There will be no love lost between Munster and the Ospreys in Cork on St. Valentine’s Day as they battle it out for crucial GUINNESS PRO12 points during the Six Nations window.
GUINNESS PRO12: Sunday, February 14
MUNSTER (6th) v OSPREYS (7th), Irish Independent Park, 5pm (live TG4/S4C)
Team News: Munster head coach Anthony Foley has made four changes to the team that defeated Zebre for this Sunday’s GUINNESS PRO12 round 14 clash with the Ospreys at Irish Independent Park.
Three of those changes come in the pack with Dave Kilcoyne and Mike Sherry returning to the front row alongside John Ryan who remains at tighthead prop.
Dave Foley partners Mark Chisholm in an unchanged second row, while flanker Dave O’Callaghan makes his first start since returning from an adductor injury. Billy Holland remains as captain and blindside flanker, with Jack O’Donoghue making the positional switch to number 8 for the first time this season.
The only change across the back-line comes at scrum half where Duncan Williams returns to partner Ian Keatley at half-back.
Rory Scannell and Francis Saili form the centre partnership for the seventh consecutive game, while wingers Ronan O’Mahony and Darren Sweetnam and full-back Andrew Conway all retaining their starting places.
Development prop and a product of the Munster clubs pathway, Peter McCabe, is included in his first PRO12 squad after being named among the replacements.
Tickets from just €;20 for adults and €;40 for families (two adults & two kids, meaning kids go free) can be purchased online here, from the Munster Rugby Ticket Offices at Irish Independent Park and Thomond Park, or by calling 0818 719 300. Tickets can also be purchased at the ground on match day.
Meanwhile, the Ospreys management have made two changes to the side that drew 20-all with defending champions Glasgow Warriors a fortnight ago. They have eight players on Six Nations duty with Wales and a further eight out injured.
South African centre JJ Engelbrecht comes in for his first start, with current Wales Under-20 international Owen Watkin reverting to the replacements, and Ben John takes over from the rested Eli Walker on the left wing.
Former All Black Brendon Leonard will captain the Welsh region in Cork, while fellow scrum half Rhys Webb is poised to return from injury off the bench. He has spent five months on the sidelines due to a broken foot.
MUNSTER: Andrew Conway; Darren Sweetnam, Francis Saili, Rory Scannell, Ronan O’Mahony; Ian Keatley, Duncan Williams; Dave Kilcoyne, Mike Sherry, John Ryan, Dave Foley, Mark Chisholm, Billy Holland (capt), Dave O’Callaghan, Jack O’Donoghue.
Replacements: Niall Scannell, Peter McCabe, Mario Sagario, Robin Copeland, Shane Buckley, Tomas O’Leary, Cian Bohane, David Johnston.
OSPREYS: Dan Evans; Tom Grabham, JJ Engelbrecht, Josh Matavesi, Ben John; Sam Davies, Brendon Leonard (capt); Nicky Smith, Sam Parry, Dmitri Arhip, Rynier Bernardo, Rory Thornton, Joe Bearman, Sam Underhill, Dan Baker.
Replacements: Scott Otten, Gareth Thomas, Ma’afu Fia, Adam Beard, Olly Cracknell, Rhys Webb, Owen Watkin, Tom Habberfield.
Referee: Leighton Hodges (Wales)
Assistant Referees: Mark Patton, Jonathan Peak (both Ireland)
Television Match Official: Kevin Beggs (Ireland)
Match Odds (Paddy Power): Munster to win: 4/9; Draw: 16/1; Ospreys to win: 9/5
Pre-Match Quotes: John Ryan (Munster) – “It was a very bruising encounter (with Zebre) and our discipline cost us a bit. We gave away three penalties in about 10 minutes and they kicked all three of them and that really gave them hope.
“They’re a team that you can’t give a glimpse of hope to because they’ll feed off it and get some momentum going. They were very strong and a massively improved side, so I think getting the win out there was brilliant but we’ll look to improve big time – that wasn’t our finest hour.
“We were on the back of 16 games in a row and I think there were some tired bodies, but we’ll need to lift that performance against the Ospreys.
“This time last year we did quite well (during the Six Nations period) so we’re going to look to really kick on and that’s very important. We don’t have any European Cup and neither do the Ospreys, they’re six points behind us at the moment and we badly need to keep that separation there and climb to the top.
“All the Irish sides are ahead of us at the moment, as are Edinburgh and the Scarlets so we need results and we need to edge into the top four.”
Steve Tandy (Ospreys) – “We know the size of the challenge ahead if we are going to close the gap on the teams above us and we understand what we’ve got to do collectively, starting this weekend.
“Make no mistake about it we are still in this race. The PRO12 is tighter than ever and we know that with results this season showing that everybody is capable of beating each other, there is everything left to play for. Anything can happen and you can expect to see plenty of movement in the table over the next few weeks as results go one way then another.
“For us it’s about us looking at the remaining fixtures as nine battles that we’ve got to be up for week by week if we are going to achieve our overall aim, starting in Cork on Sunday against the team who are one place above us.
“We’ve got an exciting young group who are growing in our environment and getting some miles on the clock at the sharp end. They understand what is expected of them within our culture, are striving for excellence and are relentless in what they do.
“With experience around them in key positions that’s a good mix and the boys are looking forward to the challenge. Every point counts now, starting on Sunday, so we know what we’ve got to do.”
Top Scorers – 2015/16 GUINNESS PRO12: Munster – Points: Ian Keatley 95; Tries: CJ Stander, Andrew Conway 3 each; Ospreys – Points: Sam Davies 90; Tries: Eli Walker 5
RECENT LEAGUE MEETINGS:
Saturday, November 2, 2013 – Munster 12 Ospreys 6, Thomond Park
Sunday, February 23, 2014 – Ospreys 11 Munster 25, Liberty Stadium
Saturday, September 27, 2014 – Munster 14 Ospreys 19, Thomond Park
Saturday, March 7, 2015 – Ospreys 26 Munster 12, Liberty Stadium
Saturday, May 23, 2015 – Semi-Final – Munster 21 Ospreys 18, Thomond Park
Sunday, September 13, 2015 – Ospreys 18 Munster 20, Liberty Stadium
MATCH FACTS:
– Munster have won their last three matches since their 27-7 defeat at Stade Francais in the European Champions Cup on January 9
– The Munstermen have lost their last two home games in the GUINNESS PRO12 to Connacht and Leinster, but they were both played at Thomond Park, however in Cork they have won a dozen in-a-row since Cardiff Blues beat them there over three years ago
– The Ospreys’ two most recent encounters in the PRO12 were both at Liberty Stadium and ended in a defeat to Leinster and a draw with Glasgow Warriors
– Away from home in the league, their only defeat in their last four fixtures came on a trip to Glasgow in November
– Munster have won their last two clashes with the Ospreys (last season’s semi-final in Limerick and the round 2 meeting at Liberty Stadium
– The Ospreys have visited Irish Independent Park on four previous occasions, all between 2004 and 2008, with their only victory being 18-15 on their inaugural trip in February 2004
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