Carbery is top class in record win for Munster

OSPREYS paid dearly for leaving out many of their big names as Munster devoured them in a record seven-try triumph to end their winning start to the season.

The Munster maul was back to its traditional best as it coaxed two sinbinnings from Ospreys, a penalty try and a couple of Rhys Marshall scores, while the hooker’s fellow forwards James Cronin and Arno Botha also crossed in Munster’s biggest win over Ospreys.

Two Sam Davies penalties was all that Ospreys had to their name as they trailed 28-6 at half-time, but Luke Morgan celebrated his debut with a try in the second half.

Ospreys coach Allen Clarke said.”Our effort was excellent, our execution wasn’t. Our phase play attack at times was good but overall we’re disappointed.”

Munster coach Johann van Graan was thrilled with the impact of new arrival Irish international Joey Carbery as he marked his first start with his maiden try, but the coach pointed to his pack as the inspiration behind their triumph.

Carbery and Darren Sweetnam were the only backs to get on the scoresheet and van Graan was delighted with victory after last weekend’s slip against Glasgow.

“The first 40 was our best of the season. We attacked well, defended well, and on both sides of the turnover we reacted well. The maul and scrum were good too so that’s something to build on,” said van Graan.

As well as Munster’s impressive display in the tight, lock signing Tadhg Beirne from Scarlets brought a new playmaking dimension to their game contributing 12 carries, two clean breaks and three offloads, to go with his two lineout steals, which vindicated van Graan’s decision to allow him play his natural game.

But it was the mauling display from Munster that pointed the way. The penalty try and yellow card for lock Georgi Nemsadze came in the 17th minute on the back of a collapsed maul. Carbery and Cronin put Munster in total control with further efforts, before Marshall touched down at the back of a maul.

Marshall’s second was a carbon copy after the restart, but the misery continued as Botha and Sweetnam got in on the act either side of Morgan’s debut score.