Ospreys Tipped To End Munster Run
2nd January 2005 By Munster Rugby
In an article published on the BBC website former Welsh great Jonathan Davies predicts that Ospreys will end Munster’s unbeaten run at Thomond Park when
Jonathan Davies says the Ospreys’ 28-7 win over the Scarlets convinced him that they can become the first side to win a Heineken Cup tie at Thomond Park.
The Ospreys need a victory at Munster’s fortress on January 8th to have a hope of making the Heineken Cup quarter-finals.
Former Wales captain and fly-half Davies was speaking on BBC Wales’ Scrum V rugby programme, where his opinions were supported by another ex-Wales captain, Mike Hall. “They can definitely win in Munster,” said Hall. “They have the confidence and Shane Williams is in sizzling form.
“I haven’t seen a Scarlets pack put to the sword like the Ospreys did it for a long time. Their game is based on off-loading up front, with the front five particularly outstanding, and they are giving the space for the likes of Williams behind.”
Munster won October’s bad-tempered Heineken Cup tie at the Gnoll by 18-20. Ospreys wing Richard Mustoe was banned for 12 weeks for a stamp in that encounter.
The west Glamorgan side countered by citing Munster prop Marcus Horan for punching and for racial abuse in the game.
Munster were furious at the move, and were vindicated when a disciplinary panel cleared Horan of all charges. The two Celtic League ties between the teams this season have each gone with home advantage.
The Ospreys ran the Irish close at Musgrave Park earlier this month, losing 13-9 in another controversial game that saw Wales No 8 Ryan Jones dismissed for stamping. ,p. Ospreys head coach Lyn Jones remained confident and controversial after that encounter. “January doesn’t hold any demons for us, Munster are not God’s gift to rugby,” he said.
“They are just human beings, they make mistakes like everybody else and they get things wrong, you just need to apply a bit of pressure.”
