MUNSTER HAD BOUNCED back from Pro12 opening day defeat to Edinburgh with wins over Italian opposition in the last two weekends.
This evening offered up a deeper test of the improvement, however, as the in-form Ospreys arrived in Thomond Park. The Welsh region had won three from three to open their season and weren’t be short of confidence.
Conor Murray captained a Munster side that included several interesting combinations, while opposite number Rhys Webb was likely to be the game-breaker for the Ospreys.
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Welcome to our liveblog from Thomond Park, as Anthony Foley’s Munster look for a third consecutive win in the Pro12.
They had a setback on the opening day of the campaign at home to Edinburgh, but have enjoyed wins against Treviso and Zebre in the last two weeks. Will that run continue against the Welsh side, who have been scoring tries for fun early this season.
How do you see this one going, Munster fans?
Here’s how the Pro12 table lies following Ulster’s shock loss away to Zebre. Will Munster be making an upward move this evening?
The Munster team for this evening:
Munster: Johne Murphy; Andrew Conway, Ivan Dineen, Denis Hurley, Gerhard van den Heever; Ian Keatley, Conor Murray (capt.); Dave Kilcoyne, Duncan Casey, BJ Botha; Donncha O’Callaghan, Paul O’Connell; Paddy Butler, Sean Dougall, CJ Stander.
Replacements: Kevin O’Byrne, James Cronin, Stephen Archer, Dave Foley, Jack O’Donoghue, Duncan Williams, JJ Hanrahan, Andrew Smith.
There has been a late change to the XV for the Ospreys. Aaron Jarvis is out, meaning Moldovan international Dmitri Arhip will wear the number three jersey for the first time. Cai Griffiths comes onto the bench.
Ospreys: Dan Evans; Jeff Hassler, Andrew Bishop, Josh Matavesi, Eli Walker; Dan Biggar, Rhys Webb; Nicky Smith, Scott Baldwin, Aaron Jarvis; Alun Wyn Jones (capt.), Rynier Bernardo; Joe Bearman, Justin Tipuric, Dan Baker.
Replacements: Sam Parry, Duncan Jones, Dmitri Arhip, James King, Morgan Allen, Martin Roberts, Sam Davies, Hanno Dirksen.
So, just around 20 minutes to kick-off in this fixture. How do you see Munster getting on tonight? A win at home at the Ospreys would be a huge boost for Anthony Foley and his all-Irish coaching team.
Get your predictions in…
If you’re in the mood for some Munster-related reading in the build-up to kick-off here, check out these articles from TheScore.ie:
Not too many people in the seats at Thomond Park, but mainly because everyone is at the bars watching the All-Ireland final replay!
More tickets were sold tonight than for the two most recent home fixtures, we’re led to believe, so should be an improved crowd for Munster at least.
Both teams have headed back into the changing rooms for their final prep. The stands are still quite empty as people get the final minutes from Croker in on the TV screens at the bars.
We’ll be interested to see how Gerhard van den Heever goes for Munster tonight. Such an excellent athlete, we’ll be watching his decision-making and work-rate off the ball closely. CJ Stander at No. 8 is, of course, also of interest!
The Ospreys are out to polite applause, led by Alun-Wyn Jones. A world-class lock at his best, can he inspire the Ospreys to a fourth consecutive victory this evening? The Welsh region’s form has been excellent in the early stage of the season.
And Conor Murray leads out Munster! He has developed into such an important leader for the province, both off the pitch and in terms of their tactical approach.
1 minute - Dan Biggar gets us underway…
2 minutes - An early penalty provides the Ospreys with the chance to kick to touch and maul. They play off it to Matavesi in midfield, but a phase later the ball is spilled by out-half Bigger. Poor skills in what was a promising situation.
3 minutes - Scrum free-kick goes to Munster as the Ospreys engage early. Keatley fires that one into touch down the left to move play into the Welsh side’s half.
4 minutes - Brilliant from van den Heever, who beats two men on the counter-attack after a weak Webb box kick. Munster going through their phases after the South African win makes 20 metres of ground.
6 minutes - Around 10 phases later, Munster have made no ground so Keatley sends a sweeping kick in behind the Ospreys. Dan Evans is well positioned, however, and gathers to boot the ball 70 metres down field into touch.
7 minutes - Sloppy exit play from Munster as they look to kick out of their 22 and Ospreys win the scrum. Another excellent platform for the Welsh side.
9 minutes - Anthony Foley and defence coach Ian Costello will be hoping for better from Munster. As we say it, their side win a scrum penalty. Good start at that set-piece for the home team.
10 minute - And that’s instantly followed up by another pen, this time the Ospreys come in the side of Munster’s maul. No hesitation from referee Neil Hennessy. Munster kick into touch on the Ospreys’ 22…
11 minutes - That’s clever from Munster! A training ground move as Stander catches in the line-out, shifts it to Both, who pops to Conor Murray to kick in behind Ospreys. Dan Evans is forced into touch as he gathers. Big chance here…
TRY! Munster 5-0 Ospreys (Van den Heever ’12)
Keatley is wide with the touchline conversion.
