Ospreys v Munster: Talking points ahead of the Guinness PRO14 clash at Liberty Stadium
By Keith Moore
Last Updated: 16/09/17 3:06pm
Unbeaten Munster travel to Wales to take on the Ospreys at the Liberty Stadium on Saturday, live on Sky Sports Action from 3pm.
The visitors are one of three sides in the Guinness PRO14 who have claimed 10 competition points from their first two outings, while Ospreys suffered a loss to Glasgow last time out.
Who will come out on top at the Liberty Stadium this weekend?
Differing form
Munster have claimed bonus-point wins from both of their first two outings in the PRO14, first easing past Benetton 34-3 before hammering the visiting Cheetahs 51-18 at Thomond Park last week.
In contrast, the Ospreys have not had a good start to the season. The Welsh region scraped a 22-13 win over Italian side Zebre at Liberty Stadium before being soundly beaten 31-10 by the Warriors in Dave Rennie's first game in charge at Scotstoun in week two.
Last season Ospreys had a strong start before a disastrous run-in at the end forced them to fight for a place in the play-offs, which they eventually claimed.
It's still very early in the season - far too early to talk about top-four spots - but Ospreys will be aiming to secure a home win this weekend to ensure they don't have to start playing catch-up too early in the season.
Sam Davies in need of a performance
After it was announced that Dan Biggar will leave the Ospreys at the end of this season, Sam Davies will have felt that the door is now open for him to become the club's number one fly-half, and use that chance to press his case to be Wales' No 10.
However, on Saturday the half-back failed to control the game against Glasgow, as his side was comfortably beaten by the Warriors - though he did have a heavy hand in Ospreys' sole try of the game.
This week Steve Tandy has drafted James Hook into the No 12 jersey, with Corey Allen shifting to outside centre at the expense of Kieron Fonotia who drops to the bench. The move will give Davies another playmaker in midfield to take some of the pressure off him, while also giving the fly-half an experienced head to help guide him.
Tandy has opted to put Biggar on the bench for Saturday's game, so while Davies is being given every chance to flourish, Ospreys have the ability to call in reinforcements in the form of a British and Irish Lion if needed.
Young guns go head to head
Munster's young guns have been in fine form in the opening two games, but none have taken their opportunities quite like Alex Wootton has.
Wootton crossed the whitewash in his side's win over Benetton in the opening week, then notched an incredible four tries against the Cheetahs in a bonus-point win last weekend.
The 23-year-old is scoring at a rate of two and a half tries per game this season, but this week comes up against Keelan Giles, who has made a big impact in his short amount of time in the Ospreys senior side.
Will we see plenty of tries on Saturday, or will the pair cancel each other out?
Rhys Webb in studio
Ospreys scrum-half Rhys Webb is currently being rested after his participation in the Lions tour, and the half-back joins our broadcast for Saturday's game.
Webb feels Ospreys' focus needs to be on staying switched on throughout Saturday's encounter.
"We have made a slow start to the season," said Webb. "We were a bit poor against Zebre but were lucky enough to come away with the win.
"Against Glasgow last week we switched off after 60 minutes so it's vitally important that we keep our focus for the full 80 minutes this week."
Webb is happy to see some experienced faces back in the mix as Hook and Biggar feature in the matchday 23.
"He's a world-class player," said Webb of Hook. "You want him in the team, he can give you that X-factor when times are tough - he offers something different."
"Dan Biggar has had a good break after the Lions tour, he's another player who can break a game apart."
Team news
Munster director of rugby Rassie Erasmus has made one change for the game as Tyler Bleyendaal returns to captain the side in the No 10 jersey.
Should he appear off the bench, Irish international John Ryan will make his 100th appearance for the province, while James Cronin could make his first appearance of the season having successfully rehabbed a knee injury if he too is called into action from the sidelines.
Ospreys have brought in Hook to start in midfield, while fellow Wales international Biggar is among the replacements along with Dan Lydiate and Scott Baldwin.
Ospreys: 15 Dan Evans, 14 Keelan Giles, 13 Cory Allen, 12 James Hook, 11 Jeff Hassler, 10 Sam Davies, 9 Tom Habberfield, 1 Paul James, 2 Sam Parry, 3 Ma'afu Fia, 4 Bradley Davies, 5 Lloyd Ashley, 6 James King, 7 Justin Tipuric (c), 8 Dan Baker.
Replacements: 16 Scott Baldwin, 17 Nicky Smith, 18 Rhodri Jones, 19 Adam Beard, 20 Dan Lydiate, 21 Matthew Aubrey, 22 Dan Biggar, 23 Kieron Fonotia.
Munster: 15 Andrew Conway, 14 Darren Sweetnam, 13 Chris Farrell, 12 Jaco Taute, 11 Alex Wootton, 10 Tyler Bleyendaal (c), 9 Duncan Williams; 1 Liam O'Connor, 2 Rhys Marshall, 3 Stephen Archer, 4 Jean Kleyn, 5 Billy Holland, 6 Sean O'Connor, 7 Tommy O'Donnell, 8 Jack O'Donoghue.
Replacements: 16 Niall Scannell, 17 James Cronin, 18 John Ryan, 19 Fineen Wycherley, 20 Robin Copeland, 21 James Hart, 22 Rory Scannell, 23 Simon Zebo.