Munster coach Declan Kidney must be hoping that the IRFU give the top players more game time in the coming season.

Once again, Munster were forced to field a second string side in the Magners League against a Welsh side and paid the price in Swansea, going down to the Osprey's by 16-3.

World Cup squad members Alan Quinlan and Brian Carney started the game and Peter Stringer and Frankie Sheehan joined them late in the second half but it was all a bit messy and Munster never established any cohesive rhythm.

Simon McDowell from Ulster referred the match but he seemed to be very harsh on Munster and the penalty count favoured the Welsh team.

It was 13 points to nil for Ospreys at half time but Munster prop Tony Buckley looked to have scored a perfectly good try in the corner only to be called up for a forward pass.

The Welsh touch judges have come in for a bit of stick over the past few years from Scottish and Irish teams, but I don't know whether it was the ref's decision or the touch judges, as to the forward pass.

Late in the match Jeremy Manning also looked to have scored a try in the corner but again it was disallowed for a forward pass.

A try and convert would have given Munster a bonus point but they came away with nothing to show for their afternoon's endeavours.

Tight head prop Tony Buckley continues to impress and apart from putting in a good display in the tight. He also got in some excellent tackles.

Anthony Foley and Alan Quinlan also played well in the back row and Brian Carney and Ian Dowling were impressive on the wings.

Munster travel to Scotland at the weekend when they take on Glasgow Warriors. The big boys should make an appearance for that one.

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