Dan Biggar: 25 points for Ospreys
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The Ospreys booked their place in the RaboDirect PRO12 final thanks to a comprehensive 45-10 win over Munster at Liberty Stadium on Friday.
It now means Shane Williams will now have a chance to end his distinguished career with some silverware if the Ospreys can beat either Leinster or Glasgow in the final.
The Welsh region took a 23-10 first-half lead with Dan Biggar scoring 18 points to go alongside a Kahn Fotuali'i touchdown, while Ian Keatley responded for the visitors with a try, conversion and penalty.
Another Biggar three-pointer extended their lead as they took control in the second period before Hanno Dirksen, Andrew Bishop and Rhys Webb tries sealed their RaboDirect Pro12 semi-final triumph.
Despite a mid-season slump, the Ospreys had gone into this game on a five-match winning streak. But Munster were unbeaten in three themselves and they opened the scoring after three minutes.
After Keith Earls had picked a nice line off Lifeimi Mafi, the outside centre off-loaded to Keatley who scampered clear. The visiting fly-half added the extras before the hosts hit back through the boot of Biggar.
The Welsh international then went over for a converted try after good work from Ryan Jones as they took an early 10-7 lead.
On 19 minutes, Keatley levelled matters with a penalty, but the Ospreys' fly-haf responded almost immediately with one of his own to restore their advantage.
Biggar added another three-pointer before he converted a long-range Fotuali'i touchdown, started by Richard Fussell in his own half.
A further penalty from the boot of the home side's fly-half saw them cruise out to a dominant 26-10 scoreline in the second period.
And they effectively secured their passage to the final when Dirksen crossed the whitewash in the corner.
Bishop and Webb then added a final flourish to proceedings with the Ospreys' fourth and fifth tries, Biggar converting both to end the match with a personal haul of 25 points.
The scorers:
For Ospreys:
Tries: Biggar, Fotuali'i, Bishop, Dirksen, Bishop, Webb
Cons: Biggar 4
Pens: Biggar 4
For Munster:
Try: Keatley
Con: Keatley
Pen: Keatley
Ospreys: 15 Richard Fussell, 14 Hanno Dirksen, 13 Andrew Bishop, 12 Ashley Beck, 11 Shane Williams, 10 Dan Biggar, 9 Kahn Fotuali'i, 8 Joe Bearman, 7 Justin Tipuric, 6 Ryan Jones, 5 Ian Evans, 4 Alun-Wyn Jones, 3 Adam Jones, 2 Richard Hibbard, 1 Paul James.
Replacements: 16 Scott Baldwin, 17 Ryan Bevington, 18 Aaron Jarvis, 19 James King, 20 Tom Smith, 21 Rhys Webb, 22 Matthew Morgan, 23 Tom Isaacs.
Munster: 15 Felix Jones, 14 Johne Murphy, 13 Keith Earls, 12 Lifeimi Mafi, 11 Simon Zebo, 10 Ian Keatley, 9 Conor Murray, 8 Peter O'Mahony, 7 Tommy O'Donnell, 6 Donnacha Ryan, 5 Mick O'Driscoll, 4 Donncha O'Callaghan, 3 BJ Botha, 2 Mike Sherry, 1 Wian du Preez.
Replacements: 16 Denis Fogarty, 17 Dave Kilcoyne, 18 Stephen Archer, 19 Dave O'Callaghan, 20 Paddy Butler, 21 Tomas O'Leary, 22 Ronan O'Gara, 23 Ian Dineen.
Referee: Alain Rolland (IRFU)
Comments
pog_mahone says...
leinster goy, you've let yourself down (again) I'm afraid, but you're in danger of dragging the Irish game with you as far as this forum is concerned.
Irish provinces until relatively recently played second fiddle to the club and international games, so for you to put your province first places and hate the others places you firmly in the category of the new breed of plastic supporter. Let's see where you sit after a season or two of "Drico" and "Dorce" and "Cullers" not winning the H-Cup - hopefully drifting back to watching mercenary badge kissers playing soccer for some foreign club.
Posted 21:59 14th May 2012
leinster_goy says...
