Ulster 3-24 Munster Match pictures

Munster, without 11 first-choice players, made Ulster look like a bunch of amateurs as they again failed to win a Celtic League home game.

''That performance was completely unacceptable,'' said a fuming McCall. ''It was a disappointing performance.

''There was a complete lack of energy, and as coach I'm responsible for it.''

McCall has reason to feel guilty about the lacklustre performance. Like every coach and manager, when things go wrong the buck stops with him and his assistant Allen Clarke.

''We were at home against a big Irish rival and what the crowd wanted was some energy and enthusiasm. But that was not there,'' said McCall.

''During the first half hour of the match there was absolutely nothing. It was up to us to dictate the pace, but we were flat.

''We then contrived to throw another intercept when the game was just drifting along to half-time. I'm getting used to it by now, but this is as low as we have been.

People will have to put their hand up, and then sort things out and come back fighting Mark McCall

''We will get back to work on Monday, and have a very close look at ourselves and where we are going.

''People will have to put their hand up, and then sort things out and come back fighting.''

McCall is probably at the lowest level of his career, even surpassing his early retirement from the game due to a neck injury back in 1998.

The boxing gloves will be off in the Ulster dressing room on Monday when McCall spells out a few home truths. But at present it is the coach who is in line to get it in the neck again - from all directions.

He may not put the fear of God into the players as his predecessor Alan Solomons, but there is no time like the present to read to riot act.

No soft-shoe shuffle. Let the players know where they stand, and make sure they are all singing from the same hymn sheet - on and off the field.

The season is all but gone now, so is it the last chance saloon for some of the players when they head for Celtic League basement side Borders on Friday?

No luxury

As Director of Rugby, McCall may decide it is ready to bring in a whole new regime and start afresh in readiness for next season in much the same manner that Solomons did when he arrived at Ravenhill back in 2001.

Before Solomons departed only three players, Andy Ward, David Humphreys and Gary Longwell, were left on the books that played in the 1999 European Cup final.

That is some turnaround after a three-year period. McCall could be ready to do likewise.

To be fair, Solomons had assistance from big hitters who were not Irish qualified. McCall's hands are tied to a certain degree, and does not have that luxury, so it is an unfair comparison.

But he now has to be ruthless. McCall may be tempted to bring in some of the so-called young stars sooner than planned. Those players that the IRFU see as the future of Irish rugby.

Andrew Trimble, Oisin Hennessey, Glen Telford, Declan Fitzpatrick, Rory Best, and Lewis Stevenson are just a few of those waiting on the wings.

Certainly something has to be done from management to the bench. If not, McCall's early tenure as coach could end in angst.