff Blues negated all the hard work they’d done to beat the Scarlets on the road last weekend.
The Reds were edged out 24-23 by Cardiff at Irish Independent Park in a thrilling game, but afterwards Erasmus was only focused on the way the game slipped away from his side.
“It’s disappointing,” he said. “We’re playing at home after last week and last week’s away win is nullified by losing. It’s doesn’t mean a lot when you win away and lose at home so it’s very disappointing.”
Munster’s cause was not helped by injuries to Rory Scannell and Tommy O’Donnell. The centre was replaced at half-time while O’Donnell was forced off just after the restart.
Both players have suspected concussions and look set for a spell on the sidelines now.
While Erasmus didn’t fully blame those injuries for the defeat, he admitted they played a major part.
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“I thought we could have taken a lot out of this game if we didn’t have those injuries and the guys stuck to their guns, but unfortunately we didn’t and now we still have the injuries.
“It’s very close when you get injuries like that and you utilise that and say ‘now we must learn from these tough times’.
“Now we’re going to get a young centre pairing together and if you pull through these games it’s a massive thing and one mustn’t forget about that and those things can always be a hell of a positive.”
Thankfully for Munster reinforcements are on the horizon and Erasmus revealed that Conor Murray, Keith Earls and Peter O’Mahony all close to a return.
Murrary and Earls could return as soon as next week while, O’Mahony might take another extra week.
“Conor should be back and Earls should be back and Peter could be back, but we must be careful,” he said.
“It’s a very long season to next year in May so we mustn’t rush any of the guys, so that’s why we’re sticking with the young guys and giving opportunities.”
