A good team display saw Munster record a second bonus-point win of the season over Ospreys at a sold-out Irish Independent Park on Friday night with Chris Cloete awarded Man of the Match on his return from injury.
Seven converted tries secured the win with Joey Carbery scoring his first try on his first start for the province in an impressive display that also saw the out-half kick five from five conversions.
Tries from Carbery, James Cronin, Rhys Marshall and a penalty try gave Munster a 28-6 half-time lead with the bonus point wrapped up at the interval.
Second-half scores from Marshall, Arno Botha and Darren Sweetnam completed the scoring with Ian Keatley slotting the final conversion.
It was a dominant performance from the Munster pack with Tadhg Beirne impressing on his first start as Peter O’Mahony led from the front on his first start of the season and Botha scored his first Munster try.
It was the official opening of the new modified 3G surface at Irish Independent Park with the All Ireland camogie champions, Cork, introduced to the crowd at half-time in recognition of their success at Croke Park last weekend.
After quelling an early Ospreys surge, Munster took control and a Duncan Williams pass released Sweetnam down the blindside for his first foray up the left touchline.
Although Ospreys halted that attack, Munster had the bit between their teeth with a penalty try awarded after a Munster rolling maul was halted illegally just before the try line.
Giorgi Nemsadze received a yellow for collapsing the maul but Ospreys hit back through a Sam Davies penalty to reduce the deficit to four.
An O’Mahony chase, tackle and clear-out to force the turnover drew a huge ovation from the West Stand before an even bigger cheer greeted the second try from Carbery.
The out-half caught a loose Ospreys clearance before waltzing through a gap to score and add the conversion for a 14-3 lead.
A second Davies penalty on 27 minutes made it 14-6 before Cronin touched down at the base of the post a minute later to move Munster further in front after Cloete had been stopped just short.
Munster had Ospreys by the scruff as the half drew to a close with a Sam Beard yellow card for collapsing a maul followed by the fourth try as Marshall scored his first as the 14 men couldn’t stop the Munster maul.
Another maul try for Marshall followed early in the second half before Botha’s first try for the province on 45 minutes put Munster well and truly out of sight at 42-6.
An opportunistic try from Luke Morgan gave Ospreys their first score of the second half but Munster were over for their seventh shortly after. Excellent work from replacement Ian Keatley and Botha released Sweetnam and the winger did brilliantly to beat two defenders and score. Keatley added the conversion to complete the scoring for a 49-13 victory.
Next up for Munster is a trip to the Cardiff Blues next Friday before Ulster visit Thomon park on Saturday, September 29.
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Stephen Archer departed for a HIA in the second half and John Ryan limped off with an ankle injury – both will be assessed by the medical team.
Joey Carbery and Tadhg Beirne made their first Munster starts with Carbery scoring his first Munster try.
Arno Botha scored his first Munster try on his third appearance.
Chris Cloete was awarded Man of the Match on his first appearance since returning from injury.
Munster: Mike Haley; Andrew Conway, Sammy Arnold (Jaco Taute, 52), Dan Goggin, Darren Sweetnam; Joey Carbery (Ian Keatley, 59), Duncan Williams (James Hart, 66); James Cronin (Dave Kilcoyne, 50), Rhys Marshall (Mike Sherry, 57), Stephen Archer (John Ryan, 50-65) (James Cronin, 73); Tadhg Beirne (Jean Kleyn, 52), Darren O’Shea; Peter O’Mahony (C) (Tommy O’Donnell, 59), Chris Cloete, Arno Botha.