Munster coach Graham Rowntree taking positives in defeat

Munster head coach Graham Rowntree was taking the positives from defeat as his experimental side went down 20-13 to Cardiff in their BKT United Rugby Championship opener in Wales.

While Taulupe Faletau was making his debut for the home side, the Irish province were short some of their big names, meaning the new coach wasn't getting too disheartened by the performance, even if the result did irk him.

"I’m disappointed, I'm not going to sugarcoat it," he said.

"But I am impressed by our fight, sticking in the game. We’ve come out with a bonus point.

Jack O'Sullivan scores Munster's first try but Cardiff quickly respond to move back ahead. Live on RTÉ2 and the RTÉ Player. #URC #CARvMUN pic.twitter.com/GkLA4sDYGu

"They [Cardiff] were good, they scored two very good tries off set-pieces, one off the lineout first half and one off a scrum at the end of the game there.

"We are going to have a look at ourselves, what we can do better in terms of holding onto the ball.

"Also, we have to have a look at our breakdown, our urgency wasn’t good enough sometimes. Particularly the second half, that pressure they put on the breakdown just got greater and greater.

"We’ve got to look at that, when we can look after the ball and how we can improve our breakdown urgency. They’re two big take-outs for me.

"Having said that, I’m delighted to salvage a bonus point at the end."

"They look like they have pyjamas on." Donncha O'Callaghan is not impressed with some of the Munster ambition at the breakdown. The second half is live on RTÉ2 and the RTÉ Player. #URC #CARvMUN pic.twitter.com/OKxkuWvXnM

At half-time, RTÉ pundit Donncha O'Callaghan had also lambasted that Munster breakdown desire, claiming that some players looked "like they had their pyjamas on"