This weekend Munster face an inter-provincial derby at Connacht on Saturday and need a win to stay in the top 4 in the table.

Penney, knowing he needs a fully fit squad for the Heineken Cup semi-final trip to Toulon, will this week be without JJ Hanrahan, who suffered a tear in his groin last weekend.

Casey Laulala will need another week to recover from a broken bone in his right hand and Donnacha Ryan will not be rushed back from his foot injury.

Looking ahead to the match this weekend in Galway, Penney was looking on the bright side of his team’s loss to Glasgow.

“We did some really good things and we created 3 really glaring opportunities in that first half, which we didn’t take.”

“Being 22-5 down at half time was always going to be a hurdle to overcome, it would have been a different game if we were closer at half time but it just wasn’t to be.”

“We have taken the learnings out of that, of which there were many, and the guys have had a good few days reflecting on their efforts. Hopefully we will be better for it this week.”

“Connacht need a lot of respect and they have been going well. Last week was a blimp for them, but they will be thinking it hasn’t happened to us in a while and they will go back to what’s been working for them.”

“They are full of quality players so we will have to be on task,” said the Munster coach.