RUGBY:THE OSPREYS, about to lose some of their best home-grown talent in Lee Byrne and James Hook to France, find themselves on the verge of messing up a season that initially promised so much.
Defeat to the Dragons last Friday night, 32-28, has taken play-off aspirations out of their hands.
They are fortunate in that Munster have already secured a home semi-final. They reacted to last week’s defeat by dropping three absolute bankers heretofore in Ryan Jones, Jerry Collins and Andrew Bishop.
“It’s the time of year when it’s all or nothing, we have to get two wins and hope that the Dragons can continue to perform like they did against us,” said forwards coach Jonathan Humphreys.
“If that happens, then we’ll be in the play-offs, but it’s going to be tough.”
The Dragons have Ulster at home next weekend.
The Ospreys are currently on 58 points so they must win tonight and will probably have to pick up five points away to Aironi next weekend to make it through.
Tommy Bowe has been switched from wing to centre, in place of Bishop, where he will partner Hook, while Dan Biggar remains at outhalf despite being unable to lay claim to the Welsh number 10 jersey, mainly due to Warren Gatland’s preference for Hook.
Munster have made 14 changes, three of which are positional, from the side that so impressively managed to win in Llanelli.
Outhalf Ronan O’Gara returns as captain but scrumhalf Tomás O’Leary remains absent with an eye injury. Johne Murphy has a similar problem.
From a World Cup selection perspective, the presence of Marcus Horan and John Hayes in a frontrow with hooker Damien Varley looks like a timely opportunity for all three men.
OSPREYS: L Byrne; N Walker, T Bowe, J Hook, R Fussell; D Biggar, R Webb; R Bevington, R Hibbard, A Jones, I Gough, A Wyn Jones (capt), J Tipuric, M Holah, J Thomas. Replacements: H Bennett, P James, D Jones, R Jones, J Collins, M Phillips, A Bishop, S Parker.
MUNSTER: F Jones; D Howlett, L Mafi, P Warwick, K Earls; R OGara (capt), C Murray; M Horan, D Varley, J Hayes, I Nagle, D OCallaghan, D Ryan, D Wallace, J Coughlan. Replacements: M Sherry, W du Preez, T Buckley, T ODonnell, N Ronan, P Stringer, D Barnes, S Zebo.
Referee: J Graces (France).
Verdict: Ospreys to win.
