The Liberty Stadium region are flying-high at the top of the table thanks to their three wins after three rounds of competition. Try bonus-points in their home thumpings of Benetton Treviso and Edinburgh have given them a slender one-point advantage over Glasgow in second place.
Munster have recovered from their shock opening day defeat at the hands of Edinburgh by winning back-to-back games against Italian opposition. Anthony Foley’s men overcame Treviso on their travels before Simon Zebo’s hat-trick gave them a bonus-point win against Zebre at tomorrow’s venue.
Eli Walker makes a welcome return to the side after he recovered from a shoulder injury and partners Jeff Hassler on the wings. Wales international Andrew Bishop once again swaps places with Jonathan Spratt, who is out of the Thomond Park match with a knee problem. Rhys Webb and Dan Biggar continue their fruitful half-back partnership and Alun Wyn Jones will captain the side from the second-row.
Ireland scrum-half Connor Murray will captain the Munster side that has seen nine changes from their round three romp. Influential back-row CJ Stander comes back in at no.8 and Ian Keatley is included to call the shots from outside-half. There is no place for Simon Zebo despite his three scores last weekend, with Gerhard van den Heever taking his place on the right wing.
Ospreys Director of Rugby Steve Tandy said: “This weekend’s game will be a big step up from what we’ve had so far in terms of intensity. Munster at Thomond Park is always a difficult environment for an away team, so we know that we will have to prepare properly and be on top of our game out there.
“There will be tough moments, especially for a young team, but we know that they will give nothing less than 100 per cent for the cause, whatever the outcome. It’s going to be a fantastic experience for some of these young men who are still learning their trade, and is another big step forward in their development.”
Ospreys: D Evans, J Hassler, A Bishop, J Matevesi, E Walker, D Biggar, R Webb; S Smith, S Baldwin, A Jarvis, AW Jones (c), R Bernardo, J Bearman, J Tipuric, D Baker.
Replacements: S Parry, D Jones, D Arhip, J King, M Allen, M Roberts, S Davies, H Dirksen.
Munster: J Murphy, A Conway, I Dineen, D Hurley, G van den Heever; I Keatley, C Murray (c); D Kilcoyne, D Casey, BJ Botha; D O’Callaghan, P O’Connell; P Butler, S Dougall, CJ Stander.
Replacements: K O’Byrne, J Cronin, S Archer, D Foley, J O’Donoghue, D Williams, JJ Hanrahan, A Smith.
