Munster are rising again after the "turmoil" of the past month, insists Graham Rowntree.
The coaches and players held clear the air meetings on Monday - and 24 hours later, the province confirmed that highly-rated forwards coach Rowntree is staying for two more years.
There was acceptance from all concerned that the performance at Connacht last Saturday was not good enough - the Reds showed minimal attacking intent in a 10-8 defeat in Galway.
With another interpro derby - at home to Ulster - to come next Saturday, the Reds had to park that performance immediately and take away something positive from a bad experience.
Rowntree stressed: "It can only be good after a game of, well, frustrations. It can only be good to get it all out on the table and clear the air and people air some things.
"It's been the same in every environment I've ever been in coaching-wise - it can only be good getting that out and so far, so good."
Those heart to hearts were then followed by the good news story out of the province yesterday.
Confirmation that senior coach Stephen Larkham and then head coach Johann van Graan had done u-turns on pledges to stay fuelled fears that Rowntree would also depart in the summer.
Instead, the 50-year-old former England and Lions coach has signed a two-year contract extension.
Notably, however, he parked any speculation that he may have an interest in the head coach position down the line, bar admitting the Reds and the IRFU were aware of his coaching ambitions.
Asked if he would like the top job at some stage, Rowntree replied: “That’s a very direct question! Very personal question.
"I’m not wanting to have conversations about this today, it’s not right today.
"As I keep saying, the club and the IRFU both know my aspirations in my coaching career, put it that way.
"It’s not something I want to talk about today. Please ask me some more about the young players!"
Rowntree claimed he did not think about delaying a new deal before seeing how the head coach position is filled.
“No, I knew what my role is, my area of responsibility and the guys who I have the pleasure of working with day in, day out," he remarked.
"I know the calibre of the men there and I wanted to continue doing that."
Rowntree admitted the key to his happiness at the province stemmed from family settling into the community.
"That’s all we do it for, right? For our families to make them happy and that’s got to be right," he said.
"I’m very lucky that mine are settled in so that makes my job easier."
Rowntree revealed that he spent the most part of a month in isolation after Munster hit big Covid trouble in South Africa.
But he maintained that there is no disruption in the ranks caused by the departure dates announced for van Graan and Larkham.
“That’s sport, that’s business," said Rowntree.
"That’s professional sport. You crack on. Johann was very emotional when he told us, that’s been well documented.
"He’s got his reasons for doing it but what you do know from Johann and Steve, they’ll give 1000% until the end of the season to leave a legacy.
"I think that week when it was announced, there was a lot going on, we had guys going in and out of isolation - there is a lot of turmoil at the club, it’s been a crazy month.
"I spent most of my time in isolation, I’m not afraid to tell you that now.
"But all I can say is the way they have handled it and their professionalism and their dignity is very much intact and the guys respect them for that.
"And we trust them that they’ll be giving everything until the end of the season.”
