Ospreys keep heavy gang in reserve to complete the job

IT’S THE cavalry that might catch Munster this evening. Come the final quarter of this now established top-of-the-table Pro 12 meeting, the Ospreys can roll out their heavy hitters.

Adam Jones will arrive for his first appearance of the season to anchor the scrum and either George Stowers or Jonathan Thomas, or both, will also lend their sizeable frames to proceedings.

This is the sort of exposure the next wave of Munster forwards crave. Coach Rob Penney can at least react to this by unleashing BJ Botha, Peter O’Mahony and Donnacha Ryan from the bench, as the latter pair return to club action from their centrally monitored pre-season.

Before all that we should learn a little more about another crucial combination in this evolving Munster squad. Keith Earls has made no secret of his desire to wear number 13 for province and country but the signing of Casey Laulala and James Downey initially indicated Earls’ short term future may be the left wing.

But he gets his wish today. With Downey in reserve, Laulala is shifted to inside centre as Penney gets to view the benefit of a Ronan O’Gara-Laulala-Earls midfield.

Fullback Denis Hurley returns from illness, and will share the back field with old and young flyers in Doug Howlett and Simon Zebo.

On paper at least, Munster have the look of a genuinely potent attacking outfit. Now all the young pack have to do is secure enough clean possession for Conor Murray to get his season motoring.

The Ospreys did just that with an impressive 23-16 victory in Llanelli last week as warhorses like Ryan Jones and Alun-Wyn Jones showed well.

Yesterday’s assault conviction for Andrew Bishop is not expected to impinge on their performance. An internal club investigation is underway, the incident was caught on CCTV, but Bishop has been selected in the centre.

A club statement read: “Following Andrew Bishop’s appearance at Cardiff Magistrates Court on a charge of common assault yesterday and the completion of the legal process the Ospreys can confirm that, in line with our internal disciplinary procedures, we will be undertaking a thorough investigation of the circumstances surrounding events on the morning of August 20th.

“There will be no further comment on this matter from Ospreys Rugby at this time.”

That matter aside, the defending champions are expected to prove too wily and probably too powerful for this growing Munster eight, with Dan Biggar’s boot reliable enough to inflict enough damage to secure four points.

But expect the usual dog-fight between these old foes.

OSPREYS: R Fussell; H Dirksen, A Bishop, A Beck, T Isaacs; D Biggar, K Fotuali’I; R Bevington, R Hibbard, A Jarvis; A Wyn Jones (capt), I Evans; R Jones, J Tipuric, J Bearman. Replacements: S Baldwin, D Jones, A Jones, J Thomas, G Stowers, R Webb, M Morgan, R Jones.

MUNSTER: D Hurley; D Howlett (capt), K Earls, C Laulala, S Zebo, R O’Gara, C Murray; W Du Preez, M Sherry, S Archer; D O’Callaghan, B Holland; T O’Donnell, N Ronan, P Butler. Replacements: D Varley, D Kilcoyne, BJ Botha, D Ryan, P O’Mahony, P Stringer, I Keatley, J Downey.

Referee: Dudley Phillips (IRFU).

Forecast: Ospreys to win.