Excellent from Munster from the resulting line-out after they forced Evans into touch though. They battered at the Ospreys’ tryline through the forwards and Conor Murray, before Keatley’s miss pass put van den Heever over in the left-hand corner. Really clinical stuff from close-range.
14 minutes - That really was a lovely, flat, hard pass from Keatley. Forwards laid the platform, but sweetly finished by the Munster backs.
TRY! Munster 5-5 Ospreys (Hassler ’16)
16 minutes - Instant reply from the Ospreys though! Lovely hands down the right exploits the overlap. Biggar and Tipuric both shifting the ball to the flying Hassler, who darted over untouched.
CONVERSION! Munster 5-7 (Biggar ’17)
20 minutes - Ooh, let off for Munster! Biggar makes a sharp break through the midfield, but his offload to Webb is just knocked-on. Denis Hurley beaten on the inside that time. Munster can’t afford to have those kind of lapses in the centre of the pitch.
22 minutes - Another scrum offence against the Welsh side as Dmitri Arhip is pinged for going straight to deck. Penalty to Munster, which Keatley launches into touch 40 metres out from the Ospreys line.
Let’s see what Munster can do in possession…
23 minutes – After strong carries from Dineen, Conway and Stander, Johne Murphy attempted to dab a grubber through for Conway to chase. The Ospreys gather, but the result is a Munster line-out 22 metres out…
24 minutes - Munster go close! A lovely starter play from the line-out saw Keatley float an absolutely gorgeous pass out to Murphy, who found van den Heever on the left wing. He was halted just metres short, before Munster came in from the side of the ruck.
The Ospreys have missed touch form the penalty though…
26 minutes - That passage ends with a line-out for the Ospreys. Murray kicked over the top to the right, but Evans was once again in position to collect. He cleared, before Keatley fired it over the sideline and into the safety of touch.
Justin Tipuric is getting some attention as play pauses. He looks groggy and he’s going to head off, replaced by James King.
27 minutes - Excellent covering tackle from Duncan Casey! Rhys Webb is released down the left by a smart offload, but the Munster hooker keeps pace with him and shunts him into touch.
Munster have messed up their line-out though…
29 minutes - The Ospreys briefly think they’ve scored again through Hassler, but we come back for a Munster penalty. Crossing from the Ospreys in front of Sean Dougall created the break. Good call from Hennessy.
Keatley’s touch-finder is poor, just up to the Munster 22. Again the Ospreys do a bit of spoiling at the line-out, but they actually knock it on in the air and it’s a scrum to Munster.
31 minutes - Ambitious stuff from Munster, who run it out of their own 22 from that scrum. Another absolute zipper of a pass from Keatley in there as van den Heever gets another gallop up the left.
He’s tackled into touch and then Munster infringe from the subsequent line-out. That means Biggar will have a shot at goal from around 46 metres out, to the right of the sticks.
PENALTY! Munster 5-10 Ospreys (Biggar ’33)
34 minutes - Another classy run from van den Heever! Again, he breaks past two defenders, but now Munster are running laterally and aimlessly, losing ground. They’ve lost a good 20 metres after that van den Heever surge. Murray box-kicks it away.
35 minutes - That is a sensational wipers kick from Biggar, who sweeps the ball in behind van den Heever on the right wing and into touch exactly in the corner. Munster manage their exit better this time and clear to their own 22.
37 minutes - This man has been really impressive for Munster with ball in hand.
39 minutes - A wasted opportunity for the Ospreys there as Biggar’s pass goes behind Hassler and into touch. They had created space wide on the right after turning Denis Hurley over in midfield. Munster lacking urgency around the ruck at present.
40 minutes - Penalty for Munster as Dan Evans cleans van den Heever out of it in midair! Dangerous enough play that time, and Munster kick into touch around 20 metres out from the Welsh side’s tryline. Great chance to finish the half with a score…
40 minutes - Another penalty for Munster and this time in front of the posts. Dan Baker played scrum-half Murray at the breakdown. No advantage came for Munster, so Keatley is set for the place kick…
PENALTY! Munster 8-10 Ospreys (Keatley ’40)
HALF TIME: Munster 8-10 Ospreys
What did you make of that half? No sense of panic from Munster despite trailing at the break, although that may point to their slight lack of urgency. That’s been particularly evident at the breakdown, where they’ve been second best.
We’ve yet to see a Munster player obliterate an Osprey at the ruck. Good signs in attack with Keatley’s lovely passing and the running game of van den Heever. Stander looking strong at the base of the scrum.
Conor Murray has looked to direct much of Munster’s territorial play with the boot, but Dan Evans at 15 for the Ospreys has been superbly positioned much of the time.
