Ospreys 21 Munster 25: A narrow win for Munster at the Liberty Stadium has returned the European champions to the top of the Magners League where they hold a two point lead over their hosts. After two defeats on the trot and with the resumption of the Heineken Cup on the horizon, nothing short of a win would do for Tony McGahan's side, and it came through a dogged forward display and despite having to use three players at outhalf.
Conan Doyle came into the fray in the first half after Paul Warwick, in for the injured Ronan O'Gara, left the field with a facial injury.
The Garryowen man showed maturity and confidence that belied his 23 years and slotted two pressure penalties but he too was forced off before scrumhalf Tomás O'Leary moved to number 10 and promptly scored the winning try.
James Hook did kick seven penalties to earn his side a losing bonus point, but the defeat will only fuel growing speculation that the Ospreys, who decided to rest Wales trio Ryan Jones, Gavin Henson and Adam Jones, are about to appoint Scott Johnson as head coach.
As the half-time score of 11-9 suggested the first half was a nip and tuck affair involving the top two with such one point separating the teams.
Munster were handed a major boost when Mafi went over in the right corner for an unconverted try, a score that was awarded on referral to the TV match official Nigel Whitehouse.
Hook got the Ospreys on the scoreboard almost straight away with a penalty goal after Paul Wallace came in from the side of a ruck, but it was cancelled out three minutes later with a Paul Warwick penalty from a scrum infringement.
The Ospreys, who welcomed back Shane Williams from a shoulder injury, had their moments, especially when Andrew Bishop broke through two tackles, but kept losing the ball or being pinned back in their own half with penalty kicks to touch.
A fine Hook penalty from 45 metres following another Wallace infringement was again cancelled out by Wallace.
The Ospreys had their best chance of a try when Jonny Vaughton, on his 50th appearance, dived in at the left corner but a try was ruled out for a foot in touch.
After 38 minutes Munster were dealt a blow. Having lost O'Gara to a hamstring injury in the defeat to Ulster, they then saw Warwick leave the field with a facial injury and the home side had the final say with an injury-time penalty for Hook to cut the Munster deficit to two points.
Two Hook penalties - one from halfway - at the start of the second half gave the Ospreys the lead for the first time but the Ospreys' advantage was cut to a point on 52 minutes when Doyle converted a penalty from in front of the posts.
A quick tap penalty from Shane Williams brought the crowd alive as they sensed the ospreys first try a score was ruled out when Ian Dowling killed the ball in front of his own posts, earning him a yellow card. Hook extended the lead to 18-14.
Just after the hour mark Munster were back to within a point when Doyle kept his cool again after Ospreys flanker Steve Tandy was sin-binned for a professional foul.
Munster's pack capitalised on the advantage and soon created the space for Mafi to offload for O'Leary before the stand-in outhalf fired over a penalty for a personal haul of eight.
Hook did put over his seventh penalty after 76 minutes to keep Ospreys in touch and earn a losing bonus point but Munster staved off the late pressure for first win away to the Ospreys, though concerns remain over a lengthening injury list.
