Munster line out on their new modified 3G pitch at Irish Independent Park for the first time in a competitive fixture, as they look to reel in Conference A pacesetters, the Ospreys, in the GUINNESS PRO14.
GUINNESS PRO14: Friday, September 14
MUNSTER (4th, Con A) v OSPREYS (1st, Con A), Irish Independent Park, 7.35pm (live eir Sport 1/TG4/Premier Sports)
Team News: Munster captain Peter O’Mahony makes his first appearance of the campaign along with fellow returning international Andrew Conway, and Joey Carbery and Tadhg Beirne, two more players from Ireland’s successful summer tour, are set for their first starts for the province.
Chris Cloete makes a welcome return in the back row with the South African flanker out of action since February due to forearm and groin injuries. There are 11 changes to the side beaten 25-10 by Glasgow Warriors in Scotstoun last weekend.
Full-back Mike Haley and winger Darren Sweetnam keep their places with Conway completing the back-three. Dan Goggin comes into the starting back-line at inside centre with Sam Arnold wearing the number 13 jersey again and Carbery and Duncan William forming the half-back partnership.
It is all change in the front five as James Cronin, Rhys Marshall and Stephen Archer come into the front row. Darren O’Shea captained Munster ‘A’ to an opening night Celtic Cup win last Friday and is rewarded with a place in the second row alongside first-time starter Beirne.
Arno Botha is the only forward to keep his place in the team and is joined in the back row by skipper O’Mahony and Cloete. The round 3 match is Munster’s first competitive fixture on the new modified 3G surface at Irish Independent Park. The official opening of the new pitch by Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Simon Coveney, will take place ahead of the game.
All-Ireland Senior Camogie champions Cork will be special guests at the PRO14 clash along with the O’Duffy Cup, and the squad and trophy will be presented to the crowd at half-time. Munster v Ospreys tickets are available at munsterrugby.ie, from the Munster Rugby Ticket Offices in Irish Independent Park and Thomond Park, or by calling 061 421103.
The Ticket Office at Irish Independent Park will be open from 9am to 2pm today and the Ticketmaster van at the Dolphin end of the stadium will be open from 2pm until kick-off. Ticket prices – adult stand: €;30, *student/junior stand: €;10, adult terrace: €;20; *student/junior terrace: €;7, and family pack (two adults & two juniors (terrace only)): €;40.
* Junior tickets can only be purchased with an adult ticket. Student tickets can only be purchased in person at our ticket offices. You will need a valid student ID card at time of purchase and to enter the ground on match day.
Meanwhile, Ospreys boss Allen Clarke has made 12 changes to the team that saw off the Toyota Cheetahs on a 46-14 scoreline in Swansea, with captain Justin Tipuric, Alun Wyn Jones, Aled Davies and leading try scorer George North all rested.
Out-half Sam Davies, winger Tom Williams and South African prop Tom Botha are the only players retained in the starting XV. Wales Sevens star Luke Morgan will make his PRO14 debut on the left wing and 19-year-old flanker Morgan Morris is handed his first Championship start.
Wales lock Adam Beard and Georgian Giorgi Nemsadze pack down in a new-look second row pairing, Olly Cracknell captains the region from the blindside berth, while Argentinian back rower Guido Volpi could make his Ospreys debut as a replacement. The bench also includes prop Nicky Smith who has come through the return-to-play protocols.
MUNSTER: Mike Haley; Andrew Conway, Sam Arnold, Dan Goggin, Darren Sweetnam; Joey Carbery, Duncan Williams; James Cronin, Rhys Marshall, Stephen Archer, Tadhg Beirne, Darren O’Shea, Peter O’Mahony (capt), Chris Cloete, Arno Botha.
Replacements: Mike Sherry, Dave Kilcoyne, John Ryan, Jean Kleyn, Tommy O’Donnell, James Hart, Ian Keatley, Jaco Taute.
OSPREYS: James Hook; Tom Williams, Joe Thomas, Cory Allen, Luke Morgan; Sam Davies, Tom Habberfield; Rhodri Jones, Scott Baldwin, Tom Botha, Giorgi Nemsadze, Adam Beard, Olly Cracknell (capt), Morgan Morris, Sam Cross.
