Munster 'stayed in the fight' says Van Graan

Munster head coach Johann Van Graan was content with his side's efforts against Exeter in the Heineken Champions Cup last-16 first leg after getting out of Sandy Park with a five-point loss.

Exeter looked on their way to a sizeable victory after first-half tries from full-back Stuart Hogg and flanker Jacques Vermeulen put them 10 points clear.

But injury-hit Munster rallied after Exeter were reduced to 13 men, with wing Shane Daly touching down, while fly-half Ben Healy kicked a penalty, but it was Hogg's drop-goal from 45 metres out that could ultimately make a significant difference.

The Chiefs, looking to win the European Cup for a second time in three seasons, will feel they should have put the game away before indiscipline hit them.

But Munster, twice European champions, displayed trademark grit and resilience to set up an intriguing second leg at Thomond Park in seven days’ time.

Speaking after the 13-8 defeat, Van Graan said: "We stayed in the fight. The guys stood up and were counted.

"A two-leg knockout is fascinating.

"You can't win it in the first leg, but you can certainly lose it, and we feel we are still in it for next week at home.

"There were a lot of small margins in the game, and we need to be accurate for 80 minutes.

"We see Exeter as the very best in the opposition 22, and we knew what was coming today."

Munster's injury troubles saw skipper Peter O’Mahony and fly-half Joey Carbery sidelined, with Simon Zebo, Tadhg Beirne and Gavin Coombes also absent, testing resources for their trip to Devon.

Exeter rugby director Rob Baxter wants his players to "go for it" in Limerick next weekend.

The 2020 European champions edged out their opponents despite losing two players to the sin-bin – wing Olly Woodburn and