
After a six-try defeat to the Irish province that was much more comprehensive than the 38-19 scoreline indicates, the Rodney Parade team is still at the bottom of the table.
The Dragons were always significant underdogs for the match because of their long list of absentees, which stretched an already short roster, yet the game was finished after just 20 minutes.
Before finishing with a number of players out of position, Munster led 31-0 at the half after scoring four tries in the first quarter.
Tighthead Chris Coleman, center Harry Wilson, and scrum-half Dane Blacker all scored tries in the closing minutes to give the Dragons an undeserved bonus point, but they were unable to score a fourth.
However, it was the defensive shambles in the first half that was the source of frustration for interim head coach Tiatia.
The Dragons had a tackle success of just 65 per cent at the Lions in the Challenge Cup hammering and followed that up with a figure of 76 per cent against the Irish province.
Munster played well but defensively we were poor in the first half,” said the former All Black, who is still responsible for that department despite stepping up to the hotseat.
When we got it right we could control momentum, but they attacked really well in that first 40 before we made some adjustments.

“It was a better defensive display in the second half and there was better character around some of the things we know we are capable of.
“The boys didn’t give up and went to the final whistle but there are parts of the game we need to sharpen up.
“The first half was my fault with some of the defensive stuff, there was poor stuff that we didn’t get right.”
The Dragons are without a raft of senior figures due to injury – centre Aneurin Owen is the only fit member of their captaincy contingent – and that has led to a number of promising prospects being put in the squad together.
There is a risk that the likes of Huw Anderson, Harri Ackerman, Morgan Lloyd, Dylan Kelleher-Griffiths and Barny Langton-Cryer are exposed to damaging experiences.
The Dragons also suffered further blows with the loss of Taine Basham, Rodrigo Martinez, Harri Ackerman and Ryan Woodman to injury against Munster.
“At the moment that’s where we are at, we have some of our senior players still out injured and we are trying to work with the players we have and keep improving them,” said Tiatia.
“It’s a different level for them and there is a lot of work to do. It’s always a challenge when not getting the results, but we played against a very good Munster side and showed signs that we can put teams under pressure when we do get it right.”
The Dragons now have a short break for the start of the Six Nations before a home game against Glasgow on Sunday, February 16.
That is followed by a trip to Zebre Parma on Friday, February 28, a game that they realistically need to win to avoid finishing bottom of the league for the first time.