Celtic League/ Munster 25 Ospreys 20:Munster had to survive a tenacious Ospreys fightback at Thomond Park on Saturday night before securing only their third win in eight Magners Celtic League outings this season.
Despite the success, before 6,254 supporters, Declan Kidney's charges remain second-from-bottom in the table.
The win is a timely boost as Munster prepare for a five-game run in December, when they face Connacht (twice) and Leinster at home in key league ties. In between, they face Cardiff Blues, at home and away, in Heineken European Cup matches.
Munster were good value for their 22-7 half-time lead. The Ospreys upped their performance after the break and the Thomond Park faithful had to withstand anxious moments during 13 minutes of injury time before securing the victory.
Munster outhalf Jeremy Manning played a key role in helping the home side rack up their 15-point interval lead, and the 21-year-old finished with a magnificent haul of 20 points. Three penalties from Manning, in the second, 13th and 19th minutes, gave Munster a 9-0 lead at the end of the first quarter. With Chris Wyatt, second-row partner Mick O'Driscoll, hooker Andy Kyriacou and number eight James Coughlan influential in the pack, Munster continued to enjoy quality possession. Manning landed a stunning 25th-minute drop goal and a 28th-minute penalty to see the home side into a commanding 15-0 lead.
The Ospreys needed to respond and scrumhalf Justin Marshall provided the spark. The former All Black produced a glorious reverse pass, which helped create the opening that would lead to a try for outhalf Shaun Connor. The try scorer also added the conversion points.
Munster responded in style. From a quick tap penalty, scrumhalf Tomás O'Leary powered his way into the Ospreys 22. The defence conceded a scrum and Munster's pack forced their way over, Coughlan touching down. Manning added the extras.
Within six minutes of the restart, however, Marshall and Connor combined to send winger Jonny Vaughton over for a well worked try.
Munster prop Federico Pucciariello was sinbinned in the 54th minute, but another Manning penalty goal helped Munster stretch into a 25-14 lead.
But those who expected the home side to quickly close out the game, especially when Ospreys centre Jason Spice was sinbinned in the 61st minute, were mistaken. Further penalty goals from Connor, in the 67th and 77th minutes, ensured a nailbiting finish.
Afterwards Munster's stand-in captain Mick O'Driscoll said: "You can't be getting too excited about it, but we're back on track. We got back a small bit to what we're good at, direct rugby."
MUNSTER: S Payne; A Horgan, L Mafi, T Halstead, I Dowling; J Manning, T O'Leary; D Hurley, A Kyriacou, F Pucciariello; M O'Driscoll, C Wyatt; A Quinlan, T McGann, J Coughlan. Replacements: D Ryan for Wyatt (77 mins), J O'Sullivan for Coughlan, E Hickey for Manning (both 80 mins).
OSPREYS: S Terblanche; N Walker, T Selley, J Spice, J Vaughton; S Connor, J Marshall; P James, B Williams, A Millward; M Powell, L Bateman; A Lloyd, S Tandy, F Tiatia. Replacements: C Griffiths for James (39 mins), B Cockbain for Powell (49 mins), H Bennett for Williams (61 mins), J Spratt for Tandy (63 mins), L Byrne for Walker (69 mins), L Beech for Lloyd (75 mins).
Referee: I Heard(SRU).
