Mick O’Driscoll still targeting top spot with Munster Rugby

Munster face into the first of two consecutive British and Irish Cup ties against old Welsh rivals the Ospreys at Rosbrien tonight (7.30pm) in the full knowledge that nothing but victory will do in their bid to qualify for the knockout stages of the competition.

Having narrowly lost away to London Scottish before taking the points in another close encounter against Yorkshire Carnegie, there can be no room for error in a tough group.

Head coach Mick O’Driscoll is well aware how difficult qualification will be, noting after the victory over Yorkshire: “I think it’s going to be necessary to win the group to be sure of qualifying. Runners-up position probably won’t be enough.”

Right now, Munster are a point behind Yorkshire in third, and four behind leaders London Scottish. But on the face of things, these next two weeks against Ospreys should be easier than experienced up to now. Yorkshire put 32 points on the Welsh outfit in round one, and the Exiles won away from home in round two.

O’Driscoll has made five changes from the last round, one in the pack with academy prop Liam O’Connor named alongside Kevin O’Byrne and Mario Sagario. Wingers Darren Sweetnam and Gerhard van den Heever make their first starts of the current campaign and Dan Goggin returns from international Sevens duty to stake a place on the replacements bench.

Ospreys coach Dan Griffiths hopes against hope for a first win. “There’s been a few frustrations around the start of the campaign, especially last time out against London Scottish. It was a tight match and there were a few opportunities for us to win it, but at the end of the day we do have to remember that there are a lot of 18 and 19 year old boys in the squad and they are learning at the sharp end against professional teams.”

Meanwhile, unbeaten Leinster look to have an easy task at home to struggling Ealing Trailfinders, the game at Donnybrook to kick off at 7.30pm. Peadar Timmons will lead the side in expectation of at least securing a bonus point win to back up a 55-122 win over Moseley that secured top spot in their pool.

Happy with being in pole position, Leinster coach Hugh Hogan is not, however, taking anything for granted. “Ealing are in the bottom area of the Championship, but they’ve put in some really good performances against the top sides, picking up some losing points against Bristol and Bedford for example.”

Munster A:

D Johnston; G van den Heever, M D’Arcy, C Bohane, D Sweetnam; B Johnston, D Williams; L O’Connor, K O’Byrne, M Sagario; S McCarthy, B Holland (captain); J Coghlan, S Doyle, S Buckley.

Replacements:

A.N.Other, R Burke, S O’Connor, C Oliver, C Sheridan, D Goggin, S Fitzgerald.

Ospreys:

R Fussell (captain); T Williams, J Thomas, O Watkin, K Giles; J Matavesi, M Aubrey; M Thomas, M Dwyer, D Suter; A Beard, R Hughes; S Underhill, L Evans, I Boladau.

Replacements:

C Lewis, D Rogers, R Bernardo, R Jones, R Williams, L Price, J Gage.

Leinster A:

C Kelleher; D Fanning, C O’Shea, S Crosbie, M McGrath; C Marsh, C Rock; P Dooley, B Byrne, M Bent; G Thornbury, T Beirne; J Murphy, D Leavy, P Timmins.

Replacements:

S McNulty, R Burke-Flynn, D O’Connor, T Ryan, M D’Arcy, H Brewer, I Fitzpatrick.