SECONDS out, round one. This season Munster will meet the Ospreys on at least four occasions. Two Heinken Cup pool games are sandwiched between two Magners League ties. This Saturday night at 8pm Munster will look to gain revenge on the reigning champions after suffering two league defeats last season. Losing 19-14 away and 15-11 at home in Thomond Park.
This weekend, with an unchanged squad from last week’s win over Edinburgh at Murrayfield, Munster manager Shaun Payne believes the red army need to be more patient and make less errors.
“Last week against Edinburgh we lacked patience. We could have tacked on more points in that game but we failed to convert. It was the same last year against the Ospreys here in Thomond Park. It was our mistakes last season and a good performance from the Ospreys that was the difference. Our lack of discipline has been highlighted too. It was not good enough for us last term, so we need to make sure we keep our heads on Saturday. With someone like Dan Biggar in their side they will punish us. He didn’t miss a kick last season”.
Munster, along with Ulster are the only teams to begin the Magners League season with successive victories. The last time the Munstermen won their opening three games was when they took the Magners League title in 2008/09. In a strange statistic, Munster have lost their last two games at Thomond Park Stadium in the Magners League. Something that McGahan and Co will be looking to change this week.
The Ospreys however will provide a tough challenge. After winning the Magners crown last season, the Ospreys will be looking to step up another level in 2010/11, one which
Munster manager Shaun Payne believes they can.
“They are absolutely stronger than last season. After the result here last season and the winning of the league too, they are so much more dangerous this season. The Ospreys have always had the weapons to be very successful. The quality of player is always there and now they have the confidence to go on and move to the next level. They are a dangerous dangerous team for us”.
The Ospreys have won five of their last six games in the Magners League, and have been victorious on four of their last six visits to Ireland, so the odds are stacked against
Munster. Just how they like it really.
On the injury front, Lifeimi Mafi is available for the A game this Friday against Ulster Ravens in Dublin. He will also expected to be available for the Magners League ties against Glasgow and Leinster. In other news, Keith Earls did receive an injection in his ankle to help with his rehabilitation but he is not expected back until the second round of matches in the Heineken Cup.
Munster: D Hurley, F Jones, S Deasy, I Dowling, D Howlett, D Barnes,
J Murphy, S Tuitupou, R O’Gara,
P Warwick, D Williams, P Stringer, T O’Leary. W du Preez, M Horan,
D Varley, D Fogarty, J Hayes,
T Buckley, D O’Callaghan, B Holland, D Ryan, M O’Driscoll, I Nagle, A Quinlan, N Ronan, D Leamy, T O’Donnell, P O’Mahony.
