Ospreys v Munster: Teams
Ospreys will have to cope without a host of players when they face Munster in their RaboDirect PRO12 clash at Liberty Stadium.
Last Updated: 02/12/11 4:53pm
Ospreys will have to cope without a host of players when they face Munster in their RaboDirect PRO12 clash at Liberty Stadium.
Huw Bennett, Ryan Bevington, Dan Biggar, Ian Evans, Ryan Jones, Justin Tipuric and Shane Williams have all been called up to the Wales squad for Saturday's Test against Australia in Cardiff.
Meanwhile, Tom Habberfield, Will Price and Tom Prydie are with Wales Sevens while Eli Walker is playing in the Help For Heroes match at Twickenham.
To compound matters, Ospreys have a long injury list which includes Kahn Fotuali'i, Adam Jones, Alun Wyn Jones, Nikki Walker and Paul James.
"Any game against Munster is a tough one and this weekend will be no different," commented Ospreys forwards coach Jonathan Humphreys.
But the table-toppers, who could give Sam Lewis a PRO12 debut off the bench, have form on their side having only lost once in the league this season.
Tight
Humphreys added: "We've been involved in some really tight games against them over the years and there generally doesn't tend to be more than one score in it.
"We're expecting them to come over fully loaded with their internationals and they'll definitely be targeting this one so we're going to have to be at our best. There's no doubt about that.
"We've got a good record in the PRO12 this season, we've only lost the one game, but we're not kidding ourselves about where we are. We know that we've got to continue improving our game, working hard and find that clinical edge."
Munster coach Tony McGahan, whose side could go top with a win, continues to ring the changes with just eight of those who started in the victory over Edinburgh last week hanging onto their places.
There is just one change in the backline with Doug Howlett coming back in place of Luke O'Dea, who made an impressive try-scoring debut last time out.
Most of the changes occur in the pack, with only veterans Marcus Horan - winning his 200th cap - and Donncha O'Callaghan retained from last weekend's game.
Paul O'Connell is kept in reserve - as is Ronan O'Gara - and in his absence Peter O'Mahony takes over the captaincy.
Ospreys: 15 Barry Davies, 14 Tommy Bowe, 13 Andrew Bishop, 12 Ashley Beck, 11 Richard Fussell, 10 Matthew Morgan, 9 Rhys Webb, 8 Joe Bearman, 7 James King, 6 Tom Smith (c), 5 Jonathan Thomas, 4 Ian Gough, 3 Aaron Jarvis, 2 Richard Hibbard, 1 Duncan Jones.
Replacements: 16 Mefin Davies, 17 Cai Griffiths, 18 Joe Rees, 19 George Stowers, 20 Sam Lewis, 21 Tom Isaacs, 22 Sonny Parker, 23 Hanno Dirksen.
Munster: 15 Denis Hurley, 14 Doug Howlett, 13 Will Chambers, 12 Danny Barnes, 11 Simon Zebo, 10 Ian Keatley, 9 Tomas O'Leary, 8 Peter O'Mahony (c) 7 Niall Ronan, 6 Denis Leamy, 5 Donnacha Ryan, 4 Donncha O'Callaghan, 3 BJ Botha, 2 Damien Varley, 1 Marcus Horan.
Replacements: 16 Denis Fogarty, 17 Wian du Preez, 18 Stephen Archer, 19 Paul O'Connell, 20 James Coughlan, 21 Conor Murray, 22 Ronan O'Gara, 23 Johne Murphy.
