Rowntree: South Africa win has to be a 'springboard' for Munster's season

Munster head coach Graham Rowntree says their impressive win against the South Africa Select XV has to be a springboard for the rest of their season.

The province put their poor URC form behind them in front of a sold-out Páirc Uí Chaoimh, winning 28-14 against a stacked touring side which contained 14 Test Springboks in their matchday 23.

In brutal weather conditions, the hosts scored four tries, with Cork natives Simon Zebo and Shane Daly among them, before holding off a second half fightback from the South Africans.

"It's brilliant, a special night for the club and a special night for the club individually," a delighted Rowntree said.

"And a special night for all those people who worked exceptionally hard to get this game organised. And the support was brilliant, although the weather wasn’t the best.

"That is going to give us a shot in the arm moving forward into the next batch of games."

And the Munster boss said the game, and the occasion at the home of Cork GAA lived up to all expectations.

"I had a feeling it would be like that given how quickly it sold out, and given the support and the history of the support we've had in these games against international opposition.

"I wasn’t surprised. I’m just so proud of everyone involved."

Having built up a 21-7 lead at half time, Munster played the second half into strong wind and rain, and although they had to withstand a huge amount of South African pressure in the final quarter, the visitors could only force one try in the second 40 minutes.

And Rowntree says the most pleasing aspect of the victory was how his side managed the game.

"Not just the win, the balance to our game. The tries that we scored, the composure that we showed, our defence and the discipline, pretty much, was