He’s not saying goodbye… yet.
It took a late, late video replay to break Ospreys hearts, at Thomond Park, and send Munster into the Guinness PRO12 final.
Paul O’Connell put in a serious shift yet again – 80 minutes of pure, true grit – but CJ Stander was the star of the show in a tense 21-18 win.
Following the match, and a standing ovation, he told Sky Sports:
Paul O’Connell: “It probably the last time I’ll play for Munster here.”
— SportsJOE.ie (@SportsJOEdotie) May 23, 2015
Munster and Ospreys gave no indications that the game would be so open in the second half as, for the opening 30 minutes, they settled for jabs, feints and penalties. That all changed on 38 minutes when CJ Stander made a bulling run and teed up Simon Zebo to score. Munster added second half scores from Denis Hurley and Paddy Butler but Rhys Webb and Jeff Hassler responded with scything runs and tries. Dan Biggar made it 21-18 with 10 minutes to spare but Ian Keatley, then JJ Hanrahan missed penalties that would seal it. It was all too much for some Munster fans.
Ospreys thought they had snatched it at the death but referee Nigel Owens called play back for a review and a Welsh knock-on was discovered.
Anthony Foley will now have to regroup his tired troops for the final. Conor Murray, Peter O’Mahony and Simon Zebo all limped off during the match.
O’Connell’s final game will now be next Saturday evening, in Belfast, against Glasgow Warriors.
