MORE RED DEAD REDEMPTION REQUIRED

MUNSTER have often found strength in adversity in the past, a reaction to counter the previous week’s disappointment.

They really need to find that again this week against the table-topping Top 14 outfit Toulouse, who arrive in Thomond Park on Saturday with a place in the Champions Cup last eight on the line.

The Reds are picking themselves off the floor having failed to lay a glove on Leinster in the PRO14 final.

“Yeah, look, that’s factually correct. Toulouse are a fantastic rugby team and they are flying at the moment, you’ve just got to look at the players that they have,” said Reds coach Johann van Graan.

“We’ve just got to dust ourselves off, take the next 48 hours to deal with this.

“It is very disappointing for all of us. You don’t get over a loss like this too quickly.

“If you lose in a final you’re so close but you’re so far. So we’ve just got to deal with it and start again with Toulouse.”

Unfortunately for the South African (inset), the losing feeling against Leinster is all too familiar – that’s nine times out of his 10 games in charge, and a record six in a row.

“There was no doubt in our minds that we could come and win here,” he said. “We know that it’s an away final against the three-time champions, so there’s no way around that. It doesn’t help if you try and tell them some fairytale.

“We’ve got to keep chasing them and currently they’re just too good for us.

“What I would say on top of that comment, they’re currently too good for everybody in the PRO14 so I believe that we’re the closest to them.

“Unfortunately that’s not good for us.”

FLOORED Munster were dejected after this latest defeat to Leinster