That was a proper game of rugby we have won
CULLEN DELIGHTED TO COME THROUGH TRICKY TIE MUNSTER MEN FIND EASY PREY IN WALES
RUGBY UNION CHAMPIONS CUP
Ospreys 13 Munster 32
Pool 1
Leinster 33 Benetton 19
JEREMY LOUGHMAN was awesome while Munster began the Champions Cup with a crucial bonus point win away to Ospreys.
Ex-leinster man Jeremy Loughman scored the only try in the first half at Liberty Stadium.
Keith Earls (right) and Andrew Conway added a couple of tries after the break and James Cronin scored the bonus point effort.
Munster were 13-6 in front at half-time but it could have been more after a brilliant
Last year’s losing finalists scored five tries at the RDS as the majority of their World Cup contingent returned and got a competitive encounter under their belts ahead of a difficult trip to Lyon next weekend. “It was a proper game,” said Cullen (right). “We’re in winter rugby and Treviso are a physical team. “There are parts of our performance that can be a hell of a lot better. But overall, we’re pleased to get a win, which keeps us trucking along. “It’s another week into the system and get guys up to what we’re trying to do. But it wasn’t perfect out there.” The Blues opening half from the visitors.
Tyler Bleyendaal was inspirational but it was Ospreys out-half Luke Price who scored first, from a eighth minute penalty after Munster strayed offside.
But Munster stepped it up a notch at the end of the first wrapped up the bonus point after 45 minutes in front of a 15,080 attendance,
Ringrose was exceptional and Johnny Sexton looked in the mood as Leinster’s World Cup stars shook off some of their disappointment by putting Benetton to the sword.
The hosts made a late change at centre with Rory O’loughlin replacing hamstring victim Joe Tomane.
But they were quickly into their stride, with Ringrose pouncing for the first try of their campaign in the fifth minute.
Sexton’s conversion miss from a tough spot would be the only blot on his record.
As a reminder, however, that the gradually improving Italians had caused the Blues bother over the last couple of seasons, Dean Budd twisted in the tackle off a lineout drive to restore parity – and ex-munster ace Ian Keatley added the extras.
But Leinster’s lead was restored on the quarter hour when Ringrose conjured up his second try, powering through Benetton skipper Alberto Sgarbi’s challenge.
A superb lineout steal by Devin Toner halted the visitors on Leinster’s half with a couple of relentless drives towards the Ospreys line. The latter saw Loughman emerge at the end of the move to touch down a deserved try in the 34th minute.
Munster’s second try came from a lineout when Tommy O’donnell got through down five metre line before hooker Ronan Kelleher, making his European debut, scored his seventh try in his six games from close range.
Sexton’s conversion made it 19-7 and while Keatley had a chance to reduce the deficit before the break, his longrange penalty fell short. And Sexton pushed home the hosts’ advantage four minutes after the restart.
The 34-year-old sprinted through a gap in midfield and Josh van der Flier was very unselfish to return a pass to Sexton to score the crucial fourth try. The five points secured, Leinster fell asleep at the wheel and conceded a second try when Hame Faiva charged through for a converted try in the 51st minute.
But dogged defence then kept the Italians at bay as they looked for the lifeline of a third try.
Instead, it was Leinster who scored next with the outstanding Ringrose delivering again, running an unstoppable line to finish – before Benetton finished the scoring through Luca Sperandio late on. the blindside. Loughman almost scored his second try but Earls scored when the ball was recycled.
That score came in the 50th minute and two minutes later Conway raced clear down the right wing after Loughman was involved in the build-up again.