Munster win, O'Leary lost

Munster moved a step closer to the Magners League title with a 29-10 victory over the Scarlets, though the result came at a price as Tomas O'Leary suffered a suspected broken ankle.

The scrum-half was stretchered off at Musgrave Park and has already been ruled out of the Heineken Cup semi-final against Leinster.

The injury, which happened in an unfortunate collision with David Wallace, could also see O'Leary miss the British and Irish Lions Tour to South Africa.

The player was one of three number nines selected in Ian McGeechan's squad, though his participation now looks extremely doubtful.

10th straight

O'Leary's injury marred Munster's 10th straight win in all competitions, a result that moves them onto 58 points. If Ospreys fail to gain a point against Edinburgh on Saturday then they will be crowned champions.

They didn't even need Lions captain Paul O'Connell, the inspirational lock being given the night off to rest a sore hip.

Lions duo Matthew Rees and Stephen Jones filled places on the Scarlets bench, with Nigel Davies giving a number of the region's young talents a run-out.

The visitors started brightly but Munster scored with their first real attack, Ian Dowling finishing off good work by Keith Earls, Doug Howlett and Lifeimi Mafi.

Ronan O'Gara converted but home joy was shortlived as soon after O'Leary was lost for the game, and possibly the rest of the season.

Rhys Priestland landed a subsequent penalty but a retreating scrum was really hampering the Scarlets, eventually leading to Wallace powering his way over for a 33rd-minute try that helped put Munster 17-3 ahead at the break.

Replacements

The Scarlets brought on Rees, Jones and Phil John for the second half and notched a try when Lee Williams set up scrum-half Martin Roberts.

Jones knocked over the conversion to make it 17-10 but five minutes later Roberts received a yellow card for a professional foul on Peter Stringer, who had come on in place of O'Leary.

Munster quickly upped the pace with the man advantage, Earls going over for a simple try that was converted by O'Gara.

Before the final whistle Denis Leamy capitalised off the back of a steamrollering scrum to chalk up the bonus-point score.