Munster 22-16 Ospreys as it happened

With Conor Hogan

1230:

Team news:

Munster: Paul Warwick; Doug Howlett, Keith Earls, Sam Tuitupou, Johne Murphy; Ronan O'Gara, Tomás O'Leary; Wian du Preez, Damien Varley, Tony Buckley; Donnacha O'Callaghan, Mick O'Driscoll; James Coughlan, David Wallace, Denis Leamy.

Ospreys: Barry Davies; Tommy Bowe, Andrew Bishop, James Hook, Richard Fussell; Dan Biggar, Mike Phillips; Paul James, Richard Hibbard, Adam Jones, Ryan Jones; Alun Wyn Jones, Jerry Collins, Marty Holah, Jonathan Thomas

1240:

Fantastically over dramatic opening by Sky Sports involving Opera and people hacking at ice with pick axes. Good news is that there is a place for Paul O'Connell on the bench. Great to see him back. Let's hope he gets a run out later in the game.

1245:

Munster coach Tony McGahan has made four changes from the side that saw off Toulon in round two of the competition.

One of those changes is positional, with Johne Murphy switched from inside centre to the wing berth. Sam Tuitupou comes back into the side after suspension.

Elsewhere, Tomas O'Leary gets the nod over Peter Stringer and up front, the one change sees James Coughlan in at blindside wing forward for Alan Quinlan.

1250:

"Munster should have enough to win this weekend, but, given the conditions, a try-fest is unlikely to be on the cards," writes JOE's resident rugby anorak Conor Heneghan

"McGahan will be more than happy with four points on Sunday, but denying the opposition a bonus point would be a sweet result, especially considering how tight the margins will probably be on the completion of the pool in January."

To read the rest of his preview of Conor's preview of this match, as well as his preview of the Leinster match, click here.

1255:

Irish internationals and JOE.ie columnists Johnny O'Connor and Malcolm O'Kelly are opinionated fellas, and you can hear them spout their opinions every week in our world renowned rugby podcast The Weekly Maul. If you're not into using your ears, you can also read their opinions by clicking their names.

01'

Dan Biggar kicks off for the Ospreys and Munster knock on. Scrum within the first minute for the Welsh side

04'

The Munster players are penalised for collapsing in the scrum and the Ospreys get a penalty. There is a little bit of afters, but its six of one and half a dozen handbags, if I must overload on the cliches. Dan Biggar pops over the pen and his team take the early lead.

08'

Magnificent kick from Ospreys number 15 Barry Davies goes out to touch in front of the Munster try-line. The Irish province win the line-out and then a penalty and Ronan O'Gara kicks the ball about 25 yards further up the field and out of play. Great start by Ospreys; they are completely dominating at the moment.

11'

Try Munster!

12'

Doug Howlett nods to Tomás O'Leary who chips the ball forward fantastically. Howlett leaves Richard Fussell for dead and runs in for the try. Wonderful try. Ronan O'Gara misses the conversion.

15'

Damien Varley gives away a penalty straight from the restart and the Ospreys have a chance to go ahead once again with a kick in front of the posts. Dan Biggar makes no mistake.

18'

Ronan O'Gara doesn't seem to have his kicking boots on today. The 33-year old has a chance to put Munster ahead once again with a penalty but pulls it wide.

22'

The pitch is in an absolute state today. O'Gara chips a ball forward which causes Barry Davies all sorts of trouble. The 29-year old fullback from Carmarthen then plays it safe and boots the ball out of play and Munster have a line out on the half way line.

25'

Dreadful lineout by Munster on their 25 yard line causes the province some difficulty. Tomás O'Leary's tries to kick it clear but Ryan Jones blocks it and almost gets in for a try. Eventually Paul Warwick scrambles it clear with a kick.

28'

Paul Warwick runs forward and evades one, two, three challenges before the Australian is taken down. The ball is played back to Keith Earls who powers forward only to be fouled. Munster get the put-in to the scrum.

30'

The scrum collapses twice and the referee Christophe Berdos rules in favour of the Welsh side. Great opportunity lost.

33'

Munster win a penalty from 30 yards and Ronan O'Gara has a chance to make up for his earlier misses. You can hear a pin drop as the San Diego born fly-half lines up his kick (well actually you can't, it's what you might call a metaphor). O'Gara kicks and the ball goes ... wide. Shocking miss. What is wrong with him today?

