O’Connell expects intense battle

PAUL O’CONNELL has guaranteed Magners League semi-final opponents Ospreys a high-intensity Munster performance when the Welshmen visit Thomond Park this Saturday.

Munster are still smarting from the Amlin Challenge Cup defeat at home to Harlequins nine days ago and having finished their Magners League regular season with a 22-6 defeat of Connacht on Friday night, the captain focused on their last shot at silverware this season.

“After last week we need to turn it around in the next three weeks and repay our supporters and the staff for all the work they’ve done,” O’Connell said at the Munster Rugby Awards in association with the Irish Examiner.