Munster 36-10 Ospreys: Five-try showing sees home side register bonus-point PRO14 win
By Michael Cantillon
Last Updated: 03/12/17 11:47am
Johann van Graan began his official Munster tenure in ideal fashion as he oversaw a comprehensive 36-10 bonus-point victory over the Ospreys at Irish Independent Park in Cork on Saturday.
Tries from Sam Arnold, Darren Sweetnam, Chris Cloete, Rory Scannell and Jack O'Donoghue saw the home side romp to their third consecutive PRO14 victory.
Ospreys flanker Will Jones was shown a costly yellow card after 16 minutes, while Jeff Hassler and Jones scored tries for the Ospreys in another miserable outing for Steve Tandy's side.
Munster host the Leicester Tigers at Thomond Park in the Champions Cup next Saturday, while the Ospreys travel to play Northampton.
Munster scored the first points of the match after five minutes through an Ian Keatley penalty, after opposite number Sam Davies had been charged down by Scannell and Robin Copeland won a breakdown penalty in front of the posts.
Two minutes later and Ospreys should have drawn level, but having earned a penalty after Munster failed to roll away they decided to kick to the corner, with Davies proceeding to kick the ball dead, relieving all pressure.
On 16 minutes things got worse for the Ospreys as 18-year-old flanker Jones was sin-binned for a dangerous and forceful cleanout around the neck of Munster openside Cloete.
During his 10 minutes off the pitch, Munster struck for two tries, firstly through centre Arnold after he took a superb line and showed a powerful fend to breeze over.
Five minutes later and Sweetnam went over for Munster's second try. The Ireland wing and Cloete constructed a fast-paced move up the right wing and though Cloete's offload went to deck, Sweetnam was on hand to dive on it and roll over the try-line.
Keatley's conversion made the score 17-0 and on 30 minutes Munster struck for their third try through the all-action Cloete.
Having initially been tackled near the right touchline, Cloete showed good knowledge of the rules to release the ball on the ground after the tackle, before picking the ball up again and storming over the try-line in a cute piece of play.
Ospreys had the final say of the first half, however, as winger Hassler went over in the corner with Munster seemingly losing concentration approaching the break.
Three minutes into the second period and Scannell ensured Munster would come away with the try bonus point after a wonderful team move.
Having found Alex Wootton on his inside in midfield, the winger showed great feet before returning the compliment to Scannell, after-which the inside centre threw in a sumptuous dummy before touching down.
O'Donoghue scored Munster's fifth try of the evening approaching the hour mark as Scannell pinned the Ospreys into their 22 with a couple of magnificent tactical kicks.
Copeland turned the ball over on the ground five metres out with the Ospreys attempting to exit, and from there quick hands by Rhys Marshall and Billy Holland saw O'Donoghue trot over for a 36-5 lead.
Ospreys achieved their only real period of dominance in the final 10 minutes, as Munster gave away several penalties in their 22 and had O'Donoghue sin-binned, allowing Jones in to score.
Munster saw out the remaining time under no real danger, with a serious injury to prop Liam O'Connor and potential knock for full-back Simon Zebo the only concerns.