36'

It's Biggar's turn to do an O'Gara, as his badly misses a penalty attempt. The Munster fly-half's kick from the restart is good and the Irish province gain possession.

39'

Tommy Bowe was almost in for a try. Dan Biggar kicked the ball forward and James Coughlan ran back seemingly in slow motion. Osprey's and Ireland wing Tommy Bowe was twice as fast and almost got his foot on the ball which would have meant a certain try. Coughlan got down just in time, however, and gathered the ball.

Half time

41'

Second half. Ronan O'Gara kicks off and I tuck into my customary second half coffee and sandwich. Stuffing, turkey and sweetcorn. Yumee.

43'

Try Ospreys

44'

Munster start the second half like a house on fire and look certain to score a try only for Tommy Bowe to intercept, run the length of the pitch and touch down under the posts. The conversion is easy - Dan Biggar pops it over. 14 point swing there.

47'

Adam Jones goes down holding his shoulder and it looks like he is injured. Nevertheless, the lock decides to stay on the pitch and continue playing.

51'

A flowing Munster move involving passes from O'Leary, O'Gara, Tuitupou and Keith Earls and Munster look like they might be in for a try. Ospreys foul and rather than settle for three points, O'Gara kicks out to touch.

54'

Munster win the lineout and push forward and Ryan Jones fouls, taking the leg. The Welshman avoids a yellow. The Irish province decided to go for a scrum rather than a linout or kick for a three.

57'

Another Ospreys foul and Munster win another penalty. Sick of the persistent fouling, the referee decides to get his card out and Paul James is sent to the sin bin.

60'

The Ospreys scrum collapses and Munster earn yet another penalty. The go for the scrum again and play the ball out quickly. Ospreys are defending like Trojans (the warriors and the prophylactics).

61'

Try Munster!

62'

The constant pressure pays off, as the ball is played to David Wallace who pushes over. O'Gara converts and Munster are ahead in terms of the score-line and in terms of numbers on the field. More bad news for the Welsh side; Paul O'Connell and Alan Quinlan are both on.

64'

Try Munster

65'

Dan Biggar's Garryowen is intercepted, the ball is played to Johne Murphy who gratefully runs in for a try. O'Gara converts and this game is over.

68'

With the winner of this match now confirmed, Munster have a fourth try and bonus point still to play for, which could be all important in what has been a very tight group. John Hayes comes on now for this extremely experience Munster team.

71'

The Ospreys win a penalty from the restart from a Donnacha O'Callaghan knock on. Dan Biggar scores and Ospreys are within six.

72'

Red Card

73'

Incredibly dramatic. Paul O'Connell, after only just coming on, is sent off for a flailing elbow on Jonathan Thomas.

74'

Long range specialist Barry Davies places the ball down for an attempt at the posts. He judges the distance perfectly, but not the direction. All the momentum is with the Welsh side at the moment. I believe I spoke too soon when I said this game was over.

75'

The replay suggests that Berdos made the correct decision to hand out the red card. O'Connell could clearly see where Thomas was when he swung his arm. Dangerous play.

78'

Munster turn the ball over at the half way line, only for the Ospreys to knock the ball on and give Munster the chance to wrap the game up with a long range penalty. O'Gara knows he won't score from there and kicks the ball out to touch just in front of the Ospreys' try line.

80'

Donnacha O'Callaghan gives away a stupid penalty and Ospreys are given a chance to kick to touch. It'll be the final play. The Welsh side win the lineout and push forward but the ball is turned over. O'Gara boots the ball out of play and Ospreys think they have time to take another lineout. They don't and the referee blows his whistle for full time.

Full time

Wrap up:

Ospreys played most of the rugby in the first half and, although Ronan O'Gara was inconsistent with his kicks at goal, the Welsh side were unlucky to go into the second half behind. Munster pressed in the early stages of the second half, only for the brilliant Tommy Bowe to intercept Sam Tuitupou's wayward pass and run in for a try.

The game turned on Paul James' yellow card, as in the ten minutes he was off the pitch, Munster scored 14 unanswered points. At this stage, the Irish province looked like they had the match wrapped up, though the Ospreys popped over a penalty from the second restart.

Enter the returning Paul O'Connell, who, in a moment of madness, swung an arm at Jonathan Thomas and was given his marching orders. The men in red just about hung on, however, though the Ospreys come away with a more than valuable bonus point and will feel that they can more than give Munster a game on their home patch.

Thanks for joining us today.

Goodbye