Ospreys vs. Munster

Munster will bring their traditional mix of fierceness and guile to the Liberty Stadium on Friday, eager to add to their victories achieved against the odds. But, does the “Big Red Machine” have enough left in the tank to succeed? This has not been an easy season for Munster and at times they have stuttered; the loss to Ulster in the Heineken Cup a particularly bitter pill to swallow. Yet, they can not be discounted, they will come to Swansea as underdogs but they still have plenty of bite.

South African props do not surrender easily, and in Du Preez and BJ Botha Munster have two of the most durable in the league. This sense of toughness is enhanced with the hard-hitting presence of the two Donnachas in the engine room who add considerably to the doggedness of the Munster pack. They will ensure that the strains of “Stand up and fight” will ring around the changing room. They will be glad to have Ronan O’Gara behind them on his return from fitness. He has seen it all before, he will not be phased by the situation and given the room he will pin the Ospreys back, nurse his pack, and if the chance presents itself unleash the pace of Earls and the tyro Zebo. Munster has the knack of winning tight games, bring the wagons round and snatch a win.

The Ospreys are no longer the side that meekly surrendered to Saracens; they sniff a chance of glory, of getting their hands on some silverware. Their winter blues are behind them. They have put together a good run and the days of Munster being their bogey team are now banished. The Ospreys will be confident in the quality of their preparation, and that they have the nous to deal with the men of Limerick.

The presence of Shane Williams will add gloss to the occasion. Every time he touches the ball the crowd will instinctively rise to their feet. Munster will do their best to contain him but he is not the only facet of the Osprey’s attack that they will need to be concerned about. Hugo Dirksen is ready to pick up Shane’s mantle; he is an effervescent player a threat every time he has the ball. Ashley Beck glides over the ground, he has good hands and clever feet and in Rhys Webb the Ospreys have the sort of player who can elegantly influence the tempo and fluidity of a game, and take it quickly away from the opposition. In Dan Biggar you have the Welsh equivalent of O’Gara, he may not be part of the current Welsh set up but his excellent goal kicking and game management will be a critical part of the Osprey’s game plan.

Tipuric will relentlessly dog O’Gara’s footsteps, deny him the space he covets, get in his face, win the battle on the floor and generally undermine the foundations Munster will try to create. The rest of the Osprey’s formidable hard working pack will thrive on this and the class of the inform Ryan Jones will ensure that the Munster pack will have to work very hard to stay on equal terms. Their scrum is solid, the lineout secure and Hibbard having emerged from Bennett’s shadow will be doing his best to impress the watching Welsh management, with his strong ball carrying and heavy tackling.

Munster know how to spoil a party they will come to do what they do best, but Ospreys have the air of winners about them. They will not underestimate Munster and will need to impose their game on the men in red.

Ospreys to win a close match, and then a final shoot out with Lenister beckons.