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Graham Rowntree chuffed with 'scintillating' Munster performance in win over Connacht

Munster players celebrate Tom Ahern's try
Munster players celebrate Tom Ahern's try

Graham Rowntree said he was "chuffed" as Munster made it seven BKT United Rugby Championship wins in a row with a comprehensive 47-12 victory over Connacht.

It was a first interpro win of the season for the hosts, who ran in seven tries in total at Thomond Park and now sit on 58 points.

Leading 14-7 at the break, Munster were too hot for Connacht to handle after the restart.

"Delighted with that, chuffed with that, yeah," the head coach (below) told reporters after the game, which keeps his side on course for a home quarter-final with two rounds remaining.

"We were a bit frustrated after 20 minutes, we weren't getting our own way, weren't taking our chances often enough but we stuck to the plan and we played some scintillating rugby and some big performances.

"These were a sticky crowd, something goes on every time we play them.

"They beat us on New Year's Day. They were tactically better than us that night, a couple of things went against us.

"They are a well-coached team, a sticky team. I'm delighted with the result.

"It gives us continued momentum of what we did in South Africa. Six-day turnaround up in Edinburgh, we've got good momentum."

Meanwhile, Connacht boss Pete Wilkins (above) was concerned at how his side fell off in the second 40 minutes.

They failed to execute a linebreak early in the second-half and moments later, Munster ran in for their third score, from player of the match Alex Nankivell, and never looked back.

"It's hugely disappointing," said the Englishman, whose side dropped to ninth ahead of next weekend's home game against Stormers.

"It hurts any time you lose an interpro but when you see a scoreline get away from you like it did, it hurts a lot.

"The overwhelming feeling is that you’ve not done yourself justice, you’ve not done your supporters justice, and as I said to the lads, they will be frustrated because we are better than the performance we delivered today.

"But at the end of the day, that is the performance we delivered and we got what we deserved."

Next up for Munster is a trip to seventh-placed Edinburgh on Friday night. Former England prop Rowntree indicated he will not make changes for the sake of it.

Calvin Nash scores Munster's second

"Not really because we get the weekend off after," said the Englishman, who expects injury updates on out-half Jack Crowley and Tom Ahern on Monday.

"I don't need to massively rotate the squad.

"We'll make some key changes and we'll have a look at our bench. We put a lot more focus into the activity of our bench in games and selection of our bench.

"I'll see what Monday presents in terms of injuries, a couple of knocks.

"I don't see us making a load of changes. We need to keep momentum with the guys that are playing well."

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