Welsh look in better shape

Ospreys v Munster: Munster's inside centre and new signing James Storey may at least provide some intelligence about his former club Neath Swansea Ospreys when he lines out tonight at St Helens to face his old team-mates.

The summer signing makes his competitive debut along with the former Harlequins outhalf Paul Burke and possibly Mike Storey, formerly of Saracens, who is named on the bench.

Munster go into the match heartened by their recent efforts against Newcastle and although the win was narrow, the general play was convincing enough for coach Alan Gaffney to be optimistic ahead of tonight's game.

Gaffney also knows optimism in itself won't win games. Munster were beaten twice last season by this Welsh team, the home defeat heralding the arrival of their All Blacks star Christian Cullen.

When optimism meets reality, something usually gives, and with a close-to-full-strength Ospreys lining out, Munster may well struggle in this opener.

That their international players are missing is now an old yarn and will again be a feature of this season.

By their own reckoning the 10 Munster internationals will be available for only nine of the 20 Celtic League matches.

But Ospreys are publicly talking up Munster as one of the best teams in Europe, although privately one suspects the dressing-room pre-match psyche-up will centre (inaccurately) on the "arrogance" of this Irish side arriving at St Helens without their top players.

That aspect is all beyond Gaffney's control.

"As was the case last season we have pulled together a new squad, and we may need time to grow as a team, but hope we have enough individual quality to carry us through this period," said Osprey coach coach Lyn Jones.

"Munster are among my favourite teams in the league, as they are always well-drilled and have great organisation on and off the park. They are an example of where we are striving to get to, but are still a few years ahead of us."

That, however, may not be evident tonight.

OSPREYS: G Henson; S Terblanche, D Bishop, E Seveali'I, S Williams; M Jones, J Spice; P James, B Williams (capt), A Millward, A Newman, L Bateman, J Thomas, R Pugh, R Jones.

MUNSTER: C Cullen; J Payne, M Mullins, J Storey, A Horgan; P Burke, M Prendergast; F Roche, J Flannery, G McIlwham, S O'Connor, T Hogan, S Keogh, D Leamy, J Williams (capt). Replacements: J Kelly, J Holland, E Reddan, J O'Connor, J Blaney, D Ryan, M Storey.

Referee: Rob Dickson (SRU)

Verdict: Home win