Saturday 23 May 2015 17:15, UK
Munster welcome back captain Peter O’Mahony and winger Simon Zebo for their Guinness PRO12 play-off clash with Ulster at Thomond Park on Saturday.
O’Mahony has overcome a hip complaint to take his place in the back row, while Zebo returns after a back issue, the pair making up two of four changes to the starting XV.
Dave Kilcoyne and Stephen Archer are the other changes to the side, slotting into the front row alongside Eusebio Guinazu, while O’Mahony's return sees Donnacha Ryan revert to the second row.
Meanwhile, the Ospreys make just two alterations to the team that beat Connacht last weekend.
Dan Lydiate and Jeff Hassler, having recovered from a hamstring injury, come in for James King and Hanno Dirksen, respectively.
Wales’ half-back pairing Rhys Webb and Dan Biggar retain their places, while Tom Habberfield will make his 50th appearance for the club if he comes off the bench.
The hosts finished second in the final PRO12 table, level on points with leaders Glasgow and just one ahead of their opponents this weekend.
However, it was Ospreys who came out on top in the sides’ last meeting, albeit at the Liberty Stadium, winning 26-12.
The Welsh side have won their last six games so will be full of confidence but they face a Munster side who have won their last six at Thomond Park and will be backed, as usual, by vociferous home support.
Ospreys coach Steve Tandy is expecting a close match and is keen for his players to ignore everything that has happened during the season and simply to focus on the 80 minutes on Saturday.
“We’re at the stage of the season now where it’s all about what happens on the day,” he told the club’s official website.
“The 22-game season is done and dusted, it’s not about bonus tries, or who finishes where. Everything rests on the next 80 minutes and who performs the best on the day.”
Munster: 15 Felix Jones, 14 Keith Earls, 13 Andrew Smith, 12 Denis Hurley, 11 Simon Zebo, 10 Ian Keatley, 9 Conor Murray; 1 Dave Kilcoyne, 2 Eusebio Guinazu, 3 Stephen Archer, 4 Donnacha Ryan, 5 Paul O'Connell, 6 Peter O'Mahony (c), 7 Paddy Butler, 8 CJ Stander.
Replacements: 16 Duncan Casey, 17 John Ryan, 18 BJ Botha, 19 Billy Holland, 20 Jack O'Donoghue, 21 Duncan Williams, 22 JJ Hanrahan, 23 Ronan O'Mahony.
Ospreys: 15 Dan Evans, 14 Jeff Hassler, 13 Ben John, 12 Josh Matavesi, 11 Eli Walker, 10 Dan Biggar, 9 Rhys Webb; 1 Nicky Smith, 2 Scott Baldwin, 3 Dmitri Arhip, 4 Tyler Ardron, 5 Alun Wyn Jones (c), 6 Dan Lydiate, 7 Justin Tipuric, 8 Dan Baker.
Replacements: 16 Sam Parry, 17 Marc Thomas, 18 Aaron Jarvis, 19 Rory Thornton, 20 James King, 21 Tom Habberfield, 22 Sam Davies, 23 Jonathan Spratt.
