Proud Graham Rowntree says Munster 'could' have beaten Leinster in derby thriller

Graham Rowntree insisted Munster could have beaten Leinster and wasn't able to disguise his pride in his side’s performance.

The BKT URC champions fell to a 21-16 defeat in Dublin last night after a thrilling encounter in which the outcome was in the balance until the end.

It was Munster’s second loss in six games, while they also drew with Benetton earlier in the season.

However, in contrast to the aftermath of defeat to Ulster in round four, when Rowntree raged at his side over a number of issues, this loss felt different.

A Munster squad missing injured Peter O’Mahony, Jack O’Donoghue, Joey Carbery and RG Snyman, went toe to toe with a stacked Leinster outfit, who had started with 15 Ireland internationals.

They led 10-0 after a stunning Craig Casey try (below) and a penalty from Jack Crowley before Jamison Gibson-Park and Dan Sheehan scored converted tries in the second quarter.

But two more penalties from the Ireland out-half had them within a score of recording a second win in a row at the Aviva Stadium against their dearest rivals.

In the end, it wasn’t to be, but Rowntree understood his charges had pushed the hosts to the limit and, with a little more accuracy at the breakdown in the Leinster 22, could have come away with a win.

"Where was it won and lost? I thought it was a hell of a game," the former England prop told RTÉ Sport.

"We will look at ourselves, our composure when we get near the opposition try line.

"We were held for a goal line drop out early in the game and if we had scored there it changes the context of the next quarter.

"There’s elements of the third quarter as well that we will look at what we can do better on the opposition try line, look at those chances and where we can make better decisions.

"But that