Ospreys overcome Munster

Richard Fussell: Crossed for the Ospreys

Ospreys overcame the absence of no less than 19 players to record a famous 19-13 victory over Munster at the Liberty Stadium.

Tries from Richard Fussell and Rhys Webb helped the understrength hosts come out on top in the RaboDirectPRO12 clash on Saturday evening.

Despite missing so many, the Ospreys were still able to field seven internationals in a game which pitted second against third in the table.

Munster had led 10-6 at the break thanks to a try from wing Doug Howlett but in the end had to settle for a losing bonus point on their travels.

It was the visitors who had the first chance to open the scoring but fly-half Ian Keatley was off target with two penalties in the opening 10 minutes.

The Irish province's early dominance suffered a setback when referee Peter Allan sent hooker Damien Varley to the sin-bin for some over-vigorous use of the boot at a ruck.

Threatened

With an extra man on the field Ospreys suddenly threatened as an attacking force, though Matthew Morgan was short with a long-range penalty attempt.

The No.10 made amends on 22 minutes with a penalty goal - only for his effort to be cancelled out by a Keatley penalty three minutes later.

And, back to 15 men, the Munstermen went into the lead with a try for former New Zealand wing Howlett, who latched on to centre Will Chambers' kick over the line.

Despite the setback, Ospreys reduced the Munster lead down to four points with a second Morgan penalty on 34 minutes.

They then turned the game around with two tries in the space of five second-half minutes, starting with Webb setting up Fussell. The provider then turned scorer for the second, scorching in from a quickly-taken tap penalty.

Suddenly Munster found themselves trailing, leading to them calling for the help of British and Irish Lions duo Paul O'Connell and Ronan O'Gara from the bench.

The latter made an instant impact, putting over a penalty on 63 minutes, but that was almost immediately cancelled out by Morgan's third penalty shot.

As the match wore on Munster encamped themselves by the Ospreys line with a series of scrums, but the home side held out to deny their opponents.