Going into their New Year's clash with Connacht, Munster needed all the assistance they could get, having racked up an all-timer injury list.
Instead they became even more depleted, with a dangerous clear out doing what looked like serious damage to Jack O'Donoghue's knee, and Oli Jager stretchered off after a serious head knock.
Furthermore, referee Chris Busby was lenient towards Connacht in his refereeing of the breakdown, with Bernard Jackman - on the RTE Rugby Podcast describing it as coaching:
The way the game was being refereed, the defensive team were going to get the penalty.
And I just thought Munster just looked so frustrated. Conor Murray, just before he was taken off, you could hear on the ref mic really getting animated with Busby around the breakdown, where he felt Busby coached Connacht.
And by that stage, the opportunity was dead.
READ HERE: Connacht Player Criticised For Dangerous Actions In Win Over Munster
Is too much 'coaching' from referees at the breakdown giving defences an unfair advantage? 🗣️
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What Jackman means is that Busby was explaining to Connacht what they were doing wrong, while they were doing it, giving them ample time to slow the ball down before following Busby's orders.
"Munster looked at their best off counter attack," Jackman added.
"So Carty he was kicking down the middle to Zebo. They were the only real times I thought that Munster looked to be dangerous, that first two or three phases after that first carry by Zebo.
"And after that you just felt Connacht were so comfortable, but part of the reason was Connacht were doing a great job of slowing that ball down and I would say illegally.
"But then the referee was coaching them. And by that stage it wasn't a penalty anymore because Connacht reacted to his coaching, but the ball was 6/7 seconds dead.
"And it's been a feature in these inter-pros, that the team that has been trying to play have looked more vulnerable than the team who are defending."
Former Munster out-half, Johnny Holland, agreed with Jackman's assessment and was of the belief that referees should penalise sooner.
It was also, perhaps, another example of Munster failing to adapt to the referee/conditions, and will be an intriguing aspect of the game to look out for in the URC this season.
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