RUGBY/Munster v Ospreys:AMID THE feast of televised rugby from around the world these days, this is one Magners League match-up that can compare with anything the others have to offer. The redeveloped and resplendent Thomond Park hosts the last two winners of the competition, with 24 internationals lining up at the kick-off (including four All Blacks) and another nine on the respective benches, and a potential eight Lions on view.
Considering that Munster are without Paul O’Connell, Jerry Flannery, David Wallace and Keith Earls, and this game has also come too soon for Ryan Jones, Mike Phillips and James Hook, that is quite an impressive statement about the strength in depth of these two Celtic powerhouses, who have secured five of the league’s nine titles between them.
The game is given added resonance by Alan Quinlan leading out Munster on the occasion of his 200th game for the province, and the knowledge that this meeting marks another gear shift in the story of the season. This will be the first of four meetings between the sides. Although they don’t collide in the Heineken Cup until meeting each other back to back in December, starting off with another rendezvous here, Europe is also suddenly looming into view, just three weeks away.
As expected, Tony McGahan continues to inch back some of Ireland’s summer tourists whose pre-season extended into the campaign. Thus, after two outings on the bench, Marcus Horan and John Hayes make their first starts in a new frontrow, as do Donncha O’Callaghan and Tomás O’Leary. Too much can possibly be read into another outing from the bench for Ronan O’Gara, although it may say something about Felix Jones’ form at fullback.
Given he almost amounts to a new signing ala the midfield combination of Johne Murphy and Sam Tuitoupou, Munster have begun impressively, wearing down Aironi and deservedly holding on against Edinburgh. Their set-pieces and all-round forward play have been pretty sound, though they’ve possibly over-used Tuitoupou up the middle.
“Each game has tested us a little bit more in all areas, but we’re certainly going to be tested right across the board against the Ospreys,” said McGahan. “We need to make sure we’ve gone forward, especially in our breakdown work and in finishing the opportunities we’re creating, otherwise the Ospreys have the ability to score tries. Also they possess a very good kicking game in (Dan) Biggar at 10, so we need to be on our mark in most areas.”
Similarly, the Ospreys integrate captain Alun-Wyn Jones and Tommy Bowe for their first starts of the season. With the latter accommodated at outside centre, the Ospreys look to have a sharper cutting edge, but one imagines the pain of the 19-14 defeat to the Ospreys here at the end of April is sharp enough for Munster to atone.
MUNSTER: F Jones; D Howlett, J Murphy, S Tuitupou, I Dowling; P Warwick, T O’Leary; M Horan, D Fogarty, J Hayes; D O’Callaghan, D Ryan; A Quinlan, N Ronan, D Leamy capt. Replacements: D Varley, W du Preez, T Buckley, B Holland, P O’Mahony, P Stringer, R O’Gara, D Barnes.
OSPREYS: L Byrne; N Walker, T Bowe, A Bishop, S Williams; D Biggar, J Nutbrown; P James, M Davies, C Mitchell, A W Jones (Capt), I Evans, J Collins, M Holah, J Thomas. Replacements: R Hibbard, D Jones, A Jones, I Gough, B Lewis, R Webb, G Owen, R Fussell.
Referee: Neil Paterson (SRU).
Previous meetings: (07-08) Ospreys 16 Munster 3; Munster 9 Ospreys 8 (Musgrave Pk); Ospreys 21 Munster 25; Munster 36 Ospreys 10; (09-10) Ospreys 19 Munster 14; Munster 11 Ospreys 15.
Leading points scorers: Munster – Paul Warwick 19. Ospreys – Dan Biggar 28.
Forecast: Munster to win.
