Gavin Coombes scored a hat-trick as Munster returned to URC action by scoring nine tries to thump Ospreys on Friday night at Thomond Park 58-3 (HT 27-3).
Fullback Shane Daly was sin-binned for cynically slowing down play and Stephen Myler knocked over the resulting penalty to give Ospreys an early lead.
Joey Carbery responded for the hosts with a penalty of his own before Coombes scored his first try after quick hands from Jean Kleyn set him away. Bradley Davies was yellow carded for a high tackle in the build up.
Malakai Fekitoa made use of the extra man and went over, a beautiful run by Antoine Frisch leading to an overload of numbers and the All Black strolled over.
Munster kept constant pressure on their visitors, pinning them in their own 22 and forcing poor clearance kicks to maintain territory.
Fekitoa set up Frisch for Munster’s third try, freeing his arms through a two-man tackle and offloading for his centre partner to go over.
Carbery secured the bonus point score before the break, a lovely training-ground move ending in him running in untouched.
COOMBES HAT-TRICK
Paddy Patterson scored within 45 seconds of the second half beginning, a short kickoff reclaimed and worked through the numbers to see the scrum half dot down in the corner.
Ospreys simply could not match the intensity and tenacity on show from Munster as they seemed to sink without trace, perhaps reflecting the current crisis that Welsh rugby is in with their performance.
Coombes added his second of the evening after another strike play splintered the defence and he muscled his way over from short range.
Frisch almost scored a magnificent solo effort, but last-ditch defence pushed him into touch just shy of the line, and more heroic defence on the try line from Reuben Morgan-Williams denied Fekitoa after he picked and went from just a metre out.
Simon Zebo added Munster’s seventh score, popping up in midfield and running a good line to be put through a gap by Ben Healy.
Daly showed silky smooth footwork to score the eighth off yet another strike move, Ospreys defence failing to contain any attacking shape Munster threw their way.
Coombes completed his hat-trick just before the final whistle, another pick and go finished with help from his teammates as Munster returned to URC action with a bang.
Tonight's #BKTURC Player of the Match after scoring a hat-trick of tries is Gavin Coombes ??
— Munster Rugby (@Munsterrugby) February 17, 2023
Gav has 11 tries in 14 games for Munster so far this season ??#MUNvOSP #SUAF ??