'My best day ever' - Rowntree lauds 'brave' Munster after URC win

Munster head coach Graham Rowntree says winning the BKT United Rugby Championship with the province is his best achievement in 16 years as a coach.

The Englishman has enjoyed plenty of success since retiring from his playing career in 2007, winning a Six Nations titles with England in 2011, as well as a British and Irish Lions series in 2013.

Munster's first trophy in 12 years is also Rowntree's first as a head coach, and he says it ranks right at the top of his accolades since hanging up his boots.

" [It's] my best ever," he said, after the province's 19-14 win against the Stormers in the Grand Final in Cape Town.

"It'll sink in at some point, depending on how much Pinotage I drink in the next 12 hours. It's my best day ever.

"Just the manner of which we've done it, away from home, doing it tough, a tight group, not rotating the squad a lot. I'm immensely proud."

It caps a remarkable turnaround for the province, who lost five of their first seven games of the season under their new coaching ticket, before timing their run in the second half of the campaign to become champions for the fourth time, and first since 2011.

"It hasn't sunk in yet. This won't sink in for a long time.

"It's not been straightforward, this season, particularly the challenges we've had recently, sixth game on the road, to come and do this, sixth game on the road, I'm immensely proud of the group.

"It's not been easy. I'll let you know when it sinks in," he added.

Just like in their semi-final win against Leinster, Rowntree's side dominated large spells of the game, but found themselves trailing in the final 10 minutes, before John Hodnett's try, converted by the immense Jack Crowley, saw them strike the decisive blow against the defending champions.

And