All's not lost for Munster as Schmidt and Lam prove

Another crucial game for Graham Rowntree and Munster. Just like next week and last week and the week before that.

Defeat against the Bulls, and the hole Munster currently find themselves in gets a little bit deeper. Win, and they can start pulling themselves back up above ground.

Particularly since last week's defeat to Connacht, there's a sense around the province that expectations for this season, at least, should be tempered, although there's no suggestion that they should be altering their plans long term. Given the size of the Munster brand, fading into mediocrity can't and wont be acceptable.

There's no masking the fact that the early signs have been way below the standard expected of Munster, with their current form reminiscent of that infamous Manchester United tweet midway through the David Moyes season, describing how the manager wants them "to improve in a number of areas, including passing, creating chances and defending."

The comparisons to Manchester United's decline have been made towards Munster in recent seasons, although following Johann van Graan's time in charge would be a damn sight less daunting than Fergie.

Thankfully for Rowntree, Prendergast, Leamy and Kyriacou, the gulf in finances between rugby and football will likely allow them more time to address their problems than Moyes had. Or so you'd hope.

Rowntree isn't the first provincial coach to find things rough early on, and he definitely won't be the last, but he doesn't have to look far to find solace.

"One suspects it is too late for Schmidt to get the team back on the rails. The Magners League is no barometer of Heineken Cup success but I suspect this is a coach that has lost the dressing room."

George Hook was never afraid to pick a side early, but