The two areas that 'pleased' Graham Rowntree despite Munster exit
Munster head coach Graham Rowntree admitted he was hugely disappointed after seeing his side crash out of the Heineken Champions Cup with a 50-35 defeat to the Sharks in Durban. The visitors had no answer to their opponents’ forward power as the South Africans ran in four tries in the first 18 minutes of the second half, turning their 17-14 interval lead into a 43-14 advantage.
Munster did score five tries, but two came late on when the game was already beyond them, while the Sharks ran in seven of their own. “I am hugely disappointed, as you can imagine,” said Rowntree.
“It was a three-point game at half-time but quickly got away from us with two more tries and then the game got even looser and we were chasing the game. We can score tries as a team, we have proven that, but we have had a taste of what it is coming to this club and this town and we are back out here in three weeks (in the league).
“We will go back and analyse the game to see where we have got to be better. The conditions were challenging, we are not used to this weather, but towards the end of the game we were chasing the game, scoring tries and I was pleased with our energy.
“I was pleased with our effort, but technically, tactically we have got to be better. We will look at that third quarter when things got away from us. We will look at penalties we conceded or turnovers we conceded at the breakdown, those are the elements we will have a look at.”
Friends first, rivals second ??
A lovely moment after the @SharksRugby v @Munsterrugby game as RG Snyman embraces his fellow @Springboks ?#HeinekenChampionsCup pic.twitter.com/wi3x3LXZ59
— Investec Champions Cup (@ChampionsCup) April 1, 2023
Sharks became the first South African team to reach the quarter-finals of the Champions Cup and their reward is a trip to Toulouse or a home game against more familiar opposition in the shape of the Bulls. Director of rugby Neil Powell said: “Whichever team we are going to play it will obviously not be easy.
“We all know that when you get into the knockout stages you have got to be more accurate. This is the first year we have been part of it, so we are trying to create a bit of hype and a bit of culture around being part of the European championship.
“Luckily we have experience in our coaching staff. Yannick Bru was involved with Toulouse when they won the European Cup and also Noel McNamara was part of the academy at Leinster and understands how much emphasis those teams put on the Champions Cup.
“We have really tried to create a vibe and energy and a bit of a culture around this, but we know the closer you get to the final the more difficult it is going to be.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Bar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
9 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
35 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
35 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
35 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
35 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
35 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
35 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
35 Go to commentsArdie’s preferred position 7? Where do they get these writers from? I've no idea where he's playing in Japan, but the previous two seasons he wore the 7 jersey exactly twice.
18 Go to comments