MUNSTER 23 OSPREYS 3 PETER PERFECT O’mahony: Reds must be at best to beat Scarlets

Munster made short work of another Welsh side in their semi-final win over Ospreys at Thomond Park but they have been well warned of the dangers that Wayne Pivac’s side post following their impressive triumph over Leinster at the RDS.

Munster ended Saturday’s clash with a 100% return from the scrum and lineout against an Ospreys side renowned for their set-piece prowess but it was the sparkling form of their back three that added the points to the board.

A wonderful try from Simon Zebo was bookended by Francis Saili’s first and Andrew Conway’s late third but O’mahony says there will be no change in tactics despite Scarlets’ impressive run of results.

“You make little tweaks here or there but we have our plan that we have stuck to over the last nine months,” said the Ireland flanker.

“We’re not changing majorly over the next five or six days. There is always more to come but I think if we are going to win next weekend it’s got to be our best performance of the year.

“With the form that the Scarlets are in, it’s going to take that and probably more.”

A brilliant win at Parc y Scarlets was one of the first under Rassie Erasmus’ reign last September but the Reds players and management will not recall their Thomond Park clash with as much fondness.

The home side led well at the end of the first half in February before Scarlets cut loose with some mesmerising tries that they have quickly become known for.

That 30-21 defeat is Munster’s only loss in the competition since Leinster beat them at the start of October and O’mahony is already well versed as to their strengths.

He added: “They are in incredible form. You saw the quality they have against Leinster, the quality of rugby they played, how efficient they were with the ball, how good they were at the breakdown.

“They’re a very complete team and whoever beats them is going to have to be very good.”

But O’mahony is now ready to test himself for the province one last time this season following a torrid and rewarding campaign.

He said: “We’ve knuckled down, we’ve stuck to what we have been given and made a final. But we haven’t won anything yet”

PROUD AS PUNCH O’mahony shows his gentle side with daughter Indie, but he’ll need to be at his clinical best against Scarlets HERO O’mahony’s mobbed