Gaffney’s tough call to leave Leamy out
Gaffney admitted the embarrassment of back row forward riches forced him into serious soul-searching before he named Irish international David Wallace alongside captain Anthony Foley and veteran Jim Williams.
Two further changes - Donncha O’Callaghan in for Trevor Hogan and Shaun Payne for Mossie Lawlor - were more straightforward.
Gaffney forewarned Leamy on the basis of Wallace's availability and made the decision based on the necessity to use all the experience at his disposal against a Neath/Swansea side that will be fighting for survival.
“We're very lucky with the quality of back row forwards available to us. It's no slight on Denis who has played fantastically well for us this season but I feel we do have to utilise the experience available and also use certain “horses” for certain courses.
“David is one of the best ball carriers in the game, has pace and his experience could be crucial in this particular game. It's not a question of Denis being dropped, just that we feel David is a good option for this match.”
There may have been a temptation to switch Leamy to blind side but Williams has been in such spectacular form that it would have been silly to consider that option.
Gaffney's decision to bring O'Callaghan and Payne back was much easier as they would have been first choice selections in the opening game against Harlequins. Both missed that game through injury.
Payne's recall means John Kelly reverts to the wing in place of Lawlor, who takes his place on the bench.
The Ospreys have made four changes from the team beaten 38-17 by Castres. Andrew Newman comes in for the suspended Jonathon Thomas, James Bater for the injured Andrew Lloyd while Steve Tandy takes over from Richard Pugh, both in the back row. Elvis Sevalai'i, the powerful Samoan centre takes over from David Bishop.
Team manager Derwyn Jones admitted: “It has been a disruption to lose Jonathon Thomas and Andrew Lloyd but we have a decent squad with quality replacements so we're not that fussed about the changes forced upon us.”
Ospreys captain Barry Williams accepts that this is an intriguing tie. “We beat them earlier in the season in the Celtic League but this is a whole new ball game with different goals and different circumstances. We have to win to keep in touch but I would imagine Munster will want to continue their winning ways in this particular competition.”
There is no doubt about that desire. Munster winger Anthony Horgan, boosted by his midweek selection on the Irish squad for the Autumn internationals, knows now is the time to shape up after a lacklustre team performance against Harlequins.
“On a personal level, I got a bit of a boot in the backside last season and it's never nice to sit warming the bench rather than be involved on the pitch.”
“I actually think the team in general will benefit from last week's experience. We all know that our performance wasn't anything as good as it might have been and there will have to be a vast improvement this weekend.”
He had words of support from back line colleague Rob Henderson.
“It was no real harm to ship a bit of criticism for our display last week. There were some extenuating circumstances but we have to stand up and admit that we didn't play anything near our best. Harlequins deserve some credit for that but we really didn't play the way we can and we have to take responsibility,” he said.
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