Munster bounce back to hold Ospreys scoreless in Cork storm

Boosted by the return of frontline Ireland internationals Jack Crowley, Peter O’Mahony and new club captain Tadhg Beirne, and an opening try from academy wing Shay McCarthy after just 11 seconds, Munster delivered their most convincing performance of the early season, despite playing the entire game in heavy rain.

Further first-half tries from centre Tom Farrell, his first since a summer move from Connacht, and last season’s player of the year Calvin Nash, laid the foundations for victory and a week on from a humiliating 42-33 defeat at Zebre Parma it was marked a welcome return to defensive solidity having conceded 11 tries in the opening two rounds and will restore confidence ahead of next Saturday’s trip to Croke Park to face unbeaten rivals Leinster.

Following on form a dismal defensive performance in Italy, this was a desperately needed return to stability, though the Ospreys only threatened the Munster tryline with sustained pressure in the third quarter. Yet there this was a much-improved effort, Graham Rowntree’s squad having regained their composure, honed their decision-making and sharpened up their handling to put in a dominant performance in testing conditions in Cork.

Injuries to Oli Jager and Peter O’Mahony, both of whom were withdrawn in the opening 40 minutes, and second-half retirees Mike Haley and Calvin Nash cast a shadow over Munster’s win ahead of next weekend’s derby but this was for the most part an encouraging performance for Rowntree and his coaches.

Played after a day of torrential downpours in Cork, and in persistent driving rain throughout, Munster immediately exploited the terrible conditions. Jack Crowley sought out wet hands from the kick-off, sending the ball with the wind and rain at his back towards Ospreys outside centre Owen Watkins. The Welsh international failed to control the slippery ball and watched it bounce out of his grasp and into the hands of Shay McCarthy, who raced over the tryline for the perfect start, a try after 11 seconds.

Crowley missed the conversion from wide left with scrum-half Craig Casey holding the ball upright on the deck but succeeded with a penalty closer to the posts on nine minutes as Munster opened an 8-0 lead.

There was a double injury blow to the Munster pack as tighthead prop Oli Jager failed to shake off an early knock and was withdrawn on 13 minutes, followed nine minutes later by Peter O’Mahony with what appeared to be a dead leg on his seasonal debut.

The additions of Stephen Archer and Gavin Coombes as their replacements did not weaken Munster’s hands and when Crowley, looking sharp on his first appearance of the campaign, sent a penalty into the right corner, the pack got their lineout drive going with centre Tom Farrell adding to the heft before sniping off the back to score the second try of the evening on 26 minutes.

Munster added a third of the opening half just before half-time as the pack went to work again, wearing down the Ospreys rearguard close to the line with patient and prolonged phase play until man of the match Casey identified space wide on the right and threw a long pass out to wing Calvin Nash, who duly grabbed his first try of the season in his second appearance.

It sent the home side into the break looking firmly in command with an 18-0 advantage and though Ospreys presented more of a threat early in the second half, Munster were able to withstand the pressure before breaking out and scoring their bonus-point try with the move of the match. Jack O’Donoghue took a pass from replacement scrum-half Conor Murry and exchanged passes with McCarthy to create an opening for the No.8 to charge over from the edge of the 22.

There were further injury concerns late on as both full-back Mike Haley and Calvin Nash were withdrawn as walking wounded and Ospreys finished strongly, camping on the Munster tryline, the late rearguard earning Archer a yellow card on 76 minutes. Yet Munster held firm, with two key turnovers at the death to delight a hardy but healthy crowd of 8,936.

MUNSTER: M Haley (T Butler, 70); C Nash (J Daly, 72), T Farrell, B Fitzgerald, S McCarthy; J Crowley, C Casey (C Murray, 56); J Loughman (J Ryan, 63), N Scannell (D Barron, 56), O Jager (S Archer, 13); J Kleyn (F Wycherley, 63), T Beirne - captain; P O’Mahony (G Coombes, 22), J Hodnett (J Loughman 79 – yc replacement), J O’Donoghue.

Yellow card: Archer 76 

OSPREYS: M Nagy; I Hopkins, O Watkin (K Williams, 66), P Cokanasiga, R Conbeer; D Edwards, R Morgan-Williams; S Thomas (S Parry, 57), D Lake (G Phillips, 57), B Warren (M Iowerth-Scott, 66); H Sutton, A Beard (L Jones, 66); J Ratti, J Morgan – captain, M Morris (H Deaves, 57).

Replacements not used: L Davies, J Walsh 

Referee: Mike Adamson (Scotland)