The other notable change is at scrum-half where opportunity knocks for Cathal Sheridan who makes his first competitive start for Munster while Rob Penney continues to rotate Garryowen clubmates Damien Varley and Mike Sherry, Varley getting the nod for the number two jersey this time around.
Penney, acknowledging that Munster “probably have to win all their remaining games if they’re to qualify for the play-offs.
He said. “I haven’t seen Ospreys play badly. They’ve been there or thereabouts every match they’ve played. There’s very few games where team have got away on them. They’ll be tough. They’ll be buoyed by the confidence they got from beating us over there.”
Ospreys Head Coach, Steve Tandy, said: “It’s important that we put in a big performance on Saturday night. Having suffered two defeats on the road, Munster will be happy to be back at Thomond Park where they have an enviable record and will want to secure the win that will cut the gap between us going into the final five rounds.
“We know that we’re going to have to tough it out, it’s always a difficult place to play. We’ve got some reinforcements back from Wales and from injury, but we’ll need these boys to get straight back up to speed and be at their best. We know that Munster will have a passionate, noisy crowd getting behind them so we’ll have to be mentally right going there as well if we are going to get anything from the game.
“With four of the last six games away from home we understand the size of the task in front of us but we believe in ability of this squad to rise to the challenge. It’s not going to be easy but they’ve shown throughout the season that they won’t take a backward step and never know when they’re beaten.
“We’ll need to see that spirit in every game between now and the end of the season, they’ll need to give everything for the cause, and if we see that from them then we’ve got a real chance of reaching the last four once again.”
