Rugby: Munster coach Tony McGahan has made seven personnel changes from the side that beat Connacht last weekend ahead of the Magners League semi-final meeting with Ospreys at Thomond Park on Saturday.
The side looks very different from that which disposed of their provincial rivals but strikingly similar to the one that beat tomorrow's opposition 22-20 at Liberty Stadium on April 23rd.
Danny Barnes did not play that game, nor did captain Paul O'Connell, but both are in the starting XV, as they were against Connacht. The young Auckland-born centre, however, switches to the outside to accomodate the return of Lifiemi Mafi, who replaces Johne Murphy.
Felix Jones and Doug Howlett remain at fullback and right wing respectively, but on the left Keith Earls is preferred to Simon Zebo, who returns to the bench.
Ronan O'Gara will be partnered by Conor Murray, the youngster back in place of Tomás O'Leary at scrumhalf.
In the pack, hooker Damien Varley will replace Mike Sherry, while the return of Donncha O'Callaghan to the secondrow means Donnacha Ryan moves to blinside flanker instead of Alan Quinlan.
The backrow, in fact, is changed completely from the visit of Connacht, with David Wallace in for Niall Ronan and James Coughlan picked ahead of Denis Leamy.
"We knew the format setting out. We'd set our sights initially on a home semi final so as to give ourselves the best possible chance to win the title. We've achieved that.
Munster comfortably topped the table this season, but must still negotiate two games if they are to be crowned champions.
"We knew the format setting out," said Varley today. "We'd set our sights initially on a home semi-final so as to give ourselves the best possible chance to win the title. We've achieved that.
"We'll take this as a single game. It's a stepping stone to winning a trophy. We're where we wanted to be, in with a shot at a final."
Ireland wing Tommy Bowe will line out onm the right wing for Ospreys, who have chosen to leave Kiwi flanker Jerry Collins on the bench.
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 Wyn 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
