Ospreys knocked out of United Rugby Championship playoffs after Munster defeat

The Ospreys' United Rugby Championship title hopes were ended by defending champions Munster in a 23-7 quarter-final defeat at Thomond Park.

Toby Booth's side had qualified for the playoffs last weekend, with their reward for sneaking into the top eight being a clash against league leaders Munster in Limerick.

The Ospreys were brave in defeat, being left to rue a spell of first-half pressure that saw them come away with nothing after relentlessly pinning Munster back on their own line.

The home side started rapidly, barely allowing the Ospreys to have a touch of the ball before taking the lead.

Three minutes in, Simon Zebo got on the outside of Wales call-up Keelan Giles to score after patient build-up by Munster.

However, the Ospreys' response was as quick as it was impressive. With a penalty advantage on halfway, Reuben Morgan-Williams chipped over the top for Owen Watkin to latch onto.

The centre flicked a pass back inside to Morgan Morris, who quickly put Giles away for a run-in.

Munster's maul soon became a weapon for the Irish province to lean on, with a couple of powerful lineout drives resulting in a try for hooker Niall Scannell and a penalty from Jack Crowley.

The Ospreys, despite not getting the rub of the green with the officials throughout the match, did finish the first-half strongly. On another occasion, they might have had more from the referee as the penalties in the Munster red-zone built up.

But in truth, the onus to do more with the chance fell on them and they didn't take them. Whether the scrum penalty call against the head was the right decision right before the break, the decision to back their pack at the scrum, rather than a lineout or even just taking three points, was always a gamble.

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