Munster head coach Johann van Graan said his team will return to the the Champions Cup stronger next year after they lost out 32-16 in an intensely-fought semi-final in Coventry.

With Munster supporters having travelled well the two giants of European rugby clashed in a superb atmosphere at the Ricoh Arena, with penalties being traded by Owen Farrell, Tyler Bleyendaal and Conor Murray in the first half as the English side took a 12-9 interval lead.

Saracens flanker Michael Rhodes crossed for the game’s first try and after two more Farrell penalties Darren Sweetnam got over in the corner.

Saracens had the final say though as Billy Vunipola proved unstoppable from two metres, as the English champions progress to the final.

“Firstly, we weren’t good enough on the day,” said van Graan.

“We got beaten by the better team, so no excuses from our side. They’ve been playing some fantastic rugby, both in the Premiership and in Europe. They’ve blown everybody out of this competition at this stage.

“We’ll be back. We’ll be back in Europe next year and we’ll have to get past the pool stage to get into the play-offs again, that will be the first thing.

“This is a competition we as a club love and a special mention to all of our fans who travel all over the world and back this team through massive wins and games when we can’t get the result. As a club, we’ll move forward.”

The scoring began early with a breakdown penalty dispatched by Farrell but Munster levelled things up shortly after through fly-half Bleyendaal.

On 17 minutes Farrell struck his second as Saracens piled on the pressure and the same man made it 9-3 as the match entered the second quarter.

Bleyendaal and Murray brought things back to 9-9 but when Peter O’Mahony was penalised for a deliberate knock-on it gave Farrell the opportunity to create a 12-9 half-time lead from the tee.

The pressure only intensified on Munster in the second half as Saracens came flying out of the blocks with 22 phases that eventually saw Rhodes cut through the defensive line five metres out to saunter over the line.

A scrum penalty followed and the English side led 22-9 but just as things were looking ominous Munster rallied and got over on 61 minutes through Sweetnam, after causing havoc at a scrum five metres from the Saracens line.

Replacement JJ Hanrahan kicked the conversion but the English domestic champions fired back once again, bullocking No.8 Vunipola forcing his way over from two metres out.

Farrell kicked the conversion for a 32-16 lead and despite a late yellow card for Vincent Koch, Munster could find no way back.

Munster skipper O’Mahony added: “They probably played to their game plan. They are big men and they are hard to stop when they are going forward. You’ve players like Owen Farrell and [Alex] Goode pulling strings either side of the ball, so it’s hard to know which direction they are going.

“Added to the fact you’ve guys like Mako and Billy [Vunipola], guys like [Will] Skelton coming on just giving you momentum which is hard to stop. So that 15 minutes after half-time just felt like wave after wave. They played very well.”

The Guinness PRO14 Final is one of the most entertaining games in the rugby calendar and takes place in Glasgow’s Celtic Park on May 25. Tickets start at just £25 for adults, £1 for kids. Visit www.pro14rugby.org/finaltickets