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'It's going to sting for a long time'

REACTION: Munster head coach Graham Rowntree admitted that his team wasted a lot of opportunities in their United Rugby Championship semifinal against Glasgow Warriors in Limerick.

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Franco Smith’s side tactically outplayed Munster on their way to a 17-10 victory.

The result means that the Warriors will travel to Pretoria to face the Bulls in the Final on June 22.

“It’s going to take a while for that to sink,” Rowntree told RTÉ Sport.

“We didn’t take our chances, full stop. They did.

“In the first half, we had a lot of territory, possession in their 22. We didn’t come away with enough points.

“In the second half, we had our opportunities near their goal-line and were forcing things. Credit to them, they were tenacious.”

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Munster will now be saying goodbye to Simon Zebo, RG Snyman, Antoine Frisch and Joey Carbery.

After originally finishing the league phase on top of the standings, Munster were hoping to give those stars a perfect send-off.

“We say goodbye to big characters and they deserve better; somebody spoke about that in the dressing room,” Rowntree added.

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“But you know I’m proud of how we finished the season. We topped the league, you earn a home semifinal, and then not to get the job done, it’s hugely disappointing.

“It’s going to take a while to sink in as I say.

“The game became quite fractured in the second half. It didn’t suit us. We were almost trying too hard with the ball.

“I stand here now and it feels a bit surreal.

“We’re going to have to suck it up, get on with it.

“It’s going to sting for a long time, but I’m proud of where we finished the season.”

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