Munster vow to react after weekend collapse: "We don't…

Munster vow to react after weekend collapse: "We don't become a rubbish team overnight"

Graham Rowntree admitted Munster can't afford a repeat of last week's performance as they staged a "long and very honest" review ahead of tonight's Champions Cup trip to South Africa.

The Reds will leave Limerick late this afternoon for a 10pm flight to Dubai before taking a connecting flight to Durban ahead of Saturday's big last 16 clash with the Sharks.

The province do so on the back of their first half horror show against Glasgow in the URC at Thomond Park last Saturday night - Munster were 28-0 down at half-time before staging a recovery of sorts that saw them go down 38-26.

Conditions will be hot and sunny on a hard Kings Park pitch. "We're certainly looking to play rugby," said head coach Rowntree.

"We don't suddenly become a rubbish team overnight, although half time didn't feel like that on Saturday.

"We don't suddenly become rubbish, and as I said on Saturday we can score tries, but we can't give ourselves a mountain to climb, like we did.

"There's things we did in that first half in particular, it's not us. We made life too easy for Glasgow.

"And let me just say, I thought they were exceptional the way Glasgow played the game, the way they attacked us, the way they dealt with our breakdown.

"There's things we looked at on review, crikey we had a long, very honest review.

"We're an honest bunch of lads here and we looked at individual errors, system errors, and we talked about it, because it can't happen again."

The Reds can at least welcome back Grand Slam winners Peter O'Mahony and Conor Murray to the fold after they were given last weekend off.

Rowntree is clear on what the vastly experienced pair will bring.

"Everything, both leadership, performance, just having them around the group," he commented.

"Pete wasn't involved at the weekend, but just having him around yesterday as we were navigating our way through the review was very helpful.

"He's been through a few reviews and a few performances like that before, so having people around like him and Conor Murray was calming for the group."

It is a big boost that centre Antoine Frisch is available after a leg injury forced him to sit out the Glasgow game and hooker Niall Scannell has recovered from a shoulder injury and has returned to full training.

Asked if Munster fans can expect a reaction in Durban, Rowntree said: "We saw a reaction in the second half, didn't we? The tries we can score, we scored in the second half is more like us.

"I'll get a reaction - the guys are honest, the guys were very down afterwards, as they should be.

"I was down afterwards, but the beauty of this sport is you have another huge challenge just around the corner, so you've got to deal with it.

"The pictures are undeniable, some of the pictures, you just have to show them. I don't have to shame them, they know.

"We've just done a good training session, and we're in good nick, we get on the plane tonight looking forward to a massive challenge.

"In this competition, this club, these games away from home...this is why you do it. What a memory this will be, if we get this one right at the weekend."

Munster Travelling Squad

Forwards: Dave Kilcoyne, Josh Wycherley; Diarmuid Barron, Scott Buckley, Niall Scannell; Stephen Archer, Keynan Knox, Roman Salanoa; Jean Kleyn, RG Snyman, Fineen Wycherley; Gavin Coombes, John Hodnett, Alex Kendellen, Jack O’Donoghue, Peter O’Mahony.

Backs: Craig Casey, Conor Murray, Paddy Patterson; Joey Carbery, Jack Crowley, Ben Healy; Malakai Fekitoa, Antoine Frisch; Shane Daly, Mike Haley, Calvin Nash, Simon Zebo.

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