@howrtings
rugby is, at the end of the day, just a sport. it is not a matter of life and death. if it disappeared tomorrow, the world would continue to turn and the two of us would find some other way to occupy ourselves at the weekend. like all sport, it is a distraction - therefore, i watch it because i want to be entertained. that's primarily why i support leinster. and i've got news for you: there are plenty of fans like me
while you might prioritise country over province/club, i don't because i am not a nationalist. i consciously do not identify myself as an "irishman". the very sight and sound of players bellowing out miltaristic, borderline racist anthems before a game makes me want to vomit out my own innards. at leinster matches we are spared of that thankfully
therefore, i do not see any intrinsic connection between country and a club/province playing within that country. in fact, it has gotten to the stage where leinster and the national side might as well be on different planets. leinster are successful - the irish team, um, aren't. leinster have a readily identifiable ethos, culture and playing style - ireland don't. leinster have a top-class coach with a clear philosophy - ireland don't. leinster play to the same standard week in week out - ireland are depressingly inconsistent. leinster have limitless ambition - irish fans are just happy as long as the team beats the english (how's that for "adolescent and single-minded"?). also, the players never fight tooth and nail nearly as much as when they wear the blue shirt - have you ever seen an irish team defend like leinster did in the last 5m against clermont? i rest my case
Posted 12:45 14th May 2012
howrtings says...
@ leinster_goy:
Reading your comparision of Irish Rugby Supporters to Premiership Football supporters now makes it very easy for me to understand your mindset. I hope he adolescent single minded approach to supporting a premiership football team will never creep into Irish Rugby (there will obviously be a few eejits (leinster_goy) but we won't worry about the minority)
Country over club is paramount to Irish Rugby and should never be changed. With that in mind, any true Irish Rugby fan should support 100% another Irish team if their own team isn't playing. I for one will be supproting Leinster in the Pro12 Final, and may the best team win in Twickenham, it's great to have two Irish teams in the Final (pity one of them's not Munster!!)
Posted 11:06 14th May 2012
leinster_goy says...
every team, in any sport, has their share of stupid fans. that should be fairly academic. also, i don't really understand the constant snipes at so-called "bandwagon" leinster fans - i recall noticing distinct rise in red shirts and fake soathwesht accents after may 2006. it's happening in ulster too. success always attracts more supporters. get over it
@mcdb06/dougie why would we want you to "get behind" us? you're munster fans. we're leinster fans. we support different teams, and that's that. it's like saying that even though i'm a man utd fan, i should get behind liverpool, just because they're both from the northwest of england. no offence intended, but we don't want your support (i'm sure there are many munster fans who feel the same)
@crunchfit i have to say, i find slightly it grotesque that a leinster fan would temporarily switch allegiance to munster, simply because they're from the same piece of rock on the east atlantic. the very thought of doing so makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. i fail to understand this prioritisation of "country over province", perhaps you can explain it to me
Posted 09:28 14th May 2012
makemehappy says...
Looks like the not very good Ospreys are now the favourites. Anyone else see Leinster running out of steam (though I do think they are generally the better team?
Posted 20:49 13th May 2012
crunchfit says...
@mcdb06 / dougie
Leinster has thousands of fans so why would what one individual writes change your opinion of 1) the team itself, as it has no responsibility for what any fan says and 2) of other fans, as they have no responsibility either? I'm just stating the obvious here.
I've encountered similar Munster types on this site and on others, but it doesn't have any influence on my opinion of the team or other fans. That wouldn't be logical. It makes no sense that one fan or a small group of fans (considering Leinster has many) could make it difficult for you to support a team from your country, containing a group of players who represent your country, against a team from another country, probably with no Irish players on the team.
Please just ignore our more idiotic fans.
Posted 13:15 13th May 2012
mcdb06 says...
@dougie Well said. I respect Leinster and the brand of rugby they're playing is class but it is bandwagon fans like sextons_on_fire that make it impossible to get behind them.
On another note Munster dont necessarily have bad players, they've been just poorly coached for the last 3 seasons. Brand of rugby is predictable and very ineffective. They could do with bringing in a good experienced backrow, like what Rocky did with Leinster, guide them through bad times and help young players like Paddy Butler, O'Donnell and Dave O'Callaghan.
Tough job for Penney, may take him more time that 2 seasons to get them back on track. Hopefully he'll bring in a decent backs coach too
Posted 08:29 13th May 2012
jcahill1 says...
