MRSC Brussels: Ospreys v Munster
10th September 2015 By Munster Rugby Supporters Club
Munster prepare for their first away trip of the season on Sunday, travelling to Liberty Stadium to face Ospreys in Round 2 of the Guinness PRO12 – KO 3.30pm (Brussels time).
Munster prepare for their first away trip of the season on Sunday, travelling to Liberty Stadium to face Ospreys in Round 2 of the Guinness PRO12 – KO 3.30pm (Brussels time).
The weekend sees Munster and the Ospreys meet for the first time since last season's PRO12 semi-final in Thomond Park in which a would-be match winning try for Ospreys was disallowed following consultation with the TMO – Munster winning out 21-18 and progressing to the PRO12 Final.
With Ospreys looking to avenge such a narrow defeat, Munster's challenge this weekend is made all the more difficult by their host's impressive home record in the league. Unbeaten in their last 14 league matches at Liberty Stadium, last March's 26-12 drubbing of Munster in Swansea saw the Welsh outfit make it back-to-back wins over the province in the regular season.
Both sides will compete without the services of their World Cup representatives. Despite an unfortunate injury to Welsh scrum-half Rhys Webb, Ospreys' impressive representation of 12 World Cup players remains the same following the news that Eli Walker will now join the Wales squad as cover for the also injured Leigh Halfpenny.
After suffering a heavy 28-6 loss away to Ulster in their season opener on Friday, Ospreys will look to bounce back strongly this weekend.
Despite the disappointment of the PRO12 Final in Belfast last May, that remains Munster's sole league defeat in their last eight games. Rustiness and a lack of precision may have cost Munster a bonus point in defeating Treviso 18-13 in Cork last Saturday, but they will take confidence from their physicality and the chances created.
The province's most recent trip to Swansea became their ninth defeat in twelve games at the Liberty and Head Coach Foley knows his side will have their work cut out if they are to avoid a similar fate again.
Munster fans are invited to gather at The Old Hack pub, 176 Rue Jospeh II (on the corner of Rue Joseph II and Boulevard Charlemagne, under the Berlaymont building), open from 3.00pm. (Note – Due to roadworks on Blvd Charlemagne, direct access to the pub by car is restricted, but the pub can be reached on foot from Rue Stevin, Rue Belliard or Schuman Metro)
