AHEAD of the festive break (and Saturday’s acid test against Leinster at Thomond Park), Munster posted a first win at Bridgend since 2001 with a comfortable account of Ospreys in the URC.
This fine 26-10 bonus-point victory leaves Munster in second spot, behind Stormers, in the table standings.
The first points came after ten minutes from out-half Dan Edwards as Munster were penalised for not rolling away, the hosts led by 3.
One year to the day since his last URC try, Shane Daly went over for Munster’s first score, Gavin Coombes passing to the winger who dove over in the left corner. Jack Crowley missed the tricky conversion.
Five minutes before half-time Lee Barron got himself onto the score sheet.
Munster showed real physicality to get their maul over the line and down for the try. Crowley converted despite the wind to extend Munster’s lead by nine points.
Crowley scored Munster’s third in the 40th minute and converted to finish the first half 3-19.
Munster’s try bonus point came from a well worked team try. A big maul followed by a dominant carry from Player of the Match Alex Nankivell, who then offloaded to Tom Farrell sent Mike Haley round for the try behind the posts.
A straightforward conversion was secured by Crowley.
On a bitterly cold night over in Wales, the attendance was in the region of 4,750.
Munster: Mike Haley; Calvin Nash, Tom Farrell, Alex Nankivell, Shane Daly; Jack Crowley (JJ Hanrahan 64’), Paddy Patterson (Ethan Coughlan 69’); Jeremy Loughman (Michael Milne 64’), Niall Scannell (Lee Barron 30’), Michael Ala’alatoa (Conor Bartley 55’); Jean Kleyn (Edwin Edogbo 55’), Fineen Wycherley (Tom Ahern 72’); Jack O’Donoghue, captain, Alex Kendellen, Gavin Coombes (John Hodnett 64’).
Replacements: Lee Barron, Michael Milne, Conor Bartley, Edwin Edogbo, Tom Ahern, Ethan Coughlan, JJ Hanrahan, John Hodnett.