OSPREYS TASTE DEFEAT IN IRELAND

Last season the Ospreys were always one step ahead of the Irish giants throughout the campaign as they went on to be crowned Celtic kings for the first time. But without three British Lions and a string of internationals, they were simply second best to Munster this time around despite Matthew Jones getting them off to a good start with a fourth-minute penalty.

Ireland wing Anthony Horgan, returning from injury, proved irresistible as Munster hit back during a seven-minute purple patch during the first half. Horgan went over on 23 and 26 minutes before carving through the Ospreys defence to set up Kelly on the half-hour mark. Paul Burke converted all three and added a penalty to leave Munster out of sight at 27-3 ahead at half-time.

With the game virtually over as a contest, the second-half disintergrated as both sides made a raft of replacements. Shaun Payne grabbed an opportunist try after Richard Mustoe had spilled the ball in his desperation to get the Ospreys moving forward.

Ospreys captain Barry Williams at least added some measure of respectability to the scoreboard with a try, for the second week in a row, three minutes into injury time.

Munster:
S Payne
J Kelly
T Halsted
D Leamy
A Horgan
P Burke (L Manning, 62)
P Stringer (F Murphy, 72)
M Horan
F Sheahan (J Flannery, 80)
F Pucciariello (F Roche, 80)
T Hogan
M O’Driscoll
A Quinlan
A Foley (Capt, S Keogh, 70)
D Wallace

Tries – A Horgan (2), J Kelly, S Payne
Cons – P Burke (3), L Manning
Pens – P Burke (3)

Ospreys:
S Terblanche
R Mustoe
D Bishop (S Parker, 53)
L Davies
J Vaughton
M Jones (S Connor, 50)
R Rees, (S Spice, 80)
P James
B Williams (capt)
A Millward (A Jones, 49)
B Cockbain
L Bateman (I Evans, 49)
L Beech (A Wyn Jones, 73)
A Lloyd
R Pugh

Try – B Williams
Con – S Connor
Pen – M Jones

Referee: D Changleng (Scotland)