Ian Costello: There's no point in feeling sorry for ourselves

Munster interim head coach Ian Costello said his team will take defeat to Leinster on the chin and look to learn from some harsh lessons after they were beaten 28-7 in Friday night's BKT United Rugby Championship derby at Thomond Park.

The visitors flexed their muscles to get past a Munster outfit full of endeavour, but lacking in cutting edge quality.

Afterwards, Costello offered an honest and blunt assessment.

"We put a lot into that and to be on the end of a 28-7 scoreline is very tough, but that's the quality that you get when you play Leinster," he told RTÉ Sport.

"There's no point in feeling sorry for ourselves. They had five opportunities five metres out and they took four of them. We'd four quick taps, we'd a five-metre lineout, and we converted one. You add in a bit of issues around our setpiece and that's what happens when you play that quality, the scoreline can get away on you.

"We had a plan to play a certain way where we looked to put the ball in behind them, get the crowd into the game and not give them opportuntites around the middle of the pitch.

"To a large extent we did really well but the problem then again is if it came to a scrum and we knew there was a chance, or a decent chance, they were getting penalties in the back of the scrum, it gave them access.

"They brought quality off the bench, they have an excellent squad. From our point of view, we can't ask any more from the 23 guys that took the field."

"We came up a little bit short against a really, really good side."

Inconsistencies in the Munster lineout and scrum hindered them all night. The hosts had plenty of possession, but errors at important times cost them.

Costello conceded they have been hurt by an unfortunate injury pileup, though he was keen to