RUGBY:ASIDE from being two teams who don't particularly like each other these are also two teams in transition – though given Munster have won 19 out of 22 and the Ospreys 12 out of 22 it could be said that one is transitioning a little better than the other.
Munster are still probably feeling the after-shock of their Amlin Challenge Cup semi-final defeat here to Harlequins just a fortnight ago, which also means they’re seeking to avoid a fifth successive semi-final defeat today. But the prize of hosting an all-Irish final next Saturday ought to overcome any jitters.
Their consistency in the league is a testimony to their squad depth, and once more Tony McGahan has juggled his resources, making seven changes from the side which beat Connacht a week ago. Arguably though, one of those who’s been retained is the most eye-catching, with Tralee’s Auckland-born 21-year-old Danny Barnes making just his fourth competitive start alongside Lifeimi Mafi as Munster continue to seek an effective midfield balance – this being their 12th centre partnership of the season.
More surprisingly, given Munster’s difficulties at scrum time against the Ospreys in all four meetings this season, McGahan has recalled both Marcus Horan and John Hayes for their seventh and 11th starts of the season. In the case of the Bull, it will also mark his 200th game for Munster, which is a remarkable comment on his durability and consistency over 13 seasons.
Donncha O’Callaghan’s return sees Donncha Ryan switch to blindside, to the exclusion of Denis Leamy, while there’s no place in the match-day squad for Tomás O’Leary and Tony Buckley, who has had particularly tough days against the Ospreys this season.
Whatever about Munster’s post-Amlin fragility, you have to wonder where the Ospreys are mentally. Already without the injured duo of Clermont-bound Lee Byrne and Shane Williams, once again they have left the wantaway Mike Phillips out of their match-day squad, while the departing ex-Blacks backrowers Jerry Collins and Marty Holah are on the bench.
Ironically, their results were much better during the Six Nations with their Test stars away and, although they would love to have kept James Hook they couldn’t compete with the reported €750,000 a year on offer at Perpignan.
Head coach Sean Holley has openly talked about moving away from their galacticos’ culture to a more ‘Munsteresque’ home-grown squad, and accordingly, all bar wingers Tommy Bowe and Nikki Walker of today’s starting XV are Welsh.
The Ospreys did win here last season to complete a League double on the way to winning the title, but Munster have won three of this season’s four meetings – curiously scoring 22 points in each of them – and overall lead 11-8 in head-to-head meetings in both League and Europe and over much of this season and particularly in the last few weeks, form points to only one winner.
MUNSTER: F Jones; D Howlett, D Barnes, L Mafi, K Earls; R O’Gara, C Murray; M Horan, D Varley, J Hayes; D O’Callaghan, P O’Connell (capt); D Ryan, D Wallace, J Coughlan. Replacements: M Sherry, W du Preez, S Archer, D Leamy, N Ronan, P Stringer, P Warwick, S Zebo.
OSPREYS: R Fussell; T Bowe, A Bishop, J Hook, N Walker; D Biggar, R Webb; P James, H Bennett, A Jones, I Gough, A W Jones (capt), R Jones, J Tipuric, J Thomas. Replacements: R Hibbard, R Bevington, C Griffiths, J Collins, T Smith, M Holah, T Isaacs, A Beck.
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales).
Forecast: Munster to win.
