It would be a spirited effort from the Swansea-based region as they would limit their Irish opponents to just two tries and would give Munster plenty to think about in an absorbing contest.
Graham Rowntree’s side, however, would be on the front-foot from the get-go and would never look back despite a few scares after an early score from departing wing Simon Zebo.
Playing his final season at the club, the former Ireland international would power through two players after latching onto Gavin Coombes’ pass to open the scoring within 90 seconds.
To their credit, the Ospreys would not be overawed by the occasion and hit back straight away to earn a score of their own immediately. Keelan Giles celebrating his Wales call-up by bursting through the midfield to finish Morgan Morris’ pass from a well-crafted counter attack.
The contest though in general would be hard work for the Ospreys defense, who would fight valiantly tooth and nail as constant waves of physical pressure would mount in the away side’s twenty-two.
Niall Scannell putting Munster back in front as a result of the home side’s driving lineout. The Irish international hooker powering over after receiving the ball from the back of the scrum metres from the Ospreys try line.
The Ospreys rallied before the break and felt they should have been back in the contest. A combination of a lack of clinical edge and a contentious penalty decision, however, meant the scores, would leave Booth’s side still ten behind at the break.
Camped in the Ospreys half after the re-start, Munster would tighten the screw and would barely give their opponents a sniff with Tadhg Beirne, Joh Hodnett and Coombes all going close.
It would be the reliable boot of Jack Crowley who would add a pair of kicks to seal the result in the only points of the half.
As Munster made it ten wins on the bounce in the URC and secured a place in the last-four, there would be no complaints from Booth who felt his side gave it their all but would fall to the better side on the night.
“The best team won, and I will wish Munster all the best for the semi-final, said Booth.
“It was a difficult contest; I think we made it uncomfortable for them but not difficult enough.
“We had a few key moments which we needed to capitalise on. When you are away from home against a quality opposition you need to take those chances.
“It wasn’t for a lack of trying, sometimes it’s your decision [making] and sometimes it’s out of your hands.
“In addition to that though I have a sense of pride for this team because despite all of the things [against us], we gave ourselves a shot.
“That will give us the confidence and belief that we can get there and secondly the disappointment and appetite will fuel us to keep going.
“To limit them to two tries to one and them kicking at goal is a sign of respect. We just couldn’t give them enough scoreboard pressure to make things a bit nervier.
“We defended very well but couldn’t maintain any field position in the second-half. We huffed and we puffed but lost a few key elements there.”
Booth felt, however, that his side could have been back in the match at the break with the games mentality likely to have provided a different contest if his side had been within a score of their opponents.
“It was a key moment [in the game],” continued Booth.
“If you come in 17-7 – even if you come in 17-10 it chances the half-time team talk a bit and it becomes more of a game.
“Our try though was wonderful; it was what we are all about.
“If you look at the makeup of the team, we have carried a lot of injuries into the game and the guys give their best. It is completely different to the Gloucester game where I feel we were disappointed we didn’t fire a shot.
“From an effort and ambition point-of-view we showed plenty of that, but we still weren’t clinical to make it more difficult for them.
“When the dust settles, we will be happy that the team has moved forward.”
[Lead image: Ospreys Rugby]
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