Ian Costello praised his side's management of the conditions as they gave their BKT United Rugby Championship season a shot in the arm with a bonus-point 30-24 win at Connacht.
The province had to survive a nervy finale as Connacht came close to a comeback win, with a late Dylan Tierney-Martin try disallowed, although Munster were deserving winners in front of more than 27,000 people in Castlebar.
In a game that was played in difficult weather conditions, Munster’s half-back pair Jack Crowley and Craig Casey dictated the game superbly, both playing with the wind behind them in the first half, and playing into the breeze after the break.
And Costello believes that game management was the difference between the sides.
"I think the calmness, the composure, how the players adapted to all the different things between the conditions, the 14 and 13 men, was outstanding," the Munster interim head coach said.
"There was a lot of experience on the field as well, I think that really came through.
"We were keeping an eye on the weather and we were here yesterday and it was quite windy, and when we came in before the game it was straight down the field so we chose to play with the wind, we won the toss and it was about having territorial advantage and I felt the half-backs controlled that really well.
"In the second half then it proved equally difficult, we had to go to the air mostly off nine [Casey] and Jack - when it slowed down - kicked really well.
"But the problem is if you don't get your chase right it costs us 50 or 60 metres, so it's a fine balance. I thought it was a fascinating tactical game."
Munster probably would have won by more had it not been for poor discipline, with Alex Nankivell picking up a red card on 25 minutes for a dangerous ruck entry on Cian Prendergast.
It’s Nankivell’s second red card in less than a year, having also been sent off in the closing minutes of last season’s URC semi-final defeat to Glasgow, and Costello admits his centre left referee Craig Evans with a tough decision to make.
"We don't want to see anyone like that taken off the field, Cian is a fantastic competitor.
"Equally Alex Nankivell, I don't know how to put it, in terms of the spirit he plays the game in, he's an outstanding character, and he'll be disappointed with that.
"We'll just have to look at it closely now and see what happens next, really. I can see why the referee gave a red, it was very difficult for Alex the way he came into the ruck when they were over the ball and it's unfortunately one of those things, you make contact with the head and you run the risk of a yellow or red card," he added.
The incident left the Connacht captain (below) requiring lengthy treatment for a head injury on the pitch, and the 25-yerar-old has since been taken to Mayo University Hospital, with the province’s stand-in coach Cullie Tucker providing a positive update.
"He's OK, he's in hospital at the moment getting checked out," he said.
"So far, so good, is my understanding and hopefully that continues. It's a tough sight to see for anyone, but I was talking to his Dad afterwards and he [Cian] was speaking, so, so far, so good."
In an incident-packed game, Connacht almost stole the win with Tierney-Martin's late try, but it was ruled out after a TMO referral following a croc-roll by Bundee Aki on Gavin Coombes.
However, Tucker believes there was no controversy to the referee’s final call.
"Such is life. It's the correct decision and we have to respect it.
"We’d had another opportunity again, so we just have to look at those moments, those championship minutes, and be more accurate in them," he added.
The tension of their comeback attempt was an appropriate finale for what was a special occasion at Hastings Insurance MacHale Park, where a record 27,870 supporters came through the gates for a Connacht home game.
And both coaches had high-praise for the occasion.
"The Mayo people are incredible. Even last night when we came up and around the place yesterday, the welcome we got, the conversations, the excitement around was very visible.
"I think it was an incredible occasion, and it shows there's great strength in the province in terms of rugby.
"One move like that, 27,000 people and the spread of the tickets was across all five counties. The demand is there, and I thought the energy they brought to the game was fantastic," Tucker said.
Munster’s interim boss Costello was equally impressed.
"I couldn't be more positive, I thought it was incredible. What a brilliant idea to bring a game somewhere like this, it spreads the game, it grows the game.
"We stayed in Westport last night, just the reception around the town, the excitement, the buzz, it's inventive and creative. Fair play to Connacht, it was an outstanding idea.
"I think anything like that, that expands the game and brings it to a wider audience, is fantastic. An hour before kick-off the place was nearly full and that's pretty unique. I think we should really embrace it," Costello said.
