Munster v Ospreys RCC Final Game Sun Jan 19th @ 1pm.

Any update on the Dan Evans injury?

I tend to agree with you there but no Welsh squad players and a home game v Ulster doesn’t exactly bode well at the moment unfortunately!!

Didn't watch all the game but Dan Baker made one rampaging run going through and dragging opposition players with him and made about 15 to 20 metres, can't really talk about the first 20 to 25 minutes of the 2nd half.

I don’t think they have a game for 4 weeks now which is insane at this time of year

Once again our lack of a physical ball carrier is of a major concern. Baker is nowhere near the player he was and the above comments have been repeated so many times on this and the previous forums about games for the past three seasons that I’m beginning to lose interest.

Have to say a huge thanks for the running commentary, it put the other media outlets to shame, including Ospreys Twitter thread that was constantly behind the time and lacked accuracy to say the least.

I had no access to a TV and don't subscribe to BT anyway but thought the posts were comprehensive and well analysed to provide a detailed account of the game, well done much appreciated.

With regards other matters, everyone knows the Ospreys have a strong and experienced group of players that can with the right guidance and instructions compete with the best in Pro14, we are doing it in parts but not for 80 minutes. Even if we get our act together we have two or three pivotal positions that singularly could be covered during the game but over all the oppositions are provided with a transparent predictable attack and presented with an easy way and uncomplicated way through our defense. It is little wonder when we are having to scramble in defense and then hold a line for long sessions with this intense battle of attrition it's hardly any wonder that have so many injuries.

I would imagine the powers that be would rather wait to get the injured players back on the field before buying in any other players. If there is a reluctance to use McKenzie then we need a decent 10 before doing anything else.

Smith went well in the loose and at scrum time. Otten was prominent in both defence and attack. Fia showed up in the loose and at the scrum. Hardly mentioned if at all BBBD. AWJ was everywhere in a losing effort. Lydiate was ok but ioh for the player he was. Tips was everywhere like AWJ . Baker carried well but never broke contact.

Venter kicked well and defended well but we did not see him in a proper attacking sense.

Price was Price and missed several tackles but did save one try.

Morgan hardly saw the ball but defended well,

Evans hardly saw the ball and went off with a bad injury in the second half.

North was poor attack wise but defended well.

Dirksen defended well

Evans didn't have much to do apart from kicking penalties to touch and he missed one long range effort.

We are so, so blunt at the attacking phase of the game. We have no forwards who can carry with pace and power and break contact to give the backs quick ball. When our backs do the get the ball, we can barely pass the ball along the line and tend to crab sideways before either zero is called and box kick follows or we turn the ball over.

Cracknell is indeed shown the yellow card after being caught repeatedly offside with the Ospreys on a warning and Munster go for the scrum. Tips comes into the pack for Ospreys to maintain parity of numbers. There are less than 5 minutes left and Munster are after their 5th try. Can the Ospreys hold them out?

Price clears from inside his own goal line and Munster have an attacking lineout. The ball goes off the top and is moved wide but a knock on gives Ospreys a scrum that is starting to creak a little. Tips takes the ball up and the call of Zero goes up meaning a box kick and RMW clears to the 10m line.

Munster attack again before chipping over the top and that forces Dirksen to minor the ball, giving Munster the 5m attacking scrum.

Munster's 9 HIA are both passed and their are back to having a 9 at 9, if you know what I mean. Munster look for the pushover and gain the penalty advantage, surely a yellow card for Ospreys.

The penalty is kicked to touch and Munster drive. Stander bounces Price out of the way but to his credit he gets back behind the ball and wins a valuable turnover allowing Ospreys to clear to touch up near the half way line. Smith is off for Ospreys and Lake comes on for Otten.

Ospreys win the ball after Tips steals the ball but Ospreys knock on yet again and Munster have the scrum.

Ospreys have a scrum but are free kicked and Munster kick deep, Morgan brings the back towards the 10 metre line and Ospreys go through their side to side crab before Venter puts in a box kick. Ospreys regain possession before another poor pass from North puts them back under pressure and forced to kick. Munster now attack and make easy yards every contact and almost score a try but Price grounds the ball before the Munster players and it is a 5 metre scrum for Munster. Morgan-Williams on for Venter. Munster do not have a 9 on the pitch as both of them are off for HIAs.

Munster continue to press, Nicky Smith is down for Ospreys but solid Ospreys defence prevents a try and the ball ends up in touch. Could be a penalty though for a high tackle - yep North is pinged for the tackle that put the Munster player into touch.

My instinct was to ask why we have no real attacking threat and suggest it is down to the lack of direction by the coaches but clear if Munster target Price from the start it demonstrates that the coaches are expecting the rest of the team to make up for Price but against a team like Munster it needs every player to be able to hold their positions, tackle and play to the standard required.

