Munster suffer home defeat to Ospreys

Munster 15 Neath-Swansea Ospreys 18

Samoan winger Elvis Seveali’I grabbed a brace of tries over four second-half minutes to hand the Ospreys their second away win of the season and condemn Munster to their first home loss in seven games.

The much-hyped Christian Cullen show never came to fruition as the Kiwi debutant played a bit-part role for Munster, who scored tries either side of the break through wing Shawn Payne and scrum half Eoin Reddan.

But it was Wellington product Seveali’I who claimed the vital scores in a game which went scoreless for the final half hour.

Silver-booted full back Gavin Henson missed with a left-sided penalty from 28 metres on five minutes.

But two minutes later, the Welsh grasped the lead through a smartly driven drop goal from number 10 Sean Connor on the Munster 10 metre line.

Rob Henderson’s kicking cameo, following his penalty and conversion at Stradey Park, continued with a 17th-minute penalty reply just inside the Ospreys’ right post.

Cullen’s first touch took all of 18 minutes arrive, and it was in a defensive role under pressure from centre Dave Tiueti.

The record New Zealand try scorer advanced up field as Munster took advantage of back row Steve Tandy’s 31st minute yellow card for preventing a certain try.

A first Munster touch down arrived in first half injury time, however, as former Natal Sharks wing Payne was put over under Henson’s challenge after an initial incision by skipper Jim Williams.

Henderson missed with the touchline conversion but managed to tag on the extras to Reddan’s try on 46 minutes, as the scrum half ghosted inside Henson and right wing Stefan Terblanche for the score.

That cancelled out Connor’s only penalty of the night for the Ospreys two minutes earlier.

Having established a 15-6 lead, Munster took their foot off the gas and a loose Andy Williams pass after 51 minutes, gathered in by Seveali’I, saw the Samoan wing outpace John Kelly on the left touchline and chip past Cullen to score.

Three minutes later, the 25-year-old intercepted a high Lawlor pass seventy metres from the Munster line to out-sprint Cullen.

Connor’s conversion was easily slotted over and Munster were behind for only the second time.

Irish centre Henderson had the best chance to level it but his 30-metre penalty fell agonisingly wide on 81 minutes, handing the visitors their first win on their travels since October.