Preview: Munster v Ospreys
Filo Tiatia takes over the Ospreys captaincy as they head to Musgrave Park to take on Munster in the Magners League on Saturday.
Filo Tiatia takes over the Ospreys captaincy as they head to Musgrave Park to take on Munster in the Magners League on Saturday.
Ryan Jones, who captained the side to their EDF Cup victory last weekend, is rested as Lyn Jones' side look to finish the season on a high.
“With five games remaining of the season, we are not looking down the table, we are concentrating on the teams currently above us,” said Jones.
“We are seven points behind the Scarlets and twelve points behind the Blues, but we have two games in hand on both of them, and we are still targeting finishing above both of those sides to finish the highest of the Welsh regions.”
The back line remains the same from last weekend although there are two changes in the front row. Cai Griffiths takes over at tighthead and Huw Bennett slots in at hooker.
Paul O'Connell will lead Munster into battle, although it will be with Mick O'Driscoll by his side and not usual second-row partner Donncha O'Callaghan.
Tomas O'Leary wins back the number nine shirt from Ireland international Peter Stringer, who in turn has to settle for a place on the bench. Another notable absentee from the starting XV is Ronan O'Gara, who does not feature at all.
Form: Munster have won their last four home matches in all competitions since Leinster were victorious 10-3 at Musgrave Park in the Magners League on 30 November. Munster's only defeat in their last six home games against Welsh teams was 17-19 to Cardiff Blues in Cork on 5 October. Ospreys last six encounters in the Magners League have all been won by the home side on the day. Ospreys are winless away from home in the Magners League since the day they won the title last season: 12 May 2007 at Border Reivers. The last seven clashes between the two teams in all competitions have all been won by the home side on the day, whilst Ospreys only previous win in Munster was 18-15 at Musgrave Park in the league on 27 February 2004.
The Teams:
Munster: 15 Shaun Payne, 14 Brian Carney, 13 Barry Murphy, 12 Kieran Lewis, 11 Anthony Horgan, 10 Paul Warwick, 9 Tomas O'Leary, 8 Denis Leamy, 7 Niall Ronan, 6 Donnacha Ryan, 5 Paul O'Connell (c), 4 Mick O'Driscoll, 3 Tony Buckley, 2 Frank Sheahan, 1 Federico Pucciariello.
Replacements: 16 Jerry Flannery, 17 Marcus Horan, 18 Anthony Foley, 19 David Wallace, 20 Peter Stringer, 21 Jeremy Manning, 22 Keith Earls.
Ospreys: 15 Lee Byrne, 14 Johnny Vaughton, 13 Sonny Parker, 12 Andrew Bishop, 11 Shane Williams, 10 James Hook, 9 Justin Marshall, 8 Filo Tiatia (c), 7 Marty Holah, 6 Jonathan Thomas, 5 Ian Evans, 4 Ian Gough, 3 Cai Griffiths, 2 Huw Bennett, 1 Duncan Jones.
Replacements:16 Ed Shervington, 17 Andrew Millward, 18 Lyndon Bateman, 19 Ben Lewis, 20 Gareth Owen, 21 Jonathan Spratt, 22 Aled Brew.
Date: Saturday 19 April, 2008
Kick-off: 19:30 BST (18:30 GMT)
Venue: Musgrave Park
Referee: James Jones (Wales)
Touch Judges: Eanna O'Dowd (Ireland), K Henley-Willis (Ireland)
Television Match Official: Olan Trevor (Ireland)