Munster Preparing For In-Form Ospreys

Table-topping Munster face a difficult trip to third-placed Ospreys on Sunday in the first of two trips to Wales in the RaboDirect PRO12 (ko 4pm).

Both sides go into the game on the back of bonus-point wins with Munster’s impressive 36-8 win over Zebre overshadowed by Ospreys' mammoth 75-7 win over Treviso at the Liberty Stadium.

Munster managed to grind out a 12-6 win when the sides met at the start of November and Head Coach Rob Penney is anticipating another difficult encounter.

“We’ve always found it difficult against Ospreys,” said Penney.

“They’re obviously full of quality Welsh players and they’re going to be a very difficult nut to crack at home.”

That win earlier in the season was Penney’s first over Ospreys after a draw in Thomond Park last season was preceded by a 30-15 win for the Welsh side in Swansea, a loss that Penney can remember well.

“They embarrassed us a bit there last year. They dismantled us at scrum-time and we really struggled to get any penetration at all. So we’re not going there with any illusions of being able to just walk away with a result, we’re going to have to go there very well prepared mentally and physically and give it our best shot. If we’re able to secure a couple of points out of the game, that would be great.”

Andrew Conway has scored both of his tries this season against Welsh opposition and the winger is looking forward to the challenge posed by one of the PRO12 heavyweights.

Conway said: “Ospreys are a great team; they’ve been there or thereabouts for the past three or four years in the Rabo.

"They’ve won it twice in the past four years so everyone knows what to expect especially when you’re going over there.

"They’re a big, tough team. They play like the Welsh national side, they try to outmuscle you, beat you up, get in amongst the breakdown so we know what to expect. We know it’s going to be a big challenge but we’re really looking forward to it.

The Munster team to face Ospreys at the Liberty Stadium on Sunday at 4pm will be named tomorrow.

The game will be televised live on S4C with live updates here.