Cracknell comes in for Baker to defend this lineout which goes off the top. Munster begin to build through the phases and win an offside penalty but they want more. The ref misses a clear out on Tips who was not part of the ruck and Munster get over the line again but the ball is dropped and we go back to the penalty.

Dan Evans goes off injured and it looks bad - either a shoulder dislocation or a broken collarbone. Ghaijon is on for Fia. Cross comes on for Dan Evans so Tips goes into midfield. We had a 6-2 split on the bench.

Munster cross the line again but it is held up and we go to a 5 metre scrum.

Tips is back on after a HIA, a Munster kick goes touch and goal and Ospreys have a scrum near half way. North drives the ball deep into the Munster half but Ospreys still cannot break the Munster line, before another loose Price pass sets the Ospreys back to their own half. Ospreys recover and get back to the half way line but Lydiate is pinged for coming in from the side and Munster have a penalty that will be kicked towards the corner.

Munster press and press and eventually the pressure tells allowing Murray to dot down in the corner for the third try. The speed of ball and attacking invention is light years away from the that of the Ospreys. Hanrahan misses the conversion but it is 19-6 after 48 minutes. This could be a long second half.

Ospreys attack from the lineout but are struggling to make any decent ground before a neat chip from Price almost finds Luke Morgan and he would have been away had the ball not bounced away into touch. The Munster lineout is not straight and Ospreys go for the scrum. Ospreys go wide but cannot break the line and Munster gain a penalty after Dirksen refuses to release the ball. Why oh why is our attack so blunt????

A poor clearing kick from Price allows Munster to forge into the Ospreys 22 and are just metres form the line but AWJ is so strong over the ball and wins a much needed penalty. Cai Evans kicks to touch and Ospreys get a free kick that gives possession back to Munster but Ospreys regains the ball and win a penalty.

Lydiate is down after a bump to the head/neck area.

Price is the worst tackler in rugby. Both professional and amateur rugby

Scrum time again after another Ospreys knock on - Price with another poor tackle effort lets Munster gain the front foot and win a penalty but play the advantage and are within 5 metres before the ref gives another penalty straight in front of the posts. Munster attempt to go quickly and mess it up giving Ospreys a scrum and a chance to clear their lines. Dan Evans clears to touch.

Munster with a clever lineout bust into the Ospreys 22 and their defence cannot reset quickly enough allowing Munster to score the opening try that Hanrahan converts and it is 7-6 after 31 minutes. They seem dangerous when ever they get the ball whereas the Ospreys look slow, ponderous and unlikely to score.

Ospreys driving maul has stuttered in the last few weeks and this one is no different but Venter clears to half way. Munster attack from the lineout and reach the Ospreys 22 but Ospreys defence holds well and they gain a lineout. Dan Baker looks to be struggling but seems ok now. Ospreys lineout is called not straight and Munster go for the lineout.

Price gets done by a prop ??? and Munster progress into the Ospreys 22 but a knock on halts play again and it is scrum time once more. Munster are struggling at the scrum and the ref feels that Ospreys have the edge for now. A good drive from Stander gets Munster on the front foot and just yards from the Ospreys line but Otten gets over the ball and wins a vital penalty which Evans clears to half way.

The lineout is good but the midfield pass from Baker to North is not and Munster gain a scrum. and this time Ospreys win a penalty, this time Cai Evans steps up and points to the posts - the kick is just inside the Munster half but pretty much straight - wide though and Munster have the 22.

Price throws a poor pass and it almost costs Ospreys a try but the ref spies a knock on and we scrum again - Ospreys carry well through Baker and Tips before winning another penalty as a Munster defender does not roll away. Evans kicks the ball into the Munster half and we look to attack again.

Price intercepts but struggles to hold his feet and North cannot hold the pass so we have the first scrum of the day to Munster. Free kick to Ospreys and we will scrum again. Ospreys penalty and we go for the posts again - successful again and it is now 0-6 after 14 minutes.

The ball goes off the top and into midfield and the Ospreys pull a switch but Luke Price gets hammered as he offloads the inside ball. Ospreys get a penalty for the tackle, could have been more? Price gets up off the floor and sets up the kick at goal - success. Ospreys lead 0-3 after 7 minutes.

Munster kick to touch but Ospreys win a penalty for obstruction at the line out. This is a good chance to clear our lines and set up an attack from the Munster 10m line.

A back and forth opening few minutes and Ospreys win the first penalty but it is reversed and it goes to Munster for a neck roll.

Dan Evans moved to centre in place of Scott Williams. Cai Evans takes 15 spot.

Late change for the Ospreys with Scott Williams out and Dan Evans moving to the centre??? Lesley Kilm comes on to the bench.

Hello ospreys fans

If you're at Thomond Park, have a great day. As a Munster fan I certainly enjoyed the hospitality in Swansea.

You have great players that we will be happy to welcome onto the pitch.

