Munster head coach Graham Rowntree was taking the positives from defeat as his experimental side went down 20-13 to Cardiff in their BKT United Rugby Championship opener in Wales.
While Taulupe Faletau was making his debut for the home side, the Irish province were short some of their big names, meaning the new coach wasn't getting too disheartened by the performance, even if the result did irk him.
"I’m disappointed, I'm not going to sugarcoat it," he said.
"But I am impressed by our fight, sticking in the game. We’ve come out with a bonus point.
Jack O'Sullivan scores Munster's first try but Cardiff quickly respond to move back ahead.
— RTÉ Rugby (@RTErugby) September 17, 2022
Live on RTÉ2 and the RTÉ Player. #URC #CARvMUN pic.twitter.com/GkLA4sDYGu
"They [Cardiff] were good, they scored two very good tries off set-pieces, one off the lineout first half and one off a scrum at the end of the game there.
"We are going to have a look at ourselves, what we can do better in terms of holding onto the ball.
"Also, we have to have a look at our breakdown, our urgency wasn’t good enough sometimes. Particularly the second half, that pressure they put on the breakdown just got greater and greater.
"We’ve got to look at that, when we can look after the ball and how we can improve our breakdown urgency. They’re two big take-outs for me.
"Having said that, I’m delighted to salvage a bonus point at the end."
"They look like they have pyjamas on."
— RTÉ Rugby (@RTErugby) September 17, 2022
Donncha O'Callaghan is not impressed with some of the Munster ambition at the breakdown.
The second half is live on RTÉ2 and the RTÉ Player. #URC #CARvMUN pic.twitter.com/OKxkuWvXnM
At half-time, RTÉ pundit Donncha O'Callaghan had also lambasted that Munster breakdown desire, claiming that some players looked "like they had their pyjamas on" such was their sleepy approach.
Rowntree felt that it was a difficult contest though with the Cardiff Arms Park crowd providing plenty of vocal support for their team.
"They were charged up. A good crowd, first game of the season, they’re at home.
"It’s what the game’s about, coming to these places and winning as a team. They were very good."
Munster are back in Wales next Sunday for a round two clash with the Dragons, and with the Irish squad players still unavailable and ten Munster players getting close to a departure date for the Emerging Ireland Tour of South Africa, it could be another makeshift side on show at Rodney Parade.
"We'll see how the guys pull up in the next number of days knocks wise," Rowntree said.
"We are going to lose guys to the Emerging Ireland tour. We knew about that and we’ve planned for that."
"We get the lads [Ireland internationals] back for round three, we’ve got Dragons a week tomorrow – another big challenge for us on the road.
"Then we get the lads back when we play Zebre in Cork."
