IRELAND international Peter O’Mahony will be on Munster duty this weekend as the province look to build on last week’s win over Ulster in a clash with the Ospreys on Friday night.
O’Mahony, who is with Munster this weekend for game time, instead of travelling with Ireland to face New Zealand will be joined in a strong backroom by Jack O’Donoghue and Tommy O’Donnell.
The game, which kicks off at 7.35pm on Friday night in Musgrave Park, is live on TG4.
In team news, Stephen Archer comes in to join Dave Kilcoyne and Niall Scannell in the front row while Darren O’Shea and Robin Copeland form a new partnership in the second row. No change in the back row with captain Peter O’Mahony, Tommy O’Donnell and Jack O’Donoghue all remaining in situ.
The final change is seen in the half backs where Tyler Bleyendaal returns to partner Duncan Williams.
Try scorers against Ulster, Rory Scannell and Jaco Taute, again take charge of midfield with a back three of Ronan O’Mahony, Darren Sweetnam and Andrew Conway completing the starting XV.
Linking up with the squad this week, new signing Rhys Marshall is named in his first matchday squad. The hooker joins from Super Rugby side the Chiefs after penning a three-year deal that will see him stay with the province until June 2019.
Should they appear from the bench, development prop Peter McCabe and Young Munster scrum half Abrie Griesel will make their first PRO12 appearances.
Munster Rugby’s only defeat in their last six fixtures in all competitions was 14-25 to Leinster at the Aviva Stadium in the Guinness PRO12 on 8 October.
The Munstermen have lost just twice at home since mid-January with both encounters being in Cork, to Ospreys and Cardiff Blues. Ospreys have won their last four matches in all tournaments since their 7-9 reversal in Ulster in round 5 of the Guinness PRO12. The Welshmen have won just two of their last dozen encounters against Irish provinces since May 2015. The last six meetings between the two sides have been evenly split with three wins apiece, whilst Ospreys have lost on just two of their last six visits to Munster.
Munster XV: Andrew Conway; Darren Sweetnam, Jaco Taute, Rory Scannell, Ronan O’Mahony; Tyler Bleyendaal, Duncan Williams; Dave Kilcoyne, Niall Scannell, Stephen Archer; Darren O’Shea, Robin Copeland; Peter O’Mahony Capt., Tommy O’Donnell, Jack O’Donoghue.
Replacements: Rhys Marshall, Peter McCabe, Brian Scott, John Madigan, Conor Oliver, Abrie Griesel, Ian Keatley, Alex Wootton.
Ospreys Team:
OSPREYS
15 Dan Evans
14 Keelan Giles
13 Ben John
12 Ashley Beck
11 Eli Walker
10 Josh Matavesi
9 Tom Habberfield (Capt)
1 Paul James
2 Sam Parry
3 Dmitri Arhip
4 Lloyd Ashley
5 Adam Beard
6 Rob McCusker
7 Olly Cracknell
8 Joe Bearman
REPLACEMENTS
16 Hugh Gustafson
17 Gareth Thomas
18 Ma’afu Fia
19 Rhodri Jones
20 Scott Otten
21 Brendon Leonard
22 Jonathan Spratt
23 Dafydd Howells
