Graham Rowntree: 'It feels like we lost the game'

Graham Rowntree admitted his side simply weren't good enough, as Munster opened their Investec Champions Cup campaign with a disappointing 17-17 draw against Bayonne at Thomond Park.

The province gave up a 14-3 half time league to the French side, who were playing their very first game in Europe's top tier competition, as Remy Baget's late try and a touchline conversion from Thomas Dolhagaray secured them a deserved draw.

Munster had started the game well and led 14-3 after just over 20 minutes following tries for Shay McCarthy and Gavin Coombes, but the URC champions were wasteful in attack and had to settle for a single Jack Crowley penalty across the final 60 minutes.

"We were hanging on in there for a draw and it feels like we lost the game," Rowntree told RTÉ Sport.

Given Bayonne's status as Champions Cup rookies, Munster were heavy favourites not just to win, but do so with a bonus-point. However, the Basque side were full value for their two points, and celebrated their performance as if it were a win, with a rendition of Munster's adopted tune 'Zombie' being heard from the visitors' changing room after the game.

And Rowntree (below) says his side can have no complaints about the outcome.

"The start of the European campaign, first pool game at home, Thomond Park, Saturday night, it was all teed up for us, but we couldn't get going enough. We were really disappointed in the second half, the amount of possession we had on their line and we couldn't get over it.

"We've got to take our chances. We had a heap of possession on their tryline and couldn't get over it enough. We spoke about our sloppiness, but credit to them, they made it a proper dogfight there."

Despite making 11 changes from their last Top14 defeat to