Celtic League/Ospreys - 27 Munster - 10: Paul O'Connell hobbled off during a night of woe for Munster as their title chances in the Celtic League were struck a knock-out blow by the Ospreys. Munster could manage only a penalty try and a single shot at goal at the Liberty Stadium where they were comprehensively beaten.
Munster now face a nervous 24 hours as they wait to discover the extent of ankle injuries to O'Connell and Christian Cullen ahead of the Heineken European Cup Final. Ireland lock O'Connell was forced off after 16 minutes and former All Black Cullen followed in the second half to add to Munster's injury concerns just a fortnight ahead of the showdown with Biarritz at the Millennium Stadium.
Coach Declan Kidney said last night: "The guys are iced up right now and we'll just have to wait and see how they get on over the next 24 hours. As with any injury, it's a bit early to say the full extent of it but they seem routine knocks. You never like to see players injured but these things are just part and parcel of the game. We will just have to wait and see how their injuries settle down."
Shane Williams crossed twice and Jason Spice added a third try while Gavin Henson landed a perfect five out of five to complete the 27-10 victory that effectively left the race for the Celtic League title a three-horse affair.
The defeat leaves Munster trailing both Leinster and Ulster in the table. Theywent behind within two minutes of O'Connell's departure following a moment of magic from fleet-footed Wales wing Williams. Little appeared to be on when Williams received the ball in midfield some 30 metres out but he wriggled between Ronan O'Gara and then Eugene McGovern, escaped the clutches of Mike Pendergast before scoring a scintillating try under the posts. Gavin Henson added the conversion and then a penalty.
Munster again proved unstoppable up front from close range and were rewarded for their endeavour after camping on the Ospreys line. Strong runs from Trevor Halstead and Anthony Foley, twice, took Munster to within touching distance from where they launched a series of drives.
Yet ironically it was when they spun the ball wide that Scottish referee Graeme Hannah pointed beneath the posts to award a penalty try for the Ospreys' persistence offside that also saw Duncan Jones yellow carded.
But that was to prove the last time Munster were in the game in terms of the scoreboard, they were on level terms for a matter of minutes before Henson banged over a second penalty on the stroke of half-time.
The second half was effectively one-way traffic. Munster failed to find any spark in the second half as the Ospreys commanded most areas of the game. A burst by Andrew Bishop and Henson opened space for the unmarked Williams to grab a second try on 50 minutes before Spice wrestled his way over from short-range on the hour mark to seal the win.
OSPREYS: G Henson; J Vaughton, S Parker, A Bishop (S Terblanche, 72), S Williams; S Connor (M Jones, 78), J Spice (R Mustoe, 77); D Jones (capt) H Bennett (B Williams, 76), A Jones (P James, 74), A-W Jones, I Evans (L Bateman, 72), A Lloyd (P James, 41-46), J Thomas, S Tandy (J Bater, 46). Tries: S Williams (2), J Spice. Cons: G Henson (3). Pens: G Henson (2).
MUNSTER: S Payne; A Horgan (T O'Leary, H-T), C Cullen (G Connolly, 59, T Ryan, 68, J O'Sullivan, 74), T Halstead, M Lawlor; R O'Gara, M Pendergast; E McGovern (D Varley, 65), D Fogarty, J Hayes, M O'Driscoll, P O'Connell (D O'Callaghan, 16), S Keogh, A Foley (capt), D Leamy. Con: R O'Gara. Pen: R O'Gara.
Referee: Graeme Hannah (Scotland)
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