Ospreys player ratings: Props to the pack as Wales snubs impress against Munster

Following a 23-7 defeat to Munster in their United Rugby Championship quarter-final at Thomond Park on Friday night, here’s our player ratings for the Ospreys.

Ospreys player ratings v Munster

15 Max Nagy: Solid under the high ball early on and managed to shepherd Shane Daly away from scoring a ridiculous try on 25 minutes. Came more into the game in an attacking sense late on. 6

14 Luke Morgan: Barely had a touch all match as Munster‘s defence shut down any width the Ospreys looked to exploit. The wing is lucky it wasn’t a winter’s evening. 3

13 Owen Watkin: Gave a lovely no-look ball to number eight Morgan Morris for Keelan Giles’ try on five minutes before mixing solid defence with nine carries on the night. A battling showing. 6

12 Kieran Williams: A ball of energy as always in midfield for the Ospreys. However, his progress was limited somewhat by the Munster defence, who had clearly done their homework on the devastating carrier. 5

Impressive line and finish

11 Keelan Giles: Ran a superb support line off Morris that gave him a free run for his early try and proved to be the Ospreys’ most profitable attacking threat on the night. A hard-working performance to take into camp for Wales. 7

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10 Owen Williams: In for the injured Dan Edwards, Williams took the ball to the line as he looked to unlock a stingy Munster defence. A brave and tidy showing in defeat. 5

9 Reuben Morgan-Williams: It was a beautifully intelligent dink over top for the Giles try in an overall solid day at the office. 6

8 Morgan Morris: Laid it on a plate for Giles to scorch over but struggled to impact his game on the Munster defence thereafter with just four metres made from his seven carries. Gavin Coombes won that personal battle. 6

7 Justin Tipuric: Emptied the tank as we’ve come to expect from the Wales legend but, like Morris, came off second best to his opposite number but pestered the Munster breakdown. 7

6 Jac Morgan: Everywhere defensively and at the breakdown in a tireless performance. The Wales flanker finished with a game-high 19 tackles and seven carries for 12 metres. 7

5 Huw Sutton: A reliable distributor for options behind him as well as being a solid lineout option. Speaking of which, Munster’s maul was a threat on more than one occasion but was a collective issue for Ospreys. 5

4 James Ratti: Part of a solid set-piece effort from the Ospreys and also put in a shift defensively with 18 tackles, the second most in the game. A real feather in his cap. 6

Solid scrum effort

3 Tom Botha: Dominant over Jeremy Loughman at scrum time early on before the latter responded well shortly afterwards. Overall Botha came out on top though in that department while he also chipped in with 12 tackles. 7

2 Dewi Lake: The captain was a steely presence at Thomond Park in an all-action showing that included 15 tackles and seven carries to go with accurate darts and his part in the scrum effort. 7

1 Nicky Smith: Smith can also be pleased with his set-piece showing and offered plenty in loose early on. Seemed to get the better of Stephen Archer, winning a scrum penalty on 31 minutes. Both Smith and Botha’s withdrawals on 54 minutes hurt the Ospreys up front. 6

Replacements: It was an uphill task for the bench late on as Munster kept the scoreboard ticking as the Ospreys’ fate was confirmed. None of the new arrivals really fired a shot. 3

READ MORE: Munster progress to URC semi-finals as streak continues with win over Ospreys