Rob Penney has called on his Munster side to end their hoodoo against the Ospreys to ensure they are sitting top of the RaboDirect PRO12 table during the autumn break. Last time out Munster became the first side to win at Scotstoun this season and in doing so leapfrogged Glasgow Warriors to move to the summit of the RaboDirect PRO12. Their only loss in their last seven league fixtures came in Treviso in round three, but the only opponents from outside Ireland to have beaten Munster at Thomond Park in the tournament since October 2006 has been Ospreys – twice. Indeed, Munster haven’t beaten their Welsh opponents in their last five fixtures, dating back to May 2011. But Penney has called on his side to repeat their heroics of last week. “On the back of a couple of fantastic performances this year with our non-international group if you like, we will looking for more of the same from them,” he said. “They are getting to a stage where they are starting to take a little bit more control of things, let’s hope against Ospreys that they can turn up and deliver something similar to last week. “There’s been a few encounters with Ospreys over the years – some of them a little bit before my time – but it is always a really tough challenge against Ospreys. It’s going to be a good opportunity before the autumn break to hopefully get a good victory and remain top of the table over this period.” Penney has made eight changes to his side with Donncha O’Callaghan returning for another first vs. second clash for Munster. Elsewhere in the forwards, there is a completely different front-row as Dave Kilcoyne, Damien Varley and BJ Botha start with Dave Foley and Dave O’Callaghan also coming into the side. In the backs, winger Ronan O’Mahony keeps his place and starts in his first competitive game at Thomond Park while Ian Keatley comes back in at out-half. Duncan Williams starts at scrum-half and Felix Jones returns at full-back after a slight ankle sprain ruled him out of action last weekend, with Johne Murphy moving to the right wing in place of Andrew Conway who is suffering from bruised ribs. Ospreys rose to second spot in the standings with their 40-17 bonus point victory over the Dragons at Liberty Stadium last Friday but head coach Steve Tandy has also made wholesale changes ahead of Wales’ autumn campaign. There are ten personnel changes in all – four in the backs with Aisea Natoga and Ben John on the wings, Richard Fussell at full-back and Tito Tibaldi at scrum-half. In the pack, there is a new-look front row with Marc Thomas, Scott Baldwin and Joe Rees lining up while Lloyd Peers stands in for Alun Wyn Jones at lock. Morgan Allen stays at No.8 with Joe Bearman and Sam Lewis joining him in the back row. "This is without doubt a huge game for us,” said Tandy. “With 13 of our squad on international duty, the team will have a different dynamic to what supporters are perhaps used to. “The squad have been working hard this week and we as coaches are really pleased with the effort and in particular, the willingness to learn that the squad's younger players have shown at training. “It's never an easy place to go to, Munster have an enviable history at home and while we are proud of the fact that we are the only non Irish team to beat Munster there in the Rabo since 2006, its going to be a tough match. “They are coming into the game after some very impressive performances and have only lost twice so far this season.” At Thomond Park, 7.15pm Live on TG4 Referee: Giuseppe Vivarini ( FIR, 10th competition game) Assistant Referees: Gary Conway, John Carvill (both IRFU) Citing Commissioner: Eddie Walsh (IRFU) TMO: Jude Quinn (IRFU)
