Sunday 14 December 2014 19:23, UK
Munster skipper Peter O’Mahony has not given up hope of reaching the knockout stage of this year’s European Champions Cup but accepts their fate will be decided by other teams.
Sunday’s 26-19 defeat by Clermont Auvergne in France was a serious setback for the Irish province who managed to snatch a late bonus point thanks to Ian Keatley’s penalty.
However, the former champions are struggling to make the quarter-finals and with two matches remaining in Pool A, are four points behind Clermont – who have beaten Munster twice – and three adrift of Saracens.
We have put ourselves in a position where we can still qualify.
And speaking after the defeat at Stade Marcel-Michein, O’Mahony said: "We dug in and got a point and you cannot yet tell what is going to happen in terms of qualification.
"That point could prove crucial. Now we have got two huge games to look forward to in the new year against Saracens and Sale Sharks when we have to fight for our lives.
"We will always pride ourselves on our physicality and we have put ourselves in a position where we can still qualify.
"I am hugely proud of the lads digging in and pulling something out at a hugely difficult place to come and play.
"We ran into a very good side that is playing really well. Last week against them we were guilty of making too many simple errors, whereas this time we let ourselves down with some poor kick-chase in the first half.
"We did our homework on them once again and I think we played a little bit smarter this week. Our half backs were brilliant and we tried to play around them and I thought JJ Hanrahan had a super game.
"But it was a difficult battle, they are a hugely physical side and very good technically at the breakdown.
"We had two good wins at the start of the group campaign and now we can look forward to those two huge return games next month."
Clermont's England full-back Nick Abendanon added: "We are in a commanding position and we have to capitalise on that.
"As a collective we have played pretty well and done exactly what we need to do. These two wins over Munster have put us in a very encouraging position and now the Pool is ours to lose.
"Of the two games we have got left Saracens is going to be the toughest, although Manchester is always a niggly place to go to face Sale Sharks, especially on a Friday night."
