POL
15-10-2007, 10:30 AM
Munster endured another sorry trip to Wales as they were sunk 16-3 by the defending Magners League champions the Ospreys.
After their home defeat to league leaders Cardiff Blues last weekend, Munster were sunk by Welsh opposition for the second time in a week in Swansea.
First half tries by Ospreys backs Lee Byrne and Shane Williams handed the home side the points on a disappointing afternoon for Declan Kidney's men.
The match of the weekend saw both teams blood returning yet fragile World Cup stars after Ireland and Wales failed to qualify from the pool stages.
Munster welcomed back Irish squad members Brian Carney and Alan Quinlan to the fold while the star studded Ospreys named Wales inter-nationals Shane Williams, Sonny Parker and Jonathan Thomas in a strong line-up as well as their newest young talent, fly-half Gareth Owen.
The Red Army were buoyed by their late victory at Newport Gwent Dragons a fortnight ago and travelled to Wales in good heart.
But they fell behind on three minutes when the 18-year-old Owen slotted over a close-range penalty after wing Brian Carney failed to release the ball.
Fly-half Paul Warwick had a miserable day with the boot as he missed three easy-looking penalties in the opening half.
Munster competed vigorously at the breakdown but threw away a golden opportunity on 19 minutes when hooker Denis Fogarty knocked on just metres short of the try line.
Flanker Quinlan's exquisite chip found wing Carney who was held up short of the line and in the next phase, Fogarty couldn't handle the ball.
The miss was to prove expensive as the Ospreys stepped up the pressure. Scrum half Mike Phillips surged through the Munster defence and over the tryline but Television Match Official Hugh Watkins disallowed the try.
But the home side weren't to be denied and on 35 minutes it was Owen who made the crucial break before his pass found full-back Lee Byrne who beat the last-ditch challenge from Carney to score the first try of the afternoon.
Just four minutes later, the Ospreys kept the TMO busy with the fourth decision of the half as Shane Williams displayed his dancing feet to ease past Ian Dowling to score in the right corner to extend the Ospreys half-time lead to 13 points.
Owen and replacement kicker Jeremy Manning swapped penalties as the Ospreys sealed their com-fortable victory.
Scorers -- Ospreys: Tries: Byrne, S Williams; Pens: Owen (2). Munster: Pen: Manning.
Ospreys: L Byrne; N Walker (blood bin J Hook 62), S Parker, G Henson (A Bishop 13), S Williams; G Owen (N Walker 70), M Phillips (M Roberts 80); D Jones, H Bennett (B Williams 74), C Griffiths (A Jones 53), I Gough, I Evans (L Bateman 80), J Thomas, F Tiatia (capt), B Lewis (S Tandy 80).
Munster: S Payne (P Stringer 50); B Carney,K Lewis, R Tipoki, I Dowling (L Mafi 65); P Warwick (J Manning 48), T O'Leary; F Pucciariello (D Hurley 74), D Fogarty (F Sheahan 50), T Buckley, M Melbourne (B Holland 74), M O'Driscoll,A Quinlan, A Foley (capt) (J Coughlan 74),N Ronan.
Ref -- Simon McDowell (IRFU).
- Phil Cadden
After their home defeat to league leaders Cardiff Blues last weekend, Munster were sunk by Welsh opposition for the second time in a week in Swansea.
First half tries by Ospreys backs Lee Byrne and Shane Williams handed the home side the points on a disappointing afternoon for Declan Kidney's men.
The match of the weekend saw both teams blood returning yet fragile World Cup stars after Ireland and Wales failed to qualify from the pool stages.
Munster welcomed back Irish squad members Brian Carney and Alan Quinlan to the fold while the star studded Ospreys named Wales inter-nationals Shane Williams, Sonny Parker and Jonathan Thomas in a strong line-up as well as their newest young talent, fly-half Gareth Owen.
The Red Army were buoyed by their late victory at Newport Gwent Dragons a fortnight ago and travelled to Wales in good heart.
But they fell behind on three minutes when the 18-year-old Owen slotted over a close-range penalty after wing Brian Carney failed to release the ball.
Fly-half Paul Warwick had a miserable day with the boot as he missed three easy-looking penalties in the opening half.
Munster competed vigorously at the breakdown but threw away a golden opportunity on 19 minutes when hooker Denis Fogarty knocked on just metres short of the try line.
Flanker Quinlan's exquisite chip found wing Carney who was held up short of the line and in the next phase, Fogarty couldn't handle the ball.
The miss was to prove expensive as the Ospreys stepped up the pressure. Scrum half Mike Phillips surged through the Munster defence and over the tryline but Television Match Official Hugh Watkins disallowed the try.
But the home side weren't to be denied and on 35 minutes it was Owen who made the crucial break before his pass found full-back Lee Byrne who beat the last-ditch challenge from Carney to score the first try of the afternoon.
Just four minutes later, the Ospreys kept the TMO busy with the fourth decision of the half as Shane Williams displayed his dancing feet to ease past Ian Dowling to score in the right corner to extend the Ospreys half-time lead to 13 points.
Owen and replacement kicker Jeremy Manning swapped penalties as the Ospreys sealed their com-fortable victory.
Scorers -- Ospreys: Tries: Byrne, S Williams; Pens: Owen (2). Munster: Pen: Manning.
Ospreys: L Byrne; N Walker (blood bin J Hook 62), S Parker, G Henson (A Bishop 13), S Williams; G Owen (N Walker 70), M Phillips (M Roberts 80); D Jones, H Bennett (B Williams 74), C Griffiths (A Jones 53), I Gough, I Evans (L Bateman 80), J Thomas, F Tiatia (capt), B Lewis (S Tandy 80).
Munster: S Payne (P Stringer 50); B Carney,K Lewis, R Tipoki, I Dowling (L Mafi 65); P Warwick (J Manning 48), T O'Leary; F Pucciariello (D Hurley 74), D Fogarty (F Sheahan 50), T Buckley, M Melbourne (B Holland 74), M O'Driscoll,A Quinlan, A Foley (capt) (J Coughlan 74),N Ronan.
Ref -- Simon McDowell (IRFU).
- Phil Cadden