Ospreys ring the changes for ‘benchmark’ Munster match
THE Ospreys make five changes for their United Rugby Championship clash with Munster on Saturday (7.35pm) – an encounter head coach Toby Booth classes as a benchmark game.
Mat Protheroe, Nicky Smith, Tom Botha, Rhys Davies and Jac Morgan come back into the starting line-up after the hard-earned win over Benetton.
There is also another run-out for Alex Cuthbert.
Luke Morgan has been playing well and Keelan Giles is on the mend after injury, but Cuthbert gets an opportunity to build on his Ospreys debut in Treviso.
There were next to no opportunities in attack for the Wales wing against Benetton, with the ball mostly swinging from right to left and into the arms of Morgan.
But Cuthbert still managed to show off his international class with one of the moments of the weekend, when the ultra-dangerous Monty Ioane, one of the United Rugby Championship’s star turns, screeched towards the try-line with a touchdown looking certain.
Suddenly, Cuthbert made it into the picture, eating up ground to pull off a try-saving tackle that could be classed as sensational by any standard.
Anyway, the big man will hope for more chances to show what he can do with ball in hand this week.
He is on the right wing again, with the Ospreys’ most creative player, Protheroe, on the left.
Up front, Morgan should be cheered by a pat on the back from team-mate Bradley Davies after the youngster’s omission from the Wales squad.
“Jac’s a very good kid who works incredibly hard and his stats are through the roof,” said Davies, capped 66 times under Warren Gatland.
“He’s level-headed, trains hard and does all his talk on the field.”
None of which will interest Munster much. The Irish province enjoyed their most recent visit to Wales, with a second-string team handing the Scarlets a 43-13 hammering in Llanelli.
“Munster are a benchmark team of the league,” said Booth.
“We know how good they are. You just have to look at where the Irish provinces are in the league every year. Every side wants to benchmark themselves against the Irish provinces and Munster are always there or thereabouts.
“They are four from four, have played exceptionally well, put teams to the sword and are full of confidence, so it’s going to be a very tough ask.
“We are confident and clear on what we want to do and confident in our own ability. We have learnt a lot of lessons across the last two weeks and that is a psychological thing rather than a rugby thing.”
Munster start with Tadhg Beirne and Peter O’mahony in the back row, Andrew Conway on the right wing and Jean Kleyn at lock. Conor Murray and Damian de Allende are on the bench and poised for their first appearances for the province this season. Ospreys: Max Nagy; Alex Cuthbert, Owen Watkin, Keiran Williams, Mat Protheroe; Stephen Myler, Rhys Webb (c); Nicky Smith, Elvis Taione, Tom Botha, Bradley Davies, Rhys Davies, Sam Cross, Jac Morgan, Ethan Roots. Reps: Ifan Phillips, Gareth Thomas, Rhys Henry, Jack Regan, Morgan Morris, Reuben Morgan-williams, Joe Hawkins, Dan Evans. Munster: Matt Gallagher; Andrew Conway, Liam Coombes, Dan Goggin, Shane Daly; Jack Crowley, Craig Casey; Jeremy Loughman, Niall Scannell, John Ryan; Jean Kleyn, Fineen Wycherley; Tadhg Beirne, Peter O’mahony (c), Jack O’donoghue. Reps: Kevin O’byrne, Josh Wycherley, Keynan Knox, Gavin Coombes, John Hodnett, Conor Murray, Ben Healy, Damian de Allende. Ref: Hollie Davidson (Sco).