WILL HE STAY, will he go, or will he just take a hard-earned rest?
Paul O’Connell’s post-World Cup future is far from certain and tonight, his 173rd appearance for Munster, could be his last time playing in Thomond Park.
James Crombie / INPHO
James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO
The new archetype for how a leader ought to look and behave never receives anything other than rapturous acclaim on home turf, but if he put the the southern province in a commanding position to reach a second Pro12 final (en route to a potential fourth title) then prepare for goosebumps when he is called ashore.
Ireland’s last hope
The Celtic League / Pro12 is yet to have a final that doesn’t involve an Irish province. Indeed, in the competition’s history, 2007 stands as the only season that one of the four has not stood in either the winner or runner-up spot.
Ulster’s defeat in Glasgow last night means it falls to Munster to continue that proud record and get to a final where they can bid to match Leinster and Ospreys as four-time champs.
Can Munster keep on getting better?
In the early stages of the season Anthony Foley cut a forlorn figure as his side struggled to adapt to the changes the forwards coach made after earning a promotion.
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There were some worrying times, perhaps none more so than the loss to Ospreys at Thomond Park, but Anthony Foley stuck to his guns.
Speaking with The42 last weekend, Foley explained that nothing had changed except that players were growing accustomed to the new attacking patterns. That fluidity has helped them to a run that included just one loss in the last 10 games. And, were it not for a defensive malfunction late on in Belfast they would have had cause to celebrate an accomplished, confident display of attacking rugby on the road to a team with an unbeaten home record.
Alun Wyn, notorious party-crasher
Repeating that form in a knockout fixture with a battle-hardened Ospreys team will be a tough ask.
With O’Connell well-match in the second row by fellow Lions captain Alun Wyn Jones, Ospreys are led by a man who takes enormous pride in systematically taking apart the hopes and dreams of clubs in front of their own supporters.
Billy Stickland / INPHO
Billy Stickland / INPHO / INPHO
Leinster fans will recall his heroic efforts to spoil their would-be double celebration in an RDS Pro12 final. Despite the Pro12′s semi-final record now standing at 11 – 0 in favour of home teams, Ospreys’ draw, defeat and two wins in their last four trips to Thomond Park means there is little chance they will be cowed by the venue or the occasion in Limerick.
Playmakers
Both sets of forwards can put the head down and plough away, safe in the knowledge that their half-backs have the tools to make use of the ball they provide.
In Ian Keatley, Munster have perhaps the most underrated of out-halves and he continues to mature into into a quality playmaker the longer he has with the starting jersey. We know all about the excellence Conor Murray will bring behind the Munster scrum, but it is the opposition who hold the trump cards on paper.
Russell Cheyne
Russell Cheyne
Dan Biggar and Rhys Webb have been in imperious form during this campaign, resulting in them both earning a spot on the Pro12 dream team. Webb is a perfect example of a modern ’9′: he is not around simply for distribution and sweeping, he is key component of the Ospreys’ attack and his 11 tries are evidence enough of his ability to turn a game in an instant.
Munster
15. Felix Jones
14. Keith Earls
13. Andrew Smith
12. Denis Hurley
11. Simon Zebo
10. Ian Keatley
9. Conor Murray
1. Dave Kilcoyne
2. Eusebio Guinazu
3. Stephen Archer
4. Donnacha Ryan
5. Paul O’Connell
6. Peter O’Mahony (capt)
7. Paddy Butler
8. CJ Stander
Replacements:
16. Duncan Casey
17. John Ryan
18. BJ Botha
19. Billy Holland
20. Jack O’Donoghue
21. Duncan Williams
22. JJ Hanrahan
23. Ronan O’Mahony
Ospreys
15. Dan Evans
14. Jeff Hassler
13. Ben John
12. Josh Matavesi
11. Eli Walker
10. Dan Biggar
9. Rhys Webb
1. Nicky Smith
2. Scott Baldwin
3. Dmitri Arhip
4. Tyler Ardron
5. Alun Wyn Jones (capt)
6. Dan Lydiate
7. Justin Tipuric
8. Dan Baker
Replacements:
16. Sam Parry
17. Marc Thomas
18. Aaron Jarvis
19. Rory Thornton
20. James King
21. Tom Habberfield
22. Sam Davies
23. Jonathan Spratt
Thanks Paulie and more talking points as Munster take on Ospreys
One last time for Paulie?
