Magic Munster destroy Ospreys

TABLE-toppers Munster booked their place in Saturday’s Guinness PRO12 final with a runaway 23-3 victory over Ospreys at Thomond Park.

The departing centre Francis Saili signed off at the province’s Limerick fortress with a magnificent man-of-thematch performance as Munster set up a title decider with Scarlets at the Aviva Stadium.

A well-taken 25thminute try from Saili, whose release by Munster at the end of the season was confirmed on Friday, saw the home side leading 8-3, with Dan Biggar and Tyler Bleyendaal kicking a penalty each.

Driven on by captain Alun Wyn Jones, who made a welcome return from a shoulder injury, the Welshmen began to wilt after Simon Zebo took his Munster record to 53 tries on the hour mark following a breathless counter-attack.

Bleyendaal’s conversion put 12 points between the sides and his 66th-minute penalty was a further blow to Ospreys, whose replacement hooker Scott Otten was unfortunate to have a cracking chip-andchase try ruled out for a prior knock-on by Tom Habberfield.

Fittingly, the Munstermen closed out the scoring with a third try of the evening, moving the ball wide from their rock-solid scrum to set up winger Andrew Conway who showed great feet and finishing skills to make the line.

Saili ensured a try shutout for the hosts, showing great speed to deny Keelan Giles a last-minute consolation score.

The eagerly-awaited duel between British and Irish Lions scrum-halves Conor Murray and Rhys Webb was shelved as the latter was withdrawn before kick-off with a groin injury.