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United Rugby Championship Play-Off quarter-final: Munster v Ospreys
Venue: Thomond Park, Limerick Date: Friday, 7 June Kick-off: 19:35 BST
Coverage: Live on S4C via iPlayer. Live commentary on BBC Radio Wales. Follow live text commentary on the BBC Sport website and app. Match report on the BBC Sport website and app.
Ospreys head coach Toby Booth says his side will have to suffer if they are to upset Munster in the United Rugby Championship (URC) play-offs in Limerick on Friday night.
Ospreys sneaked into the top half of the URC table with a bonus-point win against Cardiff on the last weekend of the regular season to set up a quarter-final trip to face the top side and defending champions at Thomond Park.
“We’ve got ourselves to the window of opportunity, and we’re excited about it," said Booth.
“Dealing with the occasion is a challenge and how we get to show our best. We understand against the best like Munster that’s not always possible.
"We need to understand it’s not always about getting it your own way, sometimes you’re going to have to suffer and hang in there.
“We’re in knockout rugby, there are no second chances."
Booth's side are the first Welsh team to reach the play-offs in six years.
“If Welsh teams are successful everybody wins," said Booth.
"This is what we’re in it for, you’ve got to dare to dream.
“We set out at the start to get here, our goals were to get into the play-offs, get into the knockout stages of Europe, and win the Welsh shield.
"We’ve achieved all three of those and now everything is a stretched target.
"It is a credit to everyone in the group, the overriding emotion after last weekend was pride.
"We’re here now, let’s see how we do.”
Munster head coach Graham Rowntree is an old sparring partner of Booth following their coaching jobs in the English Premiership.
“Graham’s done a great job, I’ve known him a long time," said Booth.
“He’s a very competitive individual, his team represent that and he’s taken them to the next level.
"They’ve come from adversity, there’s been parts of their season that haven’t always gone the way they would’ve liked, but ended up on top.
"That tells you they’ve got a tight group, with a lot of quality. They’re a team that know how to win and that makes them a dangerous opponent.”
Ospreys make one enforced change from the 33-29 Judgement Day victory over Cardiff.
Fly-half Dan Edwards - who impressed at Cardiff City Stadium - has a leg injury picked up in training. Owen Williams, a late replacement for Edwards during last weekend's victory, takes over in the 10 jersey.
Flanker Harri Deaves also misses out on the trip with back-row Morgan Morse and scrum-half Luke Davies drafted on to the bench.
Munster show three personnel changes to the side that beat Ulster 29-24 to seal top spot.
Antoine Frisch returns from a leg injury at 13, with Sean O’Brien moving to inside centre and Rory Scannell missing out.
In the pack John Hodnett and Gavin Coombes - both replacements last wekeend - come into the back-row with Alex Kendellen and Jack O'Donoghue dropping to the bench.
Munster are the URC defending champions and have reached the play-offs for an eighth successive season
Munster have won their last nine league fixtures and are looking to match the 10 successive victories they achieved on the way to winning the title in 2011
The Munstermen have not been defeated by a Welsh side since their 23-17 loss to Dragons at Rodney Parade in September 2022
Munster’s most recent home defeat by a Welsh opponent was when Scarlets visited Thomond Park in February 2017
Ospreys have made the play-offs for the first time since they were semi-finalists in 2016-17
Ospreys have won just one of their last nine fixtures against Irish provinces, a 19-17 home victory against Ulster in February 2024
Toby Booth's side have not tasted success in Ireland since beating Leinster 24-19 behind closed doors in Dublin in March 2021.
Munster’s only defeat in their last 14 fixtures with Ospreys in all competitions was a 18-10 loss at Swansea.com Stadium in October 2021.
The two sides have met on four previous occasions in play-offs with Munster having the edge by three to one. All matches have been won by the home side.
Munster: Simon Zebo; Calvin Nash, Antoine Frisch, Sean O’Brien, Shane Daly; Jack Crowley, Craig Casey; Jeremy Loughman, Niall Scannell, Stephen Archer, RG Snyman, Tadhg Beirne (capt), Peter O’Mahony, John Hodnett, Gavin Coombes.
Replacements: Diarmuid Barron, John Ryan, Oli Jager, Jack O’Donoghue, Alex Kendellen, Conor Murray, Tony Butler, Mike Haley.
Ospreys: Max Nagy; Luke Morgan, Owen Watkin, Keiran Williams, Keelan Giles; Owen Williams, Reuben Morgan-Williams; Nicky Smith, Dewi Lake, Tom Botha, James Ratti, Huw Sutton, Jac Morgan, Justin Tipuric (capt), Morgan Morris.
Replacements: Sam Parry, Gareth Thomas, Rhys Henry, Victor Sekekete, Morgan Morse, Luke Davies, Luke Scully, Harri Houston.
Referee: Hollie Davidson (SRU)
Assistant referees: Andrea Piardi (FIR), Gianluca Gnecchi (FIR)
TMO: Andrew McMenemy (SRU)
English (US)