Cuthbert injury devastating as champs prove too strong

OSPREYS head coach Toby Booth says he is devastated for Alex Cuthbert after the Wales international sustained a hamstring injury in their clash against Munster.

The Swansea-based region were 10 points adrift of the visitors.

In the hope of securing a losing bonus point, Cuthbert looked sure to score in the left corner, but pulled up with a hamstring issue and was tackled into touch.

Speaking after the game, head coach Booth said: “I am just devastated for him. That would have been two points and, in a league that’s very congested and tight, that would be massive.”

Booth also recognised that Ospreys weren’t clinical enough, but believed their performance warranted a greater return.

“I thought we deserved something out of the game,” he said.

“I feel for the lads. They feel the pain. The overriding feeling is frustration, but this is part of the journey of this team.

“Looking after the ball in key moments is massively important when you play against the best teams and we were playing against the champions.

“You have to take the moments because you don’t get as many. You need to be clinical. They were and we weren’t.”

Shane Daley got the visitors up and running by crashing over into the corner for a converted score after just four minutes, before Sean O’Brien intercepted an Owen Williams pass to run 60 metres and score.

Ospreys dominated for much of the first half, but the visitors found further joy courtesy of another interception from O’Brien, who kicked downfield before getting the better of Williams again to touch down.

Munster had only lost once to the hosts since 2016 and there was initially little sign of that record changing as the first half wore on.

But the Ospreys, who had previously only lost once at home all season, composed themselves to rally before the interval.

A great offload from Evardi Boshoff opened opened up a twoon-one, allowing Keelan Giles to dive over for a try.

However, a lack of discipline slowed any building momentum from the hosts, with Justin Tipuric was sent to the bin just a few minute before the break.

But when Sam Parry went over for a converted score 15 minutes after the interval, it felt like the comeback was on.

Those hopes would last for just four minutes, however, as RG Snyman sealed the bonus point with another well-worked try.

Joey Carbery then split the posts to extend the lead to 15 points with a well-taken penalty just after the hour, before Alex Cuthbert’s try five minutes from time reduced the deficit.

Cuthbert would have surely had another in the final minute after being played in by Cameron Jones, but pulled a hamstring just short of the line.