ERASMUS: WE CAN’T HAVE ANY EXCUSES

MUNSTER coach Rassie Erasmus is accepting no excuses as his side face a familiar foe in this afternoon’s emi-final. Ospreys come to Thomond Park aiming to beat Munster for the second time in knock-out rugby, although memories of their last trip to Munster will send a shiver down their spine. Last November, Munster became the first team to hold Ospreys scoreless in the Pro12 with a stunning 33-0 victory and facing the league’s meanest defence again will be a concern for Steve Tandy’s side. But Erasmus said: “We have no reason not to be focused and to underestimate this. We could say before Europe that ‘we haven’t played Saracens, let’s see how far we can go. “Although we feel the same, we can actually write these names down on a piece of paper and we can say, ‘We’ve played all of these teams twice now, so you should know what to expect.’ “That doesn’t make it easier but I think we have a realistic view of saying we have been here, we have felt this and now we must go and try to replicate it. “It’s a difficult one. I just know we will be focused and it will be a hell of a good Ospreys team pitching up here on Saturday.” Two years ago the teams met at the same stage in the same venue, and Munster needed a late TMO call to go their way to get over the line. Three years earlier Ospreys hammered Munster 45-10 on their own patch, but Munster bettered them the previous season. As with every Pro12 semi-final, home advantage has been key. Other than a few long term injuries, Erasmus has a full-strength squad to pick from, and the only small surprise is to see the departing Saili picked ahead of Jaco Taute in the No 13 shirt. Conor Murray (inset) has been selected to start for the first time since January and he will be partnered by Tyler Bleyendaal at half-back. On the opposite side, the return of Alun Wyn Jones is a lift for Ospreys and Warren Gatland’s Lions, following his shoulder injury lay-off, back-row Dan Baker misses out.

THOUGHTFUL Munster coash Rassie Erasmus yesterday