Klim set to finally make Ospreys bow

LESLEY Klim could finally make his Ospreys debut this weekend – 20 months after joining them. The Namibian international prompted significant chatter after putting pen to paper for the Liberty Stadium team, with countryman Jacques Burger having previously offered an endorsement, saying on Twitter after Klim had starred in a Test: “Lesley Klim. Remember that name.”

But few in Swansea have seen enough to give them anything to remember. Injuries have hammered the wing or centre since, but he has returned from the World Cup fit and ready to go and features on the bench for the challenging away Guinness PRO14 match with Munster at Cork’s Irish Independent Park tonight (7.35pm). Fellow World Cup man Ma’afu Fia has also returned to the Ospreys squad, after figuring for Tonga. Coach Allen Clarke’s team need both players badly, with 18 players missing all told – eight at the World Cup and the rest injured.

Dan Baker and James Hook are also on the bench, while Dan Lydiate leads the team on his 50th appearance and Hanno Dirksen and Tom Williams line up on the wings.

Ospreys: C Evans; H Dirksen, S Williams, T Thomas-Wheeler, T Williams; L Price, M Aubrey; R Jones, S Parry, T Botha, D Lydiate (c), L Ashley, O Cracknell, S Cross, G Evans. Subs: S Otten, G Thomas, M Fia, W Griffiths, D Baker, R Morgan-Williams, J Hook, L Klim.

Munster: M Haley; C Nash, D Goggin, R Scannell, S Daly; T Bleyendaal, N Cronin; J Cronin, R Marshall, S Archer; J Holloway, B Holland (c); J O’Donoghue, T O’Donnell, J O’Sullivan. Subs: K O’Byrne, L O’Connor, J Loughman, F Wycherley, A Botha, C Casey, JJ Hanrahan, S Arnold. Referee: Stuart Berry