'We have to get our heads up' - Hodnett calls for Munster resolve ahead of season-defining run
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John Hodnett believes Munster cannot afford to dwell on their Champions Cup defeat at Castres if they are to bounce back in both Europe and the URC.
A high penalty count, creaking scrum and costly individual errors contributed to Munster’s 16-14 loss at Stade Pierre Fabre on Friday night, giving double try scorer Hodnett the feeling the round-two pool match was an opportunity lost.
The openside flanker also accepted that feeling must not be allowed to linger as Munster turn the page for a return to league action and a challenging trip to Belfast for Friday night's URC derby at Ulster.
“I know they (Castres) have a really good home record here and a lot of teams have lost here, but we are more disappointed with ourselves," Hodnett said. "We know we are better than that, and that’s probably the real disappointing part of it.
“It’s about getting better again next week because going away to Ulster is no easy feat to win up there either. That will be our next focus. You can’t dwell on things because it only spills into next week, and next week is a big game.
“Look, we are disappointed, we will get over it when we get home and start fresh on Monday, look at things we need to get better at and just keep improving.”
Despite their poor performance in France, Munster’s losing bonus point means they have six points from the opening two Champions Cup pool matches after taking the maximum five from their 33-7 home win over Stade Francais six days earlier. Yet having missed the chance to take a big step towards progressing to the Round of 16 with a win in Castres, they now have to negotiate two difficult rounds in the New Year with Saracens visiting Thomond Park on January 11, followed by a trip to English champions Northampton Saints the next weekend.
“They are two really good sides," Hodnett said. "We’ll really have to pull up our socks and give it a good go if we want to get out (of the pool).
“They will be tough games alright, but on our day I know we can beat anyone. We just have to get our heads up.
"We have a really important game next week again in the URC. We need to start getting up that table again. All the focus is on next week really.”
With two interprovincial URC clashes to come before European battle is resumed, Hodnett knows a potentially season-defining block of games is underway but is determined to stay next-job focused.
“One hundred per cent, it is a big couple of weeks, but it gets a bit daunting when you’re looking a couple of weeks ahead. You have to just go day-by-day, week-by-week.
"I know it’s a bit of a cliche, but genuinely, you can’t be looking too far down the line when you have good opposition to play next week.”