Donncha O’Callaghan admits Munster have still not digested their thumping RaboDirect PRO12 semi-final defeat to the Ospreys at the end of last season as they prepare for their opener away to Edinburgh.

O’Callaghan was part of the team which was torn apart by eventual champions Ospreys at the Liberty Stadium, going down 45-10 as they conceded 22 unanswered points in the second half.

And ahead of their trip to Murrayfield on Saturday the Irish international has warned that Munster are desperate to put right the wrongs of last season.

He said: “The Rabo semi-final against Ospreys over there. That was awful, it really was. We let ourselves down. And that’s not something we’re proud of when it happens.

“It’s hard to explain performances like that, say when you compare it to the game against Northampton in Milton Keynes [in the Heineken Cup].

“We know that when we’re focussed, when we’re on our game, we’re capable of delivering. And when we’re not we can make ourselves look awful ordinary.

“It’s just over three months since that game and there hasn’t been that big a change in players. So we have to be mindful that those of us who were there in the Liberty Stadium are still around and like I said we have to have our heads right or that sort of thing can happen again. And we can’t look beyond ourselves to make sure it doesn’t.

“Those of us who have been around this long need to set an example. Everyone who throws on a jersey has to front up but there has to be leadership and that comes with experience and there’s plenty of that in the squad and, the senior lads have to keep our end up, the younger lads will follow, there’s no fear of that.”

Munster’s preparation for the trip to Edinburgh suffered a late blow with the news that Marcus Horan was left behind, the veteran having to withdraw with a back injury.

Edinburgh however have named nine players from Scotland’s successful tour of Australiasia in their starting XV.
The Gunners’ last success over Irish opposition came in the corresponding fixture last season when they shocked Munster in September.

However a disappointing season domestically saw them finish the RaboDirect PRO12 in 11th position, and despite reaching a European semi-final head coach Michael Bradley has called on his team to improve on last term.
He said: “The excitement is really ramping up ahead of our first competitive match.

“While we’ve trained as a full squad for large parts of the summer, it's fantastic to select from our entire roster in a competitive context.

"The returning players, combined with those who have been working tirelessly for 12 weeks through the summer, throws up some serious competition across all positions and makes for an exciting prospect for the first match of the season.

"We have some very talented individuals who were part of some great feats for this club last season and we're all looking forward to getting stuck in to the new season and building on a landmark year."

At Murrayfield, 8pm.
Referee: Leighton Hodges (WRU, 17th competition game)
Assistant Referees: Andy Macpherson, Bob Nevins (both SRU)
Citing Commissioner: Peter Brown (SRU)
TMO: Iain Ramage (SRU)

Live on BBC ALBA and RTE