The Ospreys team to face Munster in the Magners League on Friday 15th May 2009 at Thomond Park, kick off at 7.45pm, has been named.
Ospreys Head Coach Sean Holley commented: We've rested our Lions for our final fixture, they've served us well this season and with the tour almost upon us, we want to make sure that they represent the Ospreys to the best of their ability this summer.
Obviously we'll be going to Munster with regrets that we aren't going there chasing silverware as we'd hoped. They say that it's your away form that wins you leagues, and our away form has been pretty good. We've won at Connacht, Glasgow, Ulster and we've had two good derby wins, but unfortunately, we've stumbled at home since the turn of the year, losing at home to Munster and Leinster, and then the late defeat to Edinburgh recently. It's these defeats that have proved costly, a win in one of those games and we could have been going to Thomond Park with a chance of doing something this weekend. That's certainly something we have to aim to improve on next season, we have to turn Liberty Stadium into a fortress again.
The boys selected are certainly fired up for the game, they aren't approaching it as an end of season chuck about. There are plenty of players with a point to prove. We have players who haven't been selected for Wales who want to show what they are about, some of the team have bad memories of their last visit to Thomond Park, and we have some youngsters and new faces who want to make an impact so it's an exciting prospect.
It's a big day for Sonny Parker who is making his 100th competitive Ospreys appearance. Sonny is a true Osprey who has served the Ospreys well over he last few seasons so he will no doubt enjoy hitting this landmark. On the other end of the scale, we welcome two new faces into the squad. David Evans is a young Neath winger who has played for the Ospreys age-grade sides, and has really emerged over the last twelve months through the Wales Sevens team and some good form in the Welsh Premiership. He has electrifying pace and having done well with Neath, we are taking this opportunity to see what he can do with next season in mind. Likewise with Richard Kelly, a young second row who is one of Swansea's top lineout forwards. He is another player who was involved at Academy level, who has been playing in the Welsh Premiership following injury. He has a great attitude and enthusiasm for the game, as well as a huge desire to be an Osprey, and like David, will enjoy this experience as we look at him with next season in mind."
Ospreys team to face Munster: 15 Gareth Owen, 14 Ashley Beck, 13 Sonny Parker, 12 Jonathan Spratt, 11 David Evans, 10 James Hook, 9 Jamie Nutbrown, 1 Paul James, 2 Richard Hibbard, 3 Cai Griffiths, 4 Ian Gough, 5 Andy Lloyd, 6 Ryan Jones (Capt), 7 Marty Holah, 8 Filo Tiatia
Replacements: 16 Scott Baldwin, 17 Duncan Jones, 18 Craig Mitchell, 19 Richard Kelly, 20 Steve Tandy, 21 Rhodri Wells, 22 Dan Biggar
Sonny Parker makes his 100th Ospreys appearance. David Evans makes his Ospreys debut. Richard Kelly will make his Ospreys debut if he comes off the bench.