Graham Rowntree admits Munster are ‘in a rut’ and provides update on injured duo

Munster head coach Graham Rowntree admits his side are “in a rut” as they look to bounce back from successive United Rugby Championship (URC) inter-pro defeats.

A 22-9 loss to Connacht on Monday saw them fail to score a try for the second game running as the injury-hit team suffered further blows in the rain at the Sportsground.

Munster lost Eoghan Clarke and Fineen Wycherley before the fixture due to injury before Oli Jager and Jack O’Donoghue were then forced off during a disappointing away loss.

Difficult period

Boss Rowntree feels they are in a “difficult” spell as the reigning URC champions look to defend their title in 2024, with the head coach giving his reaction after a tough outing.

“We’re not winning games, but we’re not getting smashed in games either,” he told the Irish Independent. “We’re doing lots of good things, high turnover of players, lots of moving parts. We’re sticking in games.

“We’ve got to learn from games quickly. When the parts are moving consistently, changing personnel, it’s difficult.”

The boss was asked whether his team are currently in a rut, to which he replied: “A rut? Yeah, a rut where we’re not winning games, yeah, we are in a rut. We’re not winning games, but we’re not getting blown away.

“Just drive on. Do what I can. Fix what I can. I’ve got a great coaching team around me. I back the squad depth.”

The injuries have mounted up and the in-game blows for Jager (head) and O’Donoghue (knee) were just the latest to add to a long list of stars currently on the treatment table.

“Oli Jager is all right, he’s up and about, talking,” Rowntree explained after the tighthead came off early in the match. “He got a bang on his head there, I’m not quite sure how.

“Obviously, they were happy with it. They checked it with the TMO. I’d like to see it again, more views, how he can suddenly collapse to the floor and be concussed, without anyone touching his head. It’s a huge loss for us because he was going well for us, Oli. He was fitting in nicely.”

Knee is wrecked

The news on O’Donoghue was more concerning, however, as the back-row looks set for a lengthy period out of action.

“His knee’s wrecked. It’s not great, no. Not a great clearout that,” the boss added before fielding a question on its legality.

“They deemed it all right to carry on. His knee is not in a great way. He’s in a brace down there now. We’ll see what the scan presents.”

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