The performance of Munster during their shock 23-17 loss to the Dragons was one of their worst in recent memory, and a moment during the second-half, involving Peter O'Mahony, summed up some of their struggles.
O'Mahony was involved in an off-the-ball incident with Taine Basham, which lead to him being pulled into an off-side position, before Dragons scrum-half, Rhodri Williams, threw the ball against the Munster captain in an effort to win a penalty for his side.
The Dragons were awarded a penalty at the next ruck, and O'Mahony's ensuing chat with referee Sam Grove-White, showed that the whole affair had clearly antagonised him.
Peter O'Mahony Chat With Referee
Sam Grove-White: “Just tie your lace, Pete, and we’ll have a chat.”
Peter O’Mahony: “I know that was wrong but are you going to let that petulant s*** [go], with the 9 playing the ball off me?”
Sam Grove-White: “That wasn't what the penalty was for.”
Peter O’Mahony: “I know that.”
Sam Grove-White: “That wouldn't happen if you two weren't holding each other. Now, I don't want to see that happen again.”
Peter O’Mahony: “Fair enough.”
Sam Grover-White: “Calm down, be better and we're going to go with a penalty for not rolling.”
The Dragons scored the winning try later in the half, after winger Rio Dyer broke through the Munster defensive line following a woeful tackle attempt from Malakai Fekitoa and O'Mahony.
It was Munster's second loss in row in this season's URC, after losing to Cardiff in the opening week, and another performance where senior players have failed to produce a standard of play that would be expected of them.
Peter O'Mahony Rattled?
Things get a little heated between Peter O'Mahony and Morgan Bell with everything still to play for between Munster and Dragons
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READ HERE: Irish Public Blown Away By Titanic Peter O'Mahony Performance
Post-match, Munster's new head coach, Graham Rowntree, did not hold back in his assessment of the performance.
“I told the lads I’m not happy with our discipline, inaccuracy, the way we were forcing things and our error count. I can’t have this. I can’t dress it up any better than that.
“I was surprised about our inaccuracy particularly going into their 22, and our ability to keep the ball in that key area. That really shocked me I’ll be honest with you.
“Whoever you play you are going to have a challenge particularly when you play away from home regardless of what’s happened in the Dragons camp this week. I expected better in terms of the stuff we can do better.
“It was just so poor. We had eight turnovers in the first half and were ill-disciplined. We lost lineouts, knocked on and we never got a foothold in the game”
SEE ALSO: Donnacha O'Callaghan Says Munster Players Can't Use Coaching Excuse After Dragons Loss
