Munster head coach Graham Rowntree admits his side were given "a kick up the backside", as they completed their pre-season programme with a disappointing 33-19 defeat to Gloucester in Cork on Friday night.
It marked two defeats from two for the province in their friendlies, ahead of their opening BKT United Rugby Championship game against Connacht at Thomond Park on Saturday 21 September.
Rowntree's side gave up five tries to their Premiership opposition as they trailed 33-12 at the break, and while they did win the second half 7-0, it leaves the province with plenty to work on over the next fortnight.
Liam Coombes put Munster in front when he scored the first try of the game inside five minutes, with Billy Burns converting, but Gloucester replied straight from the restart when Coombes spilled the ball, allowing Charlie Atkinson run in under the posts.
Ollie Thorley and Max Llewellyn added further tries for the visitors, both from linebreaks in midfield, before Munster briefly got back into the game when academy flanker Ruadhán Quinn touched down from a maul, making it 21-12.
Gloucester continued to carve up the Munster defence, with Afo Fasogbon and George Barton adding further Gloucester tries to make it 33-12.
Academy scrum-half Jack Oliver scored the only try of the second half, but Rowntree admitted his side let themselves down with their porous first half display.
"It's an honest group. They know that wasn't good enough. That wasn't reflective of this club," he said.
"I'm sure in 15 days' time we'll look back and think, 'That was the kick up the backside we needed.'"
New signing Thaakir Abrahams played just under an hour in his first outing in a Munster shirt, while there were also appearances for Ireland U20 backrow Sean Edogbo, as well as Garryowen centre Gordon Wood, son of former Ireland captain Keith.
Leinster let the shackles off in their final pre-season game of the month, as they warmed up for their URC opener with a 54-26 win away to the Northampton Saints.
The sides combined for 80 points in a typically open pre-season game, as Leo Cullen’s side got game time into 31 players ahead of their trip to Edinburgh on Friday 20 September.
While the Premiership champions led 7-0 early on, Leinster’s forwards dominated with Scott Penny and Gus McCarthy both going for maul tries to move 12-7 ahead.
Liam Turner quickly added a third try after a charged-down clearance, and when Saints prop Elliot Millar-Mills were shown a yellow card Leinster took full advantage as they dominated at the scrum to force a penalty try.
In the third quarter Northampton worked their way in for a pair of tries, but each time they were cancelled out with Leinster scores – first for Michael Milne and then Alan Spicer.
Henry McErlean crossed for his side’s seventh of the afternoon with a quarter of an hour to play, before Sam Prendergast saved the best for last on 77 minutes, as he produced a wonderful piece of skill to chip over the head of the Northampton defence, collecting his own kick to cap off the high-scoring win.
Mack Hansen (above) logged his first minutes for nine months as Connacht made it two wins from two in pre-season, defeating URC champions Glasgow Warriors 28-21 at Scotstoun.
Hansen played just under 25 minutes off the bench in his first appearance since dislocating his shoulder in the province’s New Year’s Day win over Munster.
His return comes as perfect timing for head coach Pete Wilkins, who will now have an Ireland international available for the opening rounds of the URC, starting with a derby against Munster in 21 September.
With a run of tough games to start the season, the province look well-primed, and scored four tries, all converted by Cathal Forde, to cap off a good pre-season campaign following their win over Sale Sharks last week.
Connacht never fell behind against Franco Smith’s side, with tries for Dylan Tierney-Martin and new signing David O’Connor nudging them ahead twice in the opening half, although each time Glasgow replied to make it 14-14.
Shayne Bolton - who impressed when fit last season – scored either side of half time to give Wilkins’ side a 28-14 advantage, and although Gregor Brown did get Glasgow back within one score, Connacht held out to win their second friendly in a row.
While Munster, Leinster and Connacht all closed out their pre-season campaigns, Ulster got theirs under way at the weekend, as they edged out Benetton 26-19 in Belfast.
Richie Murphy’s side delayed their friendly programme by a week, and will take on Exeter Chiefs this weekend, ahead of their first URC game versus Glasgow on 21 September.
Recent signing Aidan Morgan was the star attraction at Kingspan Stadium, and the New Zealander played just under 50 minutes before being replaced at out-half by James Humphreys, son of Irish Rugby performance director David.
The province came from 19-12 down to win on a sunny evening in Belfast, while Ireland Sevens international Zac Ward also featured in the second half, with the Ballynahinch man recently linking up with the province on a trial basis.
Rory Telfer’s try on 11 minutes gave them the lead after great work in the build-up by captain Mike Lowry, and while the Italians drew level, Ulster moved 12-7 when John Andrew finished off the back of a maul.
Tries either side of half-time put Benetton 19-12 in front, after which Murphy made a slew of changes, and they eventually drew level just after the hour when Jude Postlethwaite got in for a try, converted by Humphreys.
Five minutes from time scrum-half Dave Shanahan touched down for the winning try, with Jack Murphy, son of head coach Richie, adding the extras.
Ulster round off their pre-season friendlies this weekend when they face Exeter Chiefs at Sandy Park, with new South African wing Werner Kok in line to be available following a minor calf injury.
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