Ospreys in fiery form as duo miss Munster trip

THE Ospreys were in feisty mood as they gear-up for the first of two make-or-break games against Munster, though they have been forced to spend more time quelling internal strife than on their opponents this weekend.

Having already ruled out their one-man try machine Shane Williams (dislocated shoulder) until the Six Nations, they were dealt a major double blow with the loss of full-back Lee Byrne and openside flanker Marty Holah. While the international duo were ruled out for very different reasons, the Ospreys management were equally irate at both situations.

The full extent of Byrne’s injury, a broken thumb against the All Blacks a fortnight ago, has only recently come to light after he twice failed to meet a specialist. The Ospreys named and shamed the British & Irish Lion in a public statement explaining why he was initially named to face Edinburgh last weekend. Both club and country are likely to impose fines.

“Lee had a hand injury and should have had a scan but didn’t. Therefore it’s being dealt with internally through Wales and through us,” said Ospreys assistant coach John Humphreys.

On the surface, Barry Davies appears the automatic replacement for Byrne though Ireland’s Tommy Bowe could again be deployed, as he was to effect in Limerick last season.

Meanwhile the two-week ban handed to Holah for — needlessly — tripping Edinburgh’s Chris Paterson off the ball on Saturday has sparked fury within the Ospreys camp.

“We’ve lost Marty, laughably,” said Ospreys and Wales second-row Alun Wyn Jones.

“If we’re going to start giving two-week bans for obstruction, you have to wonder where we are going. Had it been any player other than Paterson, and any team other than the Ospreys, it would have been interesting to see the outcome.” If the appeal fails, the Ospreys are likely to hand 21-year-old rookie Justin Tipuric.

Jones said: “We’ve won, lost and been pumped in a quarter-final at Thomond Park. In that respect, there’s nothing to fear, be caught out by or not expect.

“It will be interesting to see the effect the return of Paul O’Connell has. He’s their talisman, their icon, the gold standard for second rows.”