United Rugby Championship: Munster overpower Ospreys with impressive win

Gavin Coombes scored a hat-trick of tries as Munster demolished Ospreys 58-3 at Thomond Park.

Tries from Malakai Fekitoa, Gavin Coombes, Antoine Frisch and Joey Carberry helped the hosts to a 27-3 lead and the bonus point by the break.

Paddy Patterson, Simon Zebo and Shane Daly touched down after the restart and Coombes completed his hat-trick to add to Ospreys' misery.

Ospreys' sole points came from the boot of Stephen Myler in the first half.

Munster's fourth successive URC victory puts them fourth in the table.

With both sides missing players due to the Six Nations, Ospreys had no answer to Munster's physicality and pace in the decisive first half as the home side put the game to bed.

Despite an early yellow card for Munster full-back Daly, the momentum of the game swung after 15 minutes when Ospreys conceded a well-taken try by Coombes and, following a video review, Ospreys lock Bradley Davies was shown a yellow card for a high tackle on prop Roman Salanoa which was spotted in the build-up.

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The Munster midfield combined to good effect on two occasions with centre Frisch combining with Fekitoa, who finished the well-worked move in the corner. Fekitoa returned the favour minutes later, assisting Frisch with a clever loop pass to put his midfield partner into a gap to dot down over the line.

Out-half Carberry sealed the bonus point for his side with an incisive break to give his side the bonus point just before half-time.

Back row Gavin Coombes touched down three times at Thomond Park

With the bonus point already banked, Munster continued to dominate after the break as scrum-half Patterson scored almost immediately after the restart, followed shortly after by a second try from Coombes following sustained pressure on the Ospreys line.

Simon Zebo notched another try for the hosts after more weak Ospreys defending.

With the game already long over as a contest, late tries from full-back Daly and man-of-the-match Coombes rubbed salt in the wounds on what was a miserable evening for the visitors.

Munster: Shane Daly; Liam Coombes, Antoine Frisch, Malakai Fekitoa, Simon Zebo; Joey Carbery, Paddy Patterson; Josh Wycherley, Niall Scannell, Roman Salanoa; Jean Kleyn, Fineen Wycherley; Jack O'Donoghue (capt), John Hodnett, Gavin Coombes.

Replacements: Diarmuid Barron, Mark Donnelly, Stephen Archer, Jack O'Sullivan, Alex Kendellen, Ethan Coughlan, Ben Healy, Rory Scannell.

Ospreys: Max Nagy; Luke Morgan, Michael Collins, Owen Watkin, Keelan Giles; Stephen Myler, Reuben Morgan-Williams; Nicky Smith (capt), Elvis Taione, Tom Botha, Bradley Davies, Huw Sutton, Jack Regan, Ethan Roots, Morgan Morris

Replacements: Tom Cowan-Dickie, Garyn Phillips, Rhys Henry, James Fender, Harri Deaves, Matthew Aubrey, Jack Walsh, Iestyn Hopkins

Referee: Craig Evans (WRU)

Assistant referees: Jonny Perriam & Ru Campbell (SRU)

TMO: Jon Mason (WRU)