Scarlets director of rugby Phil Davies admits his side need to discover a ruthless streak if they are going to return to the top table of European rugby.
Davies watched a familiar tale pan out at Thomond Park - the Scarlets competing strongly for an hour, only to fall apart in the closing stages.
It happened out in Clermont, against Saracens in the EDF Cup and last weekend at Stradey.
And even though the Scarlets caused the Limerick faithful plenty of nervy moments during this bruising Pool 5 encounter, the missing Heineken X factor again cost them dear
"I am proud of the way we played because this is not an easy place to come, we stood toe to toe with them," said Davies.
"I thought it was an even game, it's just Munster took their opportunities far better than we did.
"We have got to be more clinical in crucial periods. We have talked about and at the moment we are having a few tough experiences. Hopefully, in time, when we have these experiences again we will react a bit better."
Davies added: "I am disappointed we didn't win. I was pleased at half-time with the position we were in, we had talked about getting into the game and pressurising Munster and I thought we did that in the first half.
"In the second we had chances to do the same, but just couldn't capitalise on them."
The defeat, the first time the Scarlets have lost four European fixtures in a row, keeps the West Wales region rooted to the basement of the pool without a point to their name.
