With Paul O'Connell out injured, Anthony Foley captained Munster on Friday night but he had little to be proud of after his side slipped to a 21-10 defeat to Edinburgh.

Lock O'Connell was taken out of the line-up before kick-off due to a hip flexor/back spasm injury, but it was a precautionary switch and the big Limerick man is expected to be fit for the province's Heineken Cup opener in Leicester next weekend.

Instrumental out-half Ronan O'Gara, who injured his shoulder after nine minutes' play against Edinburgh, should also be available for the Tigers' test and it is just as well as Munster need everyone of their frontliners after their Friday the 13th fright night at Thomond Park.

On a night of knock-ons, turnovers and misplaced passes, Denis Leamy's try early in the second half was Munster's only real hit as the three-try Scots repelled most of everything the hosts threw at them - even a late 40-metre maul.

Asked to explain what went wrong, Foley said: "The effort is still there but the skill is letting us down - even things like catching the ball.

"We are making errors and compounding this by racking up three or four of them on the bounce."

Four defeats in six outings in the Magners League is hardly the best preparation for the defence of your European title, but the experienced number eight, who has played in an incredible 76 of Munster's 77 Heineken Cup games, is certain the province can hit form, and sooner rather than later.

"Friday was one of those nights and we know it wasn't acceptable, but we haven't given up the ghost. We've been down this road before, when we haven't been playing well, and now it's time to circle the wagons, get our act together and show what we're capable of."