Munster say the attendance is 13,547 this evening. Hard to confirm that with the naked eye, but that would appear to include season ticket holders again.
Both teams back on the pitch and we’re all set for Keatley to restart the game…
42 minutes - And we’re off again, van den Heever making a brilliant hit to drive Walker into touch and win Munster a line-out! There is a drizzle falling on Thomond Park now, as Munster win a penalty in the air, Ospreys taking out the lifter it seems.
Keatley will have a shot at goal, 15 metres in from the left touchline and 23 metres out from the tryline. This to take the lead…
PENALTY! Munster 11-10 Ospreys (Keatley ’42)
42 minutes - Conor Murray snipes to the right of a ruck on Munster’s 22 then offloads to Kilcoyne. The pass goes to deck though, knock-on and a chance for the Ospreys in good territory.
44 minutes - Two brilliant Paul O’Connell hits in that passage of defence for Munster, wrapping himself around the carriers’ upper bodies. That kind of momentum-builder can be key. Munster have a defensive line-out now and Murray will box kick clear.
YELLOW CARD! Alun-Wyn Jones ’48
Three penalties in around three minutes see Hennessy lose patience. Jones dragged down the Munster jumper at the line-out and Keatley will have a shot at goal…
No, Keatley’s missed that one. 15 metres in from the right-hand touchline and 22 out. The Thomond Park crowd aren’t happy with that effort!
50 minutes - Now Munster concede a needless penalty, racing offside as they chased an aerial bomb. Biggar fires the pill into touch 22 metres out…
51 minutes - A loose Matavesi offload brings that attack to an end. The skill level has just dropped ever so slightly with that little bit of moisture on the ball.
A poor box kick from Conor Murray travels directly into touch and the Ospreys have another attacking chance though…
53 minutes - Arhip knocks-on at the base of a ruck and Munster get the put-in to a scrum. But then the home side concede the penalty as the set-piece collapses. Paul O’Connell isn’t happy with that call, but Biggar has the chance to re-take the lead for the Ospreys.
Straight in front…
PENALTY! Munster 11-13 Ospreys (Biggar ’54)
55 minutes - Dave Foley is on for Donncha O’Callaghan in the second row.
56 minutes – The Ospreys give up a silly penalty as Alun-Wyn Jones falls off his feet at the ruck and into an offside position. Keatley will have a kick at goal from 43 metres out, straight in front…
PENALTY! Munster 14-13 Ospreys (Keatley ’57)
58 minutes - The Ospreys back to 15 men as Bernardo returns from the sin bin. It was him, rather than Jones, who was yellow carded earlier.
CJ Stander comes up with an excellent turnover penalty for Munster!
61 minutes - What have you made of Ian Keatley’s performance this evening?
64 minutes - Another chance for Munster, with Andrew Smith replacing Denis Hurley in the centre. Dineen shifts to 12, Smith is at 13.
65 minutes - Munster give up a kickable penalty! A poor scrum went backwards, van den Heever attempted to save the situation as the ball shot out and he was pinged for holding on after the tackle.
Biggar is 35 metres out, 16 in from the right touchline…
PENALTY! Munster 14-16 (Biggar ’66)
67 minutes - Less than 15 minutes left for Munster to take the lead again. Loads of time. Smith surges forwards in the centre, but once again the Ospreys win the breakdown battle and Foley gets done for holding on.
Foley’s men second best at the breakdown in this game.
69 minutes - Another penalty for the Ospreys! Very similar position to the last one, which Biggar slotted…
PENALTY! Munster 14-19 Ospreys (Biggar ’70)
71 minutes - Munster send on JJ Hanrahan instead of Dineen. He’ll play alongside Keatley at 12. This could be interesting.
71 minutes - Clever kick from Webb pins Munster back into their own half. They’ll have to build from deep here.
75 minutes - Keatley tries a crossfield kick and then Evans loses the pill! Munster on the attack here!
76 minutes – Still building! Casey carries after O’Connell…
77 minutes – It looks like Munster are heading for a try, but then Hennessy pings them and the Ospreys get a penalty! Jack O’Donoghue has been brilliant since coming on, his carrying and energy have added plenty.
78 minutes - Munster get another chance to counter now! Murray swings a pass to Hanrahan, who makes a half break!
79 minutes - Munster awarded a penalty! Keatley fires it into touch, bang on the Ospreys’ 22 and on the left. Last chance saloon surely…
80 minutes - Hanrahan carries in the middle, O’Connell follows up…
80 minutes - Munster just seven metres out now…
80 minutes - Five metres out, pick and gos from the pack…
80 minutes - But they’ve lost possession! It’s all over!
FULL TIME: Munster 14-19 Ospreys
Well, what did you make of that match? Rhys Webb has been named man of the match. Two home defeats for Munster in three fixtures at Thomond Park already this season.
That’s all we have time for. Thanks for joining us and stay tuned for reaction from Thomond Park. Keep the comments coming. Cheers!
