Munster 22 Ospreys 10:THIS WAS far from vintage Munster. Against a limited, defence-minded Ospreys who almost looked to be in disguise, they huffed and puffed but finally wore the champions down.
Yet, in its own way, Munster made a statement of sorts, for their supremacy was rarely in question.
Mixing up the old with the new, both in personnel and style, the new signings continue to blood in well. Often practical, the home side dominated territory for vast swathes of the night, establishing field position with, for the most part, a clever variety of kicking and retaining possession with close-in driving and good targets in midfield. Sam Tuitoupou was judiciously used as a target and decoy, and ensured a host of go-forward ball.
They weren’t as clinical as in their pomp, leaving four penalties behind and making too many handling errors against normally inventive opponents who, strangely, oozed with negativity.
Even when Munster opted to go to the corner in the first half for the pack to crank up the pressure – missing enforcers such as Paul O’Connell, David Wallace and Jerry Flannery – the old feeding-time-in-the-zoo ferocity wasn’t quite there. Perhaps it needs the Heineken Cup to bring out that kind of intensity.
The result was that they had only a decidedly hard-earned 3-0 lead for their considerable efforts at half-time.
Having finally worked an opening for the reborn Doug Howlett, despite a couple of defensive blips in rare Ospreys sorties, the combination of scrum power and Ronan O’Gara finding his kicking range ensured they pulled clear. Wian du Preez was a particularly destructive presence when introduced for the final half-hour.
They were also missing Denis Leamy, who cried off after hurting his ribs in training earlier in the week, but coach Tony McGahan is hopeful he will return for next Friday’s trek to Glasgow.
Of more concern are Felix Jones, Denis Fogarty and Ian Dowling. Jones will have to wait until the swelling subsides before having a scan on the knee he seemed to twist in the turf, Fogarty’s shoulder will “undergo a medical procedure” in Dublin today, while Dowling (hip) was to have “further medical examination” yesterday.
The latter’s early departure forced a reshuffle which saw Ronan O’Gara brought on at out-half, with Paul Warwick switching to fullback and Jones to the wing. Unless injuries clear up, this is probably the likelier shape of things come Europe.
Classy footballer that he is, Warwick reverted to his secondary role with elan, using his vision and alertness to launch clever counter-attacks in harmony with Howlett, who looks trimmer and quicker, as well as more confident, this season.
Aside from a whiff of vengeance for defeat here in April, it was always likely the team would feel obliged to mark Alan Quinlan’s 200th game in the appropriate manner. The old warhorse was his usual self, augmenting his customary high takes with even more carries than normal, and once picking off the base of a counter-ruck turnover with an up-and-under. They just don’t make ’em like Quinny any more.
“There were a lot of special people here tonight, who helped me early in my career,” he said. “Clanwilliam and Shannon people were all here and a lot of close family and friends. The most important person who couldn’t be here is my son AJ. It’s too late obviously.
“The most important thing at the end of the night was the result because I was quite nervous,” added Quinlan.
“Going into the game I knew there would be a bit of attention on me and I was a bit worried we wouldn’t win the game. The boys are fantastic, and every time I’ve pulled on the jersey has been special to me, but everyone was brilliant all week. They promised me they’d make every effort to make it a special night, and it was special.”
Quinlan acknowledged it took the best part of 50 to 60 minutes to wear down the Ospreys, and that the key was the breakdown.
“We were well beaten in the breakdown in this fixture last year and we targeted that tonight.”
With a referee who didn’t favour the attacking team quite as much as others do currently, Munster countered to good effect but also committed more numbers and quickened up their supply after the interval.
Munster’s scrum was also the basis for their solitary try, and a clever variation on the previous week’s strike play in Edinburgh this time launched Tuitupou up the middle rather than as a decoy. Warwick then hit the line to put the utterly deserving Howlett over in the corner. O’Gara’s touchline conversion preceded four consecutive penalties from the increasingly assured outhalf.
Sean Holley admitted the Ospreys’ performance was “unacceptable”, but with little supply they outscored Munster two tries to one, which is a reminder of the greater threat they are liable to provide come the back-to-back Euro re-matches in December.
Immediately after Howlett’s try (why does this happen so often?) Donncha O’Callaghan was drawn in alongside John Hayes when Shane Williams threatened to do his dancing thing in midfield, and the winger’s inside pass put Bowe through the gap. When Warwick showed Bowe the outside, Bowe duly took it.
Late on, after another break up the middle by Andrew Bishop and the binning of Billy Holland, Dan Biggar put Richard Fussell over with minimal fuss, so to speak.
Both are returning frontline summer tourists, and will be much nearer to optimum performance levels come the next rendezvous here in Europe on December 12th.
Perhaps, with three more meetings this season, including two in the Heineken Cup, the Ospreys were keeping their powder dry.
SCORING SEQUENCE: 37 mins: O'Gara pen 3-0; (Half-time, 3-0); 43: Howlett try, O'Gara con 10-0; 45: Bowe try 10-5; 55: O'Gara pen 13-5; 56: O'Gara pen 16-5; 62: O'Gara pen 19-5; 69: O'Gara pen 22-5; 76: Fussell try 22-10.
MUNSTER: F Jones; D Howlett (capt), J Murphy, S Tuitupou, I Dowling; P Warwick, T O'Leary; M Horan, D Fogarty, J Hayes; D O'Callaghan, D Ryan; A Quinlan, N Ronan, J Coughlan. Replacements: R O'Gara for Dowling, 3 mins; D Varley for Fogarty, 29 mins; T Buckley for Hayes, half-time;, W du Preez for Horan, 50 mins; P O'Mahony for Coughlan, 67 mins; B Holland for Quinlan, 69 mins; D Barnes for Jones, 74 mins; P Stringer for O'Leary, 78 mins. Sinbinned: Holland, 74 mins.
OSPREYS: L Byrne; N Walker, T Bowe, A Bishop, S Williams; D Biggar, J Nutbrown; P James, M Davies, C Mitchell, AW Jones (capt), I Evans, J Collins, M Holah, J Thomas. Replacements: I Gough for Evans, 32 mins; R Hibbard for M Davies, half-time; A Jones for Mitchell, 48 mins; D Jones for James, 60 mins; R Webb for Nutbrown, 62 mins; B Lewis for Holah, G Owen for Byrne, R Fussell for Walker, all 67 mins. Sinbinned: Holah, 56 mins.
Referee: N Paterson(SRU).
