Graham Rowntree admitted his Munster side were "overpowered" by the Sharks as they fell to a third consecutive URC loss.
The 41-24 defeat in Durban was the first time the team had lost three league games in a row in nine years.
A Springboks-laden Sharks pack, including Ox Nche, Eben Etzebeth and Siya Kolisi, had a bonus point wrapped up before half-time, while late tries by Calvin Nash and Tadgh Beirne secured a point for the visitors.
However, the result, even with first-half tries from Tom Ahern and Mike Haley, was never really in doubt.
"They're a very powerful team and they came at us early on, but we came back, we had opportunities," said Rowntree.
"We were held up over the tryline there, with Tadhg Beirne, Tom Farrell could have put Craig [Casey] away for a try, so we had our own opportunities.
"They took theirs better and at the end of the day they had a bit too much power for us.
"We scrapped for a bonus point, some young men coming onto the field and making some big dents in the game for us.
"We tend to do that, we stick in there but there were times when we were just overpowered and again, we’ve just got to take our opportunities."
Munster, in 12th place on 12 points, are next in URC action against Lions on 30 November but face an All Blacks XV in Thomond Park next Saturday as they lick their wounds from a bruising trip to South Africa that also included a frustrating loss to the Stormers last weekend.
The head coach added: "We go back to Ireland tomorrow now, we’ve got a huge game for the club next, we’re playing New Zealand at Thomond Park.
"We’ve got guys going into international camps, so this is the last time this group is going to be together for a while so we’ll dust ourselves down and move forward."
Meanwhile, captain Beirne (below) conceded his side were second best.
"We’ve been in this position before," said the Ireland forward.
"Coming out to South Africa this early in the season was always going to be tough and we’ve been lucky the last two years, we’ve done well when we’ve come out here at the tail end of the season.
"This year we’ve come at the start, the Sharks had all their internationals back and you’ve seen that quality to day.
"We have a lot of injuries and a lot of young lads have had to step up from the bench and credit to them but the better team won today."
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