Ospreys game gives Munster squad players the chance to impress

Munster rock up to the rarely visited Brewery Field in Bridgend this weekend to face the Ospreys needing the URC points to set themselves up for what will be a tough fixture list over Christmas.

This weekend’s tie in South Wales marks the halfway point in a block of five games that could shape Munster’s entire campaign.

We already had two rounds of the Champions Cup, where Munster followed the heavy defeat in Bath with a bonus point victory over Gloucester last Saturday at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

After this weekend, we face into a pair of interprovincial clashes, at home to Leinster before making the trip up to Belfast to face Ulster, so this weekend feels a bit like the eye in the storm of those much more high-profile fixtures.

That does not mean that Munster can take their eye off the ball, however. If anything, this match takes on more significance as there are no guarantees of vital league points in the next two games, while it must be remembered that Munster lost their last league match at home to the Stormers. Another defeat or two and the brilliant start to the season they had, when they won their opening five games, may have been wasted.

Some of Munster’s top players are due to sit a game out, with Tadhg Beirne and Craig Casey top of that list. Their particular sets of skills will probably be needed more against Leinster and Ulster. 

This means that Munster head coach Clayton McMillan is likely to have to delve further into his squad than in previous competitive fixtures, which obviously brings an element of risk, especially away from home.

The Ospreys may occupy a lowly 13th in the league rankings heading into Saturday, but that does not tell the tale of their recent form.

They have registered two impressive victories over the past two weekends in the Challenge Cup, with them defeating Connacht at home a fortnight ago by 24-21, and following that up with an even more impressive result, as they scalped Top 14 side Montauban 22-33 in France last week.

FIGHTBACK

Against Connacht, they had been 21 down but brilliantly fought back to win it with a late try from wing Iestyn Hopkins in the 75th minute. A week later, they effectively controlled their hosts from start to finish, as they led by 11 at half-time and maintained that gap to the end, while scoring five tries in all. 

Munster better beware. This has banana skin written all over it.

In saying that, the tie represents a superb opportunity for some of Munster’s squad players to impress their coach. Munster did not perform in Bath, and while they got the job done last week, they were far from impressive. There are certainly jerseys up for grabs here.

With the Leinster game fast approaching on December 27, Munster will want a win to maintain the eight-point lead they have over their rivals to ensure they stay ahead of them in the table, at least until the New Year.