Ospreys building up for the ‘Blackout’

HAVING been brought down a peg or two at Thomond Park, the Ospreys hope Liberty Stadium can be equally as hostile to Munster for this weekend’s Heineken Cup tie.

The Welsh region have launched a ‘Blackout’ campaign to drum-up as much local support as possible for tomorrow’s crucial tie in Swansea.

Though the Liberty Stadium may not have the same kudos as Munster’s legendary home in Limerick, the Ospreys are notoriously tough to beat there, having lost just once, to Leicester’s injury-time try in 2005, in the stadium’s five-year history.

“Our home record is good but that’s no different from some other sides, this competition is getting closer and closer,” said director of coaching Scott Johnson.

“We took Munster to the wire last week. They’re formidable opposition, but so are we. So it will be a good contest between two good sides. That’s what this competition is all about. It’s sport at its best, a great spectacle and a great competition.”

Having billed the game as ‘perfect sporting theatre’, it is clear who has been cast as pantomime villain.

The repercussions of Paul O’Connell’s red card and subsequent suspension may yet rumble into tomorrow’s game with the Ospreys aggrieved themselves at the yellow card for Paul James that opened the door for 14 Munster points last week.

It was also clear the Ospreys thought O’Connell’s ban would be more in line with the 16 weeks handed to Gavin Henson, during that defeat to the Tigers in 2005.

Johnson added: “Jonathan Thomas (the victim of O’Connell’s forearm) is fine. He’s bleeding, stitched and he’s tough. That’s the reality of the sport. You only have to look at my nose, and I was a back, to know you cop those bumps and bruises and he’s copped one. He’s been stitched up but he’ll be ready to go.”

After being given a clean bill of health, the Ospreys are set to largely keep faith with the same team as in Limerick though Tommy Bowe may be brought closer to the action, at centre alongside James Hook.

“Munster were brave and did plenty, but we let ourselves down in some areas,” said Johnson.

Meanwhile Jonathan Thomas has penned a deal that will keep him with the region until summer of 2014 and it paves the way for him to become the first member of the club to play 200 times.