WILL HE STAY, will he go, or will he just take a hard-earned rest?
Paul O’Connell’s post-World Cup future is far from certain and tonight, his 173rd appearance for Munster, could be his last time playing in Thomond Park.
The new archetype for how a leader ought to look and behave never receives anything other than rapturous acclaim on home turf, but if he put the the southern province in a commanding position to reach a second Pro12 final (en route to a potential fourth title) then prepare for goosebumps when he is called ashore.
Ireland’s last hope
The Celtic League / Pro12 is yet to have a final that doesn’t involve an Irish province. Indeed, in the competition’s history, 2007 stands as the only season that one of the four has not stood in either the winner or runner-up spot.
Ulster’s defeat in Glasgow last night means it falls to Munster to continue that proud record and get to a final where they can bid to match Leinster and Ospreys as four-time champs.
Can Munster keep on getting better?
In the early stages of the season Anthony Foley cut a forlorn figure as his side struggled to adapt to the changes the forwards coach made after earning a promotion.
There were some worrying times, perhaps none more so than the loss to Ospreys at Thomond Park, but Anthony Foley stuck to his guns.
Speaking with The42 last weekend, Foley explained that nothing had changed except that players were growing accustomed to the new attacking patterns. That fluidity has helped them to a run that included just one loss in the last 10 games. And, were it not for a defensive malfunction late on in Belfast they would have had cause to celebrate an accomplished, confident display of attacking rugby on the road to a team with an unbeaten home record.
Alun Wyn, notorious party-crasher
Repeating that form in a knockout fixture with a battle-hardened Ospreys team will be a tough ask.
With O’Connell well-match in the second row by fellow Lions captain Alun Wyn Jones, Ospreys are led by a man who takes enormous pride in systematically taking apart the hopes and dreams of clubs in front of their own supporters.
Leinster fans will recall his heroic efforts to spoil their would-be double celebration in an RDS Pro12 final. Despite the Pro12′s semi-final record now standing at 11 – 0 in favour of home teams, Ospreys’ draw, defeat and two wins in their last four trips to Thomond Park means there is little chance they will be cowed by the venue or the occasion in Limerick.
Playmakers
Both sets of forwards can put the head down and plough away, safe in the knowledge that their half-backs have the tools to make use of the ball they provide.
In Ian Keatley, Munster have perhaps the most underrated of out-halves and he continues to mature into into a quality playmaker the longer he has with the starting jersey. We know all about the excellence Conor Murray will bring behind the Munster scrum, but it is the opposition who hold the trump cards on paper.
Dan Biggar and Rhys Webb have been in imperious form during this campaign, resulting in them both earning a spot on the Pro12 dream team. Webb is a perfect example of a modern ’9′: he is not around simply for distribution and sweeping, he is key component of the Ospreys’ attack and his 11 tries are evidence enough of his ability to turn a game in an instant.
Munster
15. Felix Jones
14. Keith Earls
13. Andrew Smith
12. Denis Hurley
11. Simon Zebo
10. Ian Keatley
9. Conor Murray
1. Dave Kilcoyne
2. Eusebio Guinazu
3. Stephen Archer
4. Donnacha Ryan
5. Paul O’Connell
6. Peter O’Mahony (capt)
7. Paddy Butler
8. CJ Stander
Replacements:
16. Duncan Casey
17. John Ryan
18. BJ Botha
19. Billy Holland
20. Jack O’Donoghue
21. Duncan Williams
22. JJ Hanrahan
23. Ronan O’Mahony
Ospreys
15. Dan Evans
14. Jeff Hassler
13. Ben John
12. Josh Matavesi
11. Eli Walker
10. Dan Biggar
9. Rhys Webb
1. Nicky Smith
2. Scott Baldwin
3. Dmitri Arhip
4. Tyler Ardron
5. Alun Wyn Jones (capt)
6. Dan Lydiate
7. Justin Tipuric
8. Dan Baker
Replacements:
16. Sam Parry
17. Marc Thomas
18. Aaron Jarvis
19. Rory Thornton
20. James King
21. Tom Habberfield
22. Sam Davies
23. Jonathan Spratt
Referee: Nigel Owens [WRU].
TV: Sky Sports, TG4 and S4C (14.30)
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