Speaking after Munster’s 29-12 defeat to the Ospreys in Swansea, a hugely disappointed Anthony Foley was baffled when asked to identify where today’s performance came from.
There were no excuses handed out as Anthony Foley listed poor decision making, ball handling and ill-discipline as the main factors that contributed to the below-par display at the Liberty Stadium.
“Our lack of control and ill-discipline cost us dearly. We conceded their only try of the game when we were down to 14 men but I can’t fault the referee because I thought he was very fair,” admitted the Munster head coach.
“If you can’t control the game and allow them into good positions then you expect to get punished by good sides. We have no excuses, we were beaten by the better side on the day.”
That lack of discipline and general inaccuracy cost Munster dearly as they were left trailing 17-0 by half-time. The visitors never fired right from the off and with the penalty count racking up against the men in red, the Ospreys, through their impressive out-half Sam Davies, took full advantage of the mounting mistakes.
The Welsh region held the majority of possession and territory and deserved their 17-point advantage after Davies kicked three penalties and a drop goal and number 8 Dan Baker added a try. While the hosts did not concede a single penalty in the opening 40 minutes, Munster were pinged eight times.
It was inevitable a player would end up in the sin bin and it was no surprise when Munster flanker Dave O’Callaghan received a yellow card for a high tackle on Ospreys full-back Dan Evans. Steve Tandy’s men were quick to capitalise, scoring 11 points during the sin-bin period.
Davies, who had already kicked two opening penalties, presented Baker with the ball after seeing numbers out wide and the unmarked number 8 ran in for an unconverted try. Davies tagged on a further penalty and drop goal, following a Justin Tipuric break, in the closing minutes of the half.
Three second half penalties from the boot of Davies again were enough to keep his side out of Munster’s reach, albeit that the province put in a late rally in the Swansea sunshine.
Prop John Ryan crossed for his first senior try for Munster in the 71st minute, making it over from a well-executed lineout maul. Keatley missed the conversion but added the extras to Keith Earls’ second try in as many games.
Two front row replacements combined to set up the 76th minute opportunity for the centre as lovely hands from Stephen Archer, who whipped a pass away behind his back, and Kevin O’Byrne put Earls over in the left corner.
It was very much a case of too little, too late for Munster who can at least take one notable positive from the game. Second half replacement Donnacha Ryan made his first appearance since having surgery on the toe injury that kept him out since last March.
The 14-point defeat, combined with Glasgow Warriors’ 26-5 bonus point win over Zebre, means the Scots have returned to the top of the GUINNESS PRO12 table with Munster in second ahead of Ulster’s trip to the Newport Gwent Dragons.
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