@Dougie
Every team (including munster) has the fans who are overconfident and annoyingly biased. It is unfair to suggest that one team has all of them.
Posted 22:48 12th May 2012
dougie says...
Sextons_on_fire you're a disgrace to rugby fans. You seem like the kind of fan that only started following rugby when leinster won their first Heineken cup. I'm a Munster fan and I'd love to be able to cheer for leinster in Europe, because I really respect them as a team. They're dominating European rugby at the moment like no team ever has. Fans like you make it really difficult to want them to win though.
Posted 22:09 12th May 2012
sextons_on_fire says...
@blametheref
You mean WHEN Leinster make the final!! hahahahahaa BOOM
Posted 14:41 12th May 2012
Tesh says...
I don't understand the Osprey's scoring , 6 tries 4 conversions and 4 penalties add up to 50, not 45
Posted 13:11 12th May 2012
damo says...
Hope Munster enjoyed their end of year bash and awards Last saturday after the Ulster game, wonder is it related to their dysmal display against a good Ospreys team?
Glad there is a management change as a good manager would never allow that to happen. Especially to a team like Munster, also the hooker couldn't hit a dart board with a Nuke surely that is one of the selection criteria, its similar to picking a kicking 10 who can't kick again poor management, even Kidney is better than that and he is hopeless!
From a sad Munster/Ireland fan
Posted 13:05 12th May 2012
blametheref says...
Munster being Munster, they'll be back, it may take a few months next year or even a season but there'll be a new impetous, new players and a fresh mindset. James Downey will keep the 12 channel honest and that's been missing for some time. Munster have been top of their tree for some time and that's some achievement, so expecting them to dominate endlessly is asking too much. But well done Ospreys, makes for a facinating final where Leinster (if it's them) will be very motivated in respect to their beating by same a few years ago, that's if Leinster actually make the final!
Posted 12:50 12th May 2012
johnthebean says...
Definitely the worst Munster pack to take the field in 15 years (perhaps a couple of the younger players might improve, but as things stand they have a way to go). By contrast, it was a strong Ospreys pack.
I hope the much-celebrated Red Army stick by their team now for what may prove to be a few hard seasons. Though if Penney can bring a few strong imports along with him maybe things can be turned round more quickly.
Posted 11:30 12th May 2012
J_Hdk says...
Munster dressing room half time talk.McGahan - Guys I have to be honest with you. it's my last day on the job, and I have completely checked out. I clearly haven't veen trying for the past six months now... So you know.... Maybe just roll over and give the home crowd something to cheer about
Posted 10:01 12th May 2012
howrtings says...
Super performance by the Ospreys, and I fear for Munster. I think we are going to have some dark days ahead!!
That was probably the best team we could have fielded yesterday, and it was very lightweight.
Some bulk @ first centre next year, and hopefully we can find a hooker that can throw the ball, at least we'll then be able to set a platform.
Ospreys are far cry from the team put to the sword by Munster by a similar scoreline in 2009 HC, and really played for each other last night. There was great intensity at the breakdown and despite the best efforts of Peter O'Mahony, we were completely over run in that area.
Hat's off to the Ospreys and fair play for getting rid of the Fake Tan Brigade, best of luck in the final.
Posted 09:17 12th May 2012
Paddy91317 says...
Ospreys were really up for it and munster are crap thats my verdict they need about 7 players to think about being a decent side again its a disgrace how the coach has let the team rot.... Well done ospreys much better team well deserves to be in the final hopefully against a real team c'mon leinster and before i get abuse of mumster fans munster of even two years ago might have lost a semi final but they wouldnt have been embarrassed like that
Posted 07:35 12th May 2012
mayhem says...
why does OżGara always have to kick or punch people when he is beaten? Hes won many a cup but he is such a bad loser and a child! OżMahony was standout player for them
Posted 07:31 12th May 2012
lostprofit says...
What a surprise. Munster without O'Connell and O'Gara (starting) cant do the business. The team is far too reliant on these two excellent players. Penney has his work cut out for him.
Posted 07:27 12th May 2012
BackingLeinster says...
Looks like the Ospreys feel like they have a point to prove. They're playing with conviction, Munster were anihilated. They need their new coach quickly.
Posted 07:22 12th May 2012