Steve Tandy expects an edgy affair as Ospreys play host to Munster

OSPREYS head coach, Steve Tandy has warned his players home advantage will count for little in tonight’s RaboDirect PRO12 semi-final against Irish giants Munster at the Liberty Stadium.

He said: “Munster will be coming with a winning mentality as they always do, wherever they play, whoever the opposition and whatever the game. They’re a tough bunch, steely edged, with the knowhow and experience to win tight games and they won’t be contemplating losing.

“For us, it’s a great game to host at the Liberty after having to go away to Munster at this stage last season.

“It’s a one-off game and results in the run-up don’t matter now.

“It’s going to be a tough old battle between two teams who know each other very well, two teams who will have to slug it out to get control out there, but it should be a tight, edgy affair.”

Munster make two changes in the backs and one up front, while stand-off Ronan O’Gara is on the bench.

Donncha O’Callaghan comes into the side for the injured Paul O’Connell in an otherwise unchanged pack.

In the backs, Ian Keatley, replaces Scott Deasy at No 10, while fit-again Keith Earls is named at No 13 with Ivan Dineen slipping onto the bench.

O’Gara has been named among the replacements after coming through training unscathed.

Ospreys: R Fussell; H Dirksen, A Bishop, A Beck, S Williams; D Biggar, K Fotuali’i; J Bearman, J Tipuric, R Jones, I Evans, A-W Jones, A Jones, R Hibbard, P James. Subs: S Baldwin, R Bevington, A Jarvis, J King, T Smith, R Webb, M Morgan, T Isaacs.

Munster: F Jones; J Murphy, K Earls, L Mafi, S Zebo; I Keatley, C Murray; P O’Mahony, T O’Donnell, D Ryan, M O’Driscoll, D O’Callaghan, BJ Botha, M Sherry, W du Preez. Subs: D Fogarty, D Kilcoyne, S Archer, D O’Callaghan, P Butler, T O’Leary, R O’Gara, I Dineen.