Munster are in the middle of a nightmare they just can’t wake up from, which is showing week in and week out.

What has happened to the Munster that ‘Don’t lose’ at Thomond Park, what has happened to the Munster of old, that to quote Paul O’Connell “Would put the fear of god into anyone”?

Basic Errors

In the last two weeks we have seen just how bad things are getting or have become.

Granted they have just played ‘The best team never to have won a European Competition’, but a lack of creativity and style is becoming apparent and it’s beyond a joke at this stage.

Going back to the first of the back-to-back games with Clermont at Thomond Park, Munster genuinely looked like a squad who hadn’t a breeze from one to fifteen and then the poor subs were tasked with coming in to try and make a difference.

Very little was different in the second fixture yesterday as a second European loss in a row now has Munster on the ropes and the knockout shot is impending.

It’s very basic things, like handling errors and discipline, that are some of the contributing factors in Munster's woes.

How many times yesterday or the previous week had you seen them run up a good number of phases before either knocking on or conceding penalties at set-piece or the breakdown?

An awful lot! This is something that is drilled into school kids for them not to do, however regardless of how good/bad the opposition, ‘The Red Army’ can’t get it right.

We have seen it for a long time now that Munster can get ahead on the scoreboard but right after the re-start concede a penalty and all that good work goes to waste.

It has become something you almost expect at every re-start.

Is coaching the problem?

Anthony Foley is a hero in Munster, as an Irish rugby fan, he is in a list of one of my favourite players of all time, however there seems to be a stench of a Martin Johnson situation down in the province and it looks ready to bubble over.

Johnson himself was (And perhaps in some quarters still is) a hero, he captained the English side that won the World Cup, after all.

Then he became England coach and proved that just because you were a good player, doesn’t mean you will cut it as a coach.

You have to wonder when the proud province of Munster will become sick of what their famous side is turning into.

Not for one minute am I saying ‘Axel’ should step down or be sacked, but major reform is badly needed if Munster are to ever experience success in Europe or even in League competition again.

Player ability at the highest level

I feel we are starting to get the point that not only reform is needed in how Munster play, it’s also needed within the squad.

The province have spent years doing what they neglected to do when Leinster were miles ahead; breeding home grown talent.

No doubt some really good players have come through, Peter O’Mahony has become a force to be reckoned with, James Cronin is coming into his own, Conor Murray has announced himself as one of the world’s top quality scrumhalves and Simon Zebo is a crowd favourite.

Only an example of quality players really coming through, however there still remains a big hole of experienced quality in the squad.

The days of Munster having guys like Paul Warwick, Rua Tipoki, Lefeimi Maffi and Doug Howlett at their disposal, seems like an age ago.

What has happened to the bargaining power and the strength of the Munster Rugby brand?

Leinster have built home-grown talent but they have also had a good mix of foreign investment too.

When Kane Douglas and Ben Te’o spoke to the media for the first time, they spoke about going to Leinster because they were “One of the best sides in Europe” They’d be right too.

At the time, guys like Jean de Villiers and Doug Howlett went to Munster for the same reason.

It’s been a while since anyone with decent experience or success has signed for them.

While I was watching Clermont vs Munster in my local yesterday, I made that very same point to a gentleman sitting beside me.

His answer, “Well look at BJ Botha”. I sighed in response.

Not for one minute is this a personal attack on him, but when is it going to dawn on everyone that we are heading into 2015 and yes Botha is a World Cup winner with South Africa, however they won that in 2007, eight years ago.

Yes that is experience but I feel the World Cup winner is beginning to look tired.

Without me beginning to contradict myself, the question and point I am posing is when are Munster going to dust off the cheque book and bring in one or two big names and re-build a once famous reputation?

Certainly at the moment they seem to be struggling with an ever changing world of "professional rugby" or an era of only sides with a lot of money, ie Toulon, will win competitions.

Anthony Foley could start with what appears to be a desperate need for a world class centre.

Don’t get me wrong, JJ Hanrahan and Andrew Smith are good players but up against Wesley Fofana and Aurelien Rougerie, I think we know who wins that one!

There would have been a sigh of relief when Ian Keatley kicked his last minute penalty to earn Munster a losing bonus point, However will this matter when it comes to ‘squeaky bum’ time?

Calculators would have been taken out to work out if it’s possible, at the very least, a four-try, bonus point win and denying a losing bonus point at Saracens in the New Year will be required for those who really feel pool progression is realistic.

Never count Munster out I know, however all these clichés and recollections of miracles in years gone past appear to be used far too often with supporters recently to mask what is fast becoming a miserable failure.

Daniel Pitcher is a freelance rugby reporter.