Lion’s den not quite so frightening for Holley

OSPREYS coach Sean Holley hopes Munster’s Alan Quinlan has played his last game for the province.

In advance of Saturday’s Magners League semi-final at Thomond Park, Holley was effusive in his praise of Quinlan but described the back rower, who will retire at the end of the season, as “a great big pain in the backside”.

“With Quinlan, you always needed a strong referee with three eyes in his head to watch him,” he said.

But Holley knows the Munster threat doesn’t end with Quinlan, the Welshman describing Keith Earls and skipper Paul O’Connell as two key figures.

“Keith is so dangerous, very versatile and Paulie is just simply an inspiration; and these are just a couple of potential match-winners.”

Holley is, however, quite delighted to have another crack at Munster, having watched his side claw back from the abyss to feature in the knockout stages courtesy of a last-gasp victory over Aironi.

It has been a mixed season for the Ospreys as much as it has for Munster.

“Amazingly, when our international players were away on Six Nations duty, we took 19 points out of a possible 20 but only four out of 20 when they came back.

“Ultimately we just about did enough to make it through and now find ourselves competing in the business end of the season for a trophy with Munster. It’s certainly going to be a challenge but the way I look at it is that we’ve scored the most points on the regulation league season, we’ve picked up the most bonus points and we’ve got into the top four.

“Form aside, we feel we will now just go out, enjoy the week and take whatever we can get out of it.”

But Holley said his team had achieved what they set out to do in the Magners League and warned Munster they did not fear travelling to the lions’ den.

“Our aim was to get into the top four and defend the champions tag proudly.

“It hasn’t been easy but I don’t think any side would fancy playing us really.

“We’re not afraid of playing in Thomond Park although there is an aura about the place. But sometimes teams and players need that feeling of occasion and Thomond gives opponents that.

“I still think it’s an advantage for Munster to play there, their fans are fantastic and you don’t experience that much in Europe, but we’ll go out to give it our best shot, just as we did in the RDS last season.

“There is a healthy respect between the clubs and the fact that neither side has shown top form of late will probably add a bit to the intrigue. It might be decided, if not on flair, by the team to show the most courage and determination.”