'Fastest URC try ever': Munster Rugby storm back to victory over Ospreys
Munster bounce back from shock loss to Zebre to inflict 23-0 defeat on Welsh region in wet conditions in Cork
Winger Shay McCarthy struck for a try inside the opening 10 seconds as Munster Rugby bounced back from their bitterly disappointing defeat to Zebre to secure an impressive 23-0 bonus point win over the Ospreys on a filthy wet and windy Saturday night at Virgin Media Park.
Wind-assisted Munster led 18-0 at half-time in front of an attendance of 8,293 as McCarthy's opportunist try straight from the opening kick-off after Ospreys’ centre Owen Watkin spilt the ball, was followed by further five-pointers from centre Tom Farrell, his first for the province, and another Limerick winger Calvin Nash.
Out-half Jack Crowley also added a first half penalty for the home side.
The Ospreys, backed by the driving rain and wind, exerted more pressure in the second period. However, Munster, who had shipped 11 tries in their opening two URC fixtures, defended superbly to keep the Welsh region scoreless.
An excellent move featuring Conor Murray and first half tryscorer McCarthy resulted in back-row Jack O'Donoghue rampaging over for the bonus point try in the second period.
The win came at a cost, however, as prop Oli Jager, back-row Peter O'Mahony and full-back Mike Haley left the game with injuries, just one week out from the province's big URC interprovincial derby clash with great rivals Leinster at Croke Park.
Munster had made eight changes to the side that suffered a shock defeat away to Zebre Parma in Italy last weekend with captain Tadhg Beirne, out-half Jack Crowley and Peter O’Mahony making their first appearances of the season
More to follow:-
SCORERS: Munster: Shay McCarthy, Tom Farrell, Calvin Nash, Jack O'Donoghue try each, Jack Crowley pen.
MUNSTER RUGBY: Mike Haley, Calvin Nash, Tom Farrell, Bryan Fitzgerald, Shay McCarthy, Jack Crowley, Craig Casey, Jeremy Loughman, Niall Scannell, Oli Jager, Jean Kleyn, Tadhg Beirne (Capt), Peter O'Mahony, John Hodnett, Jack O'Donoghue. Replacements: Stephen Archer for Jager (injured, 14 mins), Gavin Coombes for O’Mahony (injured, 23 mins), Conor Murray for Casey (56 mins), Diarmuid Barron for Scannell (56 mins), John Ryan for Loughman (64 mins), Fineen Wycherley for Kleyn (64 mins), Tonly Butler for Haley (71 mins), Jack Daly for Nash (72 mins).
OSPREYS: Max Nagy, Iestyn Hopkins, Owen Watkin, Phil Cokanasiga, Ryan Conbeer, Dan Edwards, Reuben Morgan-Williams, Steffan Thomas, Dewi Lake, Ben Warren, Huw Sutton, Adam Beard, James Ratti, Jac Morgan (Capt) Morgan Morris. Replacements: Sam Parry for Lake (58 mins), Garyn Phillips for Thomas (58 mins), Harri Deaves for Morris (58 mins), Math Iorworth-Scott for Warren (66 mins), Lewis Jones for Beard (66 mins), Keiran Williams for Hopkins (66 mins), Luke Davies for Morgan-Williams (66 mins)
REFEREE: Mike Adamson (Scotland)