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.