Munster and Ospreys come together at Thomond Park on Saturday, with a place in the Guinness PRO12 final at stake. This is the third time the sides have met in the semi-finals at Thomond Park, and Munster will look to carry on their table-topping form into the game. Ospreys finished fourth in the league, boasting 14 victories which was made all the more impressive with the region blooding some young and exciting talent. The Welshmen last lifted the PRO12 trophy in 2012 with a dramatic 31-30 victory against Leinster, in what was also head coach Steve Tandy’s first season in charge. What’s at stake? A place in the Guinness PRO12 Final is the reward for the victor on Saturday, both teams will be hoping to reach that final and succeed 2016 champions Connacht Rugby. 🎥 📺 @PRO12rugby Road to the Semi Preview & Tickets | https://t.co/U5f1M9bRR7#MakeItCount #MUNvOSP pic.twitter.com/A6JcURb5y3 — Munster Rugby (@Munsterrugby) May 19, 2017 History is stacked against Ospreys as no away side has ever won a PRO12 semi-final, and Munster are unbeaten at Thomond Park in any competition since Christmas 2015. Four-time winners Ospreys have suffered a dip in form in recent months but have been missing some key players that are back to give them a boost ahead of the game. New Zealand-bound skipper Alun Wyn Jones was never going to sit this one out and Ospreys possess enough quality in their ranks to cause an upset. Munster team news: Director of Rugby Rassie Erasmus has made 12 changes from the side that defeated Connacht, with Billy Holland, Keith Earls and Andrew Conway the only players retained from that game. Donnacha Ryan and Francis Saili both start at Thomond Park for the final time as they’re welcomed back into the side, Rory Scannell comes back into the midfield to partner Saili. Simon Zebo comes in at fullback and Conor Murray and Tyler Bleyendaal resume their half-back partnership, Murray is making his 99th appearance for Munster on Saturday. The front row is made up by Dave Kilcoyne, Niall Scannell and John Ryan – while the back row includes captain Peter O’Mahony, Tommy O’Donnell and CJ Stander at No.8 Ospreys team news: Ospreys have selected a back three made up of Dan Evans at fullback, Tom Habberfield on one wing and top try scorer Keelan Giles occupying the other. We’re @thomondstadium preparing for Saturday’s #GUINNESSPRO12 semi-final #MUNvOSP #MyTeam pic.twitter.com/nF2ocplWjc — Ospreys (@ospreys) May 19, 2017 Kieron Fonotia and Ashley Beck partner up in the centres and the visitors are able to boast a Lions half-back pairing of Dan Biggar and Rhys Webb. James King starts at No.8 with Justin Tipuric at openside and Sam Underhill completing the back row. Alun Wyn Jones captains the side alongside Bradley Davies in the engine room, and Nicky Smith, Scott Baldwin and Rhodri Jones form the front row. Talking Points Ospreys head coach Steve Tandy admitted that his side face a tough task in Limerick, but is pleased to have his senior players back and is targeting a huge effort. “It’s good that we can welcome back one or two senior players who can provide different kinds of leadership in the build-up and once the whistle goes, but we aren’t getting ahead of ourselves,” said Tandy. “If we are going to deliver a winning performance on Saturday it will have to be a huge team effort, from everyone in the squad, not just the ones with 1-23 on their backs. “It’ll be tough, no doubt about it, but these are the games we want to be involved in. They are the ones that matter and it’s what we’ve been working towards since day one of pre-season 11 months ago. “We want to make that effort, all that hard work, count for something and we can’t wait to get started.” Meanwhile Munster Director of Rugby Rassie Erasmus is pleased to be able to select from a healthy squad. “The only thing that we’d be a little bit concerned about is match fitness, or sharpness, of Conor and Tyler Bleyendaal together. Rory Scannell hasn’t been playing a lot of the last few weeks,” said Erasmus. “So it’s nice to have a fit squad. I won’t moan about that. “The team selection is more a bit of having to get it spot on because we are playing against a team that are hitting form at the right time.” Lions Watch There are seven British & Irish Lions involved between the two teams, and all have been named to start at Thomond Park. Munster have Conor Murray at scrum-half, and two-thirds of a Lions back row in the shape of CJ Stander and blindside Peter O’Mahony who captains the team. Ospreys will look for leadership from their Lions – Dan Biggar, Rhys Webb, Justin Tipuric and Alun Wyn Jones, who will all be looking to perform well in a tough away fixture – surely a feature of their summer. Key stat: The Munstermen’s only defeat in the Guinness PRO12 since round 6 was 21-30 to Scarlets in Limerick at the end of February – Munster’s only defeat at the venue in any competition since Christmas 2015. Did you know? The two sides have met in three previous PRO12 Semi-Finals with Munster having the edge by two wins to one. Munster top points scorer: Tyler Bleyendaal 126 Top try scorer: Ronan O’Mahony 9 Ospreys top points scorer: Sam Davies 106 Top try scorer: Keelan Giles 7 Overall Guinness PRO12 head to head record: Played 31, Munster won 15, Ospreys won 15 and 1 game drawn At Thomond Park, 6.15pm. Live on Sky Sports/TG4/S4C Referee: Luke Pearce (RFU, 2nd competition game) Assistant Referees: Matthew O’Grady, Wayne Falla (both RFU) Citing Commissioner: Maurizio Vancini (FIR) TMO: Graham Hughes (RFU)
