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Conor Murray looks on as Mike Sherry moves the furniture. ©INPHO/Billy Stickland
Heineken Cup

Timing, precision and accuracy all Munster need to advance, says Ryan

Is that all?

DESPITE SATURDAY’S DEMORALISING defeat to Cardiff Blues at Musgrave Park, Munster retain full confidence that they can get the wins necessary to make the knock-out stage of the Heineken Cup.

Their cause will be aided by head coach Rob Penney having almost a full compliment of players to choose from.

Hooker Mike Sherry remains the main doubt for the trip to Edinburgh with his ankle in a protective boot as a precaution.

However, the province would not rule Sherry out today, saying he would be kept under close assessment until the team is announced.

Even if Sherry does not make the cut, Penney will be able to call upon the experienced Damien Varley who missed the Blues debacle through illness.

Conor Murray and Steven Archer, both of whom suffered knocks in Cork, are expected to return for the Heineken Cup clash in Murrayfield.

At that ground, second row Donnacha Ryan has called on his team-mates to follow the lead of Leinster and cut out the errors which dogged the display at Musgrave Park..

“I have absolutely no doubt we can [win].” Ryan told MunsterRugby.ie. ” In that game we knocked on the ball a lot. Set piece didn’t function as we would have liked and we ran into touch so many times.

“You’re releasing pressure on the opposition when you do that and so we didn’t give ourselves much of a chance.”The answers to all that are within us. It’s a case of making the decision to attack in the areas we need to attack and following through with precision and accuracy. We didn’t do that last weekend.”

The Blues result will remain over the squad like a foul stench. But Ryan seemed keen to own the result so that they can openly address the collective failings of the group and move forward.

“We did a lot of good things last weekend. We just need to be a lot more clinical when we do get in the right areas.

“We are under no illusions what’s required this weekend. We’ll look to our performance first and foremost and take it from there.”

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