Latest NewsMiddleton: We Missed An Opportunity
Head Coach rues breakaway tries in pre-season Munster defeat
Liam Middleton admitted Bristol Rugby ‘missed an opportunity’ after going down 24-9 to Munster at Musgrave Park on Friday.
The Head Coach watched his side take a six-point lead into the half-time break, only to concede three tries after the interval.
“I’m disappointed because we didn’t push on after leading at half-time,” said Middleton. “We missed that opportunity. We were still in it at the end but breakaway tries changed the game.
“We built a well-earned six point lead but the ten minutes immediately after half-time proved to be our downfall.
“We gave them momentum and they took advantage of that. I’m proud of the efforts of the players but, in the end, Munster’s physicality and execution was better than ours.
“The game highlighted areas that we need to work on and develop from this game - an easier fixture wouldn’t have shown us that.”
George Watkins, Bryan Rennie and Mariano Sambucetti all left the field during the first half with knocks, but Middleton is hopeful the injuries are not too serious.
He commented: “It’s hard to tell the extent of the injuries at this early time, but we’re hopeful that they aren’t long-term.
“Mariano [Sambucetti] was a little tight so we took him off as a precaution. Bryan [Rennie] is in a sling so we will have to see how he is, and George [Watkins] suffered a nasty collision and has some swelling on his ankle.”
