mobanmarketMurray Kinsella reports from Coventry
MAKE THAT SEVEN Heineken Champions Cup semi-final defeats in a row.
This one hurt as much as the six that came before, although it did at least come with the acceptance that Munster were beaten by a better team.
A disappointed Johann van Graan stands by while Peter O’Mahony is interviewed. Source: Dan Sheridan/INPHO
Plain and simple. Munster weren’t as good a team as Saracens, especially without their two most creative players in Joey Carbery and Keith Earls – both missing yesterday due to unfortunately-timed injuries.
Munster had no complaints after their 32-16 defeat and they will need to swiftly turn their attention to matters in the Guinness Pro14 as they look to cap off what has been a positive season overall with a trophy.
The summer will allow van Graan and his coaching staff – still to be confirmed – to delve deeper into what they need to do to close in on the province’s first European title since 2008.
As it transpired, Munster’s losing margin of 16 points was the same as when they lost to Saracens in the semi-finals two years ago, but the province are convinced they have improved since then.
“We’ve come a long way,” said captain Peter O’Mahony. “You know, we have come a long way as a team and as a squad. I’m not going to argue with a 16-point difference.
“Would I say that they’re 20 or 25 points better than us? No, but I’m not going to argue with 16 points.
“They outplayed us today. You do get to a stage, nine points down, even after scoring a try, you’re chasing the game and you’re still probably playing out of your gameplan a little bit.”
Saracens love nothing more than opposing teams attempting to chase games, rolling the dice and usually making mistakes against their suffocating pressure game.
Munster were left dejected in Coventry. Source: James Crombie/INPHO
Mark McCall’s side impressively closed Munster out after Darren Sweetnam’s try had given them some hope.
There can be no doubting Munster’s effort and work-rate in defeat, with openside flanker Jack O’Donoghue – who craftily hooked the ball out of a Saracens scrum for Sweetnam’s score – saying they will take pride from how they “dug in” for the entire 80 minutes.
While the barren run without a trophy in Europe will continue until next year at least, Munster do have an opportunity to secure silverware before the end of this campaign.