EDINBURGH coach Richard Cockerill was left frustrated and disappointed in the end at Murrayfield yesterday, despite his immense pride in his team’s display against Munster.
"It was a magnificent game of rugby, but, I’m desperately disappointed,” admitted Cockerill. “But I don’t think that team could have given any more today.”
With just minutes left, Edinburgh led 13-10. However the match swung on a pivotal incident involving Edinburgh’s Pierre Schoeman for a body check on Tadhg Beirne.
Cockerill reflected: “You think you can win the game because we played really well and our tactics were really good. We probably played more rugby than they did,
“Look, it’s a late tackle on our 10, we retaliate or whatever it looks like – I’m not sure it’s a reverse penalty - they overthrow the line-out, the ball bounces their way and they end up scoring from the ensuing play. It’s those fine, fine margins.
"It's the differences from a referee, the bounce of the ball, a bit of discipline from Pierre Schoeman at the end and you're kicking a goal and you are six points up and win the game.
"That's life, I am not going to criticise Pierre because he's a committed player and he does what he does and I'll back him to the hilt. But those are the falls sometimes."
On a day when Edinburgh could have been engineers of their own downfall, Cockerill explained why his side declined the opportunity to kick penalty awards in the first half, an affliction which has also dogged the Scottish national team and Glasgow this term.
“We had opportunities in the first half to maybe take points, but our kickers weren’t comfortable so we went to the corners,” said the former England hooker, who suggested the relief shown by the Irish visitors summed up what this result meant to them.
“It was one helluva battle and they are a great side. We are talking about Edinburgh competing in Europe, quarter-finals, against big teams. Look at their reaction about beating us. It says everything about the respect that we’ve got.
“We are getting there, but, I’m pretty cheesed off we didn’t get the result.”
Much of those sentiments were echoed by triumphant Munster skipper Peter O’Mahony, who admitted to being "very proud”.
“It took every bit of us, it's a quality Edinburgh side. They can probably count themselves unlucky, they played a lot of the rugby.
"We defended well. Small margins, small moments decided the game. We're very happy to come away with the win."
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