It is a dead rubber but for us it equal to a Pro14 final to beat Munster in Munster! To them we have been munched and ground into every pitch in the UK, Ireland and Europe to be the team that actually loses to the Ospreys has to be humiliating. The game matters but not for any other reason than pride.

Unless my maths are wrong (which is quite possible) tomorrow is a dead rubber because Munster can't qualify either. No doubt both teams will respect the competition and will still go all out to win.

Roland Sherratt, no doubt.

Further to the lack of information coming out of the Ospreys organisation, spoke to a family member of Dewi Lake yesterday and was told he's had quite a nasty accident in training in the past few weeks and had to have many stitches in and around the mouth area, I'm not sure whether he's been excluded from any matches, don't they realise loyal supporters want to know about such things?

What's happened to Aled Davies and Marty McKenzie ?

Not sure about this? "Crowd favourite Lloyd Ashley covers the second row"? Love to know how the author of this article came to this remark and what evidence he had for it?

Would it kill the club to give some idea when they are expecting these players to return.

Wow, we have gone full strength...I have added my own injury updates to the injured players list but that is just from what I have read and I have no inside knowledge.

It's the final pool game of the Heineken Champions Cup for the Ospreys, but there's no sign of going out quietly with this team selection.

Dan Evans, who scored a brace of tries on his return last weekend against Saracens, reclaims the fullback position with Hanno Dirksen and Luke Morgan named on the right and left wing respectively. George North once again pulls on the number 13 jersey, showing his versatility in the backline alongside Scott Williams to form a powerful midfield pairing. Shaun Venter and Luke Price maintain their half-back partnership from last weekend and will be looking to get the back line firing against a dangerous Munster team.

Nicky Smith reclaims the loosehead position this weekend, while Ma'afu Fia packs down at tighthead once more alongside hooker Scott Otten in the front row. Locks Bradley Davies and Alun Wyn Jones are paired up in the second row, offering plenty of power and experience in the engine room. Dan Lydiate takes up his position at blindside with captain Justin Tipuric returning and named on the other side of the scrum. Number eight Dan Baker shifts from the bench into the starting XV this week, having had a successful run out against the reigning European Champions last weekend.

The bench is a 6/2 split this weekend and is packed with both youth and experience with Sam Parry, Darryl Marfo, and Gheorghe Gajion providing a beefy front row replacement. Crowd favourite Lloyd Ashley covers the second row, while Olly Cracknell and Sam Cross offer mobile and dynamic back row cover. Young scrumhalf Reuben Morgan-Williams is given an opportunity from the bench, as is Cai Evans, who had a solid run of games during an injury crisis earlier in the season.

Ospreys starting XV to face Munster in the Heineken Champions Cup at Thomond Park, on Sunday 19th January.

15. Dan Evans 14. Hanno Dirksen 13. George North 12. Scott Williams 11. Luke Morgan 10. Luke Price 9. Shaun Venter

1.Nicky Smith 2. Scott Otten 3. Ma'afu Fia 4. Bradley Davies 5. Alun Wyn Jones 6. Dan Lydiate 7. Justin Tipuric 8. Dan Baker

Replacements  16. Sam Parry  17. Darryl Marfo 18. Gheorghe Gajion 19. Lloyd Ashley 20. Olly Cracknell 21. Sam Cross 22. Reuben Morgan-Williams 23. Cai Evans

The following players were unavailable for selection due to injury Gareth Anscombe - out for the season Harri Morgan - must be due back soon Cory Allen  - out for the season James King - must be due back soon Rhys Henry - must be due back soon Ben Glynn - must be due back soon Will Griffiths -must be due back soon Keelan Giles  - out for the season Gareth Evans - must be due back soon Tom Botha - no idea on when he will be back Owen Watkin - no idea on when he will be back Gareth Thomas -no idea on when he will be back Rhodri Jones - no idea on when he will be back Kieran Williams - no idea on when he will be back

Upcoming fixtures Ospreys v Ulster - Saturday 15th February, Liberty Stadium, K.O 5:15pm. Ospreys v Leinster - Friday 21st February, TBC.

Simon Thomas on Twitter says that Tips and Scott Williams may be available to us this weekend....

I would not suggest put out anything other than our best side but we still need to think of performance before a win. The problem we have is that there is no actual long term plan mapped out thus no matter how we begin or finish the game we are just going through the motions; we are on hold pattern, circling the Pro14 waiting for a coach to dictate the way we move forward.

It’s Europes premier competition and should be respected. To be fair to all teams everyone should field competitive sides, once we start downplaying and downgrading the competition it’s a slippery slope to the bottom. The FA cup is losing its importance with top sides concentrating on the league unless they get to the latter stages.

I don't think that selection will be far off the mark. Obviously we have no chance in the competition but we could well have an influence on the final standings. We have to respect the competition and if we can perform well in such a difficult fixture it could give us a bit more confidence. We have a month off before our next game so hopefully some of the injured could be available. Much depends on who we lose to Wales.