PRO12 Semi: What The Opposition Say

With just days to go to Munster’s Guinness PRO12 semi-final, we go behind enemy lines to see what Ospreys captain Alun Wyn Jones has to say as his side prepare for the trip to Thomond Park this weekend.

The Welshmen will travel to Limerick with confidence in abundance having already recorded back to back victories over their semi-final hosts this season. That said, the Welsh and Lions international knows the difficulty of must-win assignment away at Thomond Park. Speaking to Wales Online he said,

“If you look at the mantelpiece they have got, that speaks for itself, aside from the bricks and mortar. The players and the fans make the environment that is Munster rugby.

“We are well aware of what is ahead of us, but a lot of our guys have played out there so they know what to expect.”

Following respective wins over Newport-Gwent Dragons and Connacht for Munster and Ospreys, both sides have just a seven day turn-around before playing the second PRO12 semi-final on Saturday at 2.30pm with Glasgow Warriors (home) and Ulster first to do battle on Friday night at 7.45pm.

“It’s going to be a short week, so we will just try and replicate what we’ve doing throughout the season, with a few less errors.

“It’s a case of bringing the good things we’ve done in patches in games all together. It’s in the back pocket. If you put it out there for the next 80, 160 minutes, then you’ll be smiling at the end of it.”

In looking ahead to this weekend’s action, Munster Head Coach Anthony Foley earmarked the Welsh and Ospreys half-back duo of Rhys Webb – just crowned PRO12 Players’ Player of the Season – and Dan Biggar as a formidable threat to the province’s title ambitions, a sentiment echoed by Wyn Jones,

“Credit to Dan (Biggar) and Josh (Matavesi) outside him, because those three have gone really well together.
“But Rhys (Webb) has been at the pulse of everything good we have done. Even when he isn’t making his searing runs or scoring tries, he is still there doing the basics well and he’s turned into one of the senior guys into our group.

“I remember a couple of years ago, he would come off the bench and make breaks at potentially the wrong time and end up getting smashed.

“But now he picks his moments. People say he might be a marked man now, but Shane Williams was a marked man for years and look at the number of tries he scored and the number he created by putting other people in space.

“Rhys is an intelligent guy and fits hand in glove with Dan at half-back. They both compliment each other.”

In acknowledging the strengths of his own side, this Saturday’s visiting captain was also quick to recognise the tenacity and potency of his provincial hosts in Limerick, case in point, his former Lions leader Paul O’Connell.

“Age is just a number and he is defying all the numbers and the stats at the minute.

“His performances just don’t wane at all. He’s had his injuries over the years but he always seems to come back stronger.

“As far as he’s concerned, it’s not about him, he always put the team first and he’s a huge part of that Munster team.”

Regardless of the outcome this weekend, the second row believes the meritocratic nature of qualification for the European Champions Cup has made for an even more exciting and improved PRO12 this season.

“In a way, you can compare it to the end of the Six Nations this season, with another Super Saturday.

“There was one point covering the top four going into the final round and all to play for.

“When the new European meritocracy came in, there were a few raised eyebrows, but I think that has added value and put more on it for more teams lower down.

“It culminated in the final weekend that we’ve just had and now here we are in semi-final week. It’s all added to it.”

Help turn Munster's #HomeRun into a #FieldOfDreams at Thomond Park this Saturday for the Guinness PRO12 semi-final. You can be there from just €;20 for Adults with great value Family Terrace Packs also available from just €;40.

Purchase tickets online here, from the Munster Rugby Ticket Offices at Irish Independent Park and Thomond Park, or by calling 0818 719 300.

Meanwhile, a package of 20 Junior tickets and 5 Adult tickets is available for the game for just €;100. Should your local youth groups, club or school, etc be interested in availing of this offer, please contact the Munster Rugby Ticket Office on 061-421103 or by emailing tickets@munsterrugby.ie

These tickets are subject to availability so don't delay and are located in the terraces at Thomond Park.

O'Connell and Wyn Jones train together in preparation for the 2013 Lions Tour to Australia.