Replacements: Ifan Phillips, Nicky Smith, Alex Jeffries, James Ratti, Guido Volpi, Matthew Aubrey, Tiaan Thomas-Wheeler, Hanno Dirksen.
Referee: Stuart Berry (South Africa)
Assistant Referees: Sean Gallagher, Paul Haycock (both Ireland)
Television Match Official: Simon McDowell (Ireland)
Match Odds (Paddy Power): Munster to win: 1/33; Draw: 50/1; Ospreys to win: 12/1
Pre-Match Quotes: Rhys Marshall (Munster) – “Our set piece and breakdown is a non-negotiable. We expect teams to come there and I am not sure whether it was a factor on that 4G (pitch in Glasgow) and every little inch of momentum stays with the team with momentum, so it is very hard to right.
“We are just going to go back and keep doing what we are doing, squeeze out those one or two or three percents. We can get better in those areas because often on a pitch like that it is the difference.
“I take heart from that whole game against Glasgow. I know the boys were caught on the back foot, but it took a lot for us to fight back (in the second half) and I felt we did even with the errors, we started turning the tide just before half-time and the second half came and the tide turned a lot more.
“But you’ve got to take pride in the fact that in the last 10 minutes before the half we were working so hard to make things right and it was just an error or just a dropped pass or a missed tackle that cost us. Those are the little bits that the boys might still be getting right.”
Allen Clarke (Ospreys) – “It’s been a good start to the campaign with two home wins. Munster away presents a different challenge, particularly as we’ve made changes to the team. Squad management is important but so too is player opportunity.
“Selection represents what we’ve observed throughout pre-season and provides individuals an opportunity to be tested against a quality team. The players coming in have earned our trust and the right to wear the shirt.
“They fully understand the level of performance expected of them against Munster on Friday night. As a club it’s important for us to show progress and grow collectively, recognising the tests ahead and the demands of the season schedule.”
Top Scorers – 2018/19 GUINNESS PRO14: Munster – Points: JJ Hanrahan 16; Tries: Rory Scannell, Dave Kilcoyne, Tommy O’Donnell, JJ Hanrahan, Dave O’Callaghan, Darren Sweetnam, Rhys Marshall 1 each; Ospreys – Points: George North 15; Tries: George North 3
2018/19 TEAM FORM: Munster – Played 2, Won 1, Lost 1, 5 Points; W 38-0 v Toyota Cheetahs (home), L 25-10 v Glasgow Warriors (away); Ospreys – Played 2, Won 2, 9 Points; W 17-13 v Edinburgh (home), W 46-14 v Toyota Cheetahs (home)
RECENT LEAGUE MEETINGS:
Sunday, February 14, 2016 – Munster 17 Ospreys 21, Irish Independent Park
Friday, November 4, 2016 – Munster 33 Ospreys 0, Irish Independent Park
Saturday, February 18, 2017 – Ospreys 23 Munster 25, Liberty Stadium
Saturday, May 20, 2017 – Semi-Final – Munster 23 Ospreys 3, Thomond Park
Saturday, September 16, 2017 – Ospreys 16 Munster 21, Liberty Stadium
Saturday, December 2, 2017 – Munster 36 Ospreys 10, Irish Independent Park
MATCH FACTS:
– Munster’s last four GUINNESS PRO14 matches have been won by the home side on the day, while they have only lost once at home in any competition since February 2017: to Leinster at Christmas 2017
– Munster’s most recent defeat in Cork was by a single point to Cardiff Blues in September 2016
– The Ospreys have won both games in the PRO14 so far, at home to Edinburgh and the Toyota Cheetahs
– The Welshmen won just twice away from home in the Championship last season, at the Dragons and Cardiff Blues, while the last time they were successful outside of Wales in the PRO14 was on a trip to Edinburgh in March 2017
– Munster have lost just one of their last eight fixtures with the Ospreys: 21-17 at Cork in February 2016
– The Ospreys’ record at Irish Independent Park is won two and lost five
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