Graham Rowntree insisted Munster could have beaten Leinster and wasn't able to disguise his pride in his side’s performance.
The BKT URC champions fell to a 21-16 defeat in Dublin last night after a thrilling encounter in which the outcome was in the balance until the end.
It was Munster’s second loss in six games, while they also drew with Benetton earlier in the season.
However, in contrast to the aftermath of defeat to Ulster in round four, when Rowntree raged at his side over a number of issues, this loss felt different.
A Munster squad missing injured Peter O’Mahony, Jack O’Donoghue, Joey Carbery and RG Snyman, went toe to toe with a stacked Leinster outfit, who had started with 15 Ireland internationals.
They led 10-0 after a stunning Craig Casey try (below) and a penalty from Jack Crowley before Jamison Gibson-Park and Dan Sheehan scored converted tries in the second quarter.
But two more penalties from the Ireland out-half had them within a score of recording a second win in a row at the Aviva Stadium against their dearest rivals.
In the end, it wasn’t to be, but Rowntree understood his charges had pushed the hosts to the limit and, with a little more accuracy at the breakdown in the Leinster 22, could have come away with a win.
"Where was it won and lost? I thought it was a hell of a game," the former England prop told RTÉ Sport.
"We will look at ourselves, our composure when we get near the opposition try line.
"We were held for a goal line drop out early in the game and if we had scored there it changes the context of the next quarter.
"There’s elements of the third quarter as well that we will look at what we can do better on the opposition try line, look at those chances and where we can make better decisions.
"But that was a proper team, 50,000 people at the Aviva, and I’m immensely proud of our performance.
"It’s irrelevant what I think [about whether it was a fair result]. I would have liked to scrape a win at the end there. I’m happy and proud of our performance but we will look at what we can do better.
"My blood pressure was high at that point but that’s our ambition and I can’t take that out of the lads. That’s how we want to play.
"That’s our endeavour there. It could have gone horribly wrong but we came out with it and we deserved a point.
"[We] could have won the game if it wasn’t for a few errors from us but that’s some performance. That’s a massive game that we’ve put in there."
However, despite being left to rue some missed opportunities, Rowntree insisted that the timing around replacing Simon Zebo was not one of his regrets.
The full-back made his season debut and was a constant threat on the ball, setting up Casey’s score and drawing in defenders time and time again.
But, after claiming a high ball in the second half when Leinster led by just a point, he limped away from the play and looked to the sideline for attention.
Read more: Leinster boss Leo Cullen pleased with win, hails 'excellent' Ciarán Frawley
There was a subsequent break in play as Leinster won a penalty that they kicked to touch, with replacement Shay McCarthy waiting on the sideline.
Just over a minute and a half later Larmour scored what turned out to be the winning try, dipping under a clearly struggling Zebo before touching down.
"What are you asking me? Are you asking me did I take him off too late?" responded Rowntee to a query about why McCarthy didn’t get on sooner.
"No, I’m happy with the time that we took him off. Hindsight is wonderful."
Meanwhile, Rowntree (above) was able to issue a positive update on injured flanker O’Mahony, who stepped down as Munster skipper during the week.
"I’ll know more Monday," the 52-year-old said.
"His shoulder wasn’t as bad as we first feared. He had some treatment for it and I’ll know more Monday as to how long he’ll be out.
"That will be weeks, not months. Jack O’Donoghue the same."
Munster, now eighth in the table, host leaders Glasgow Warriors in Thomond Park on Friday night.
