PRO12 Semi: How The Sides Compare
20th May 2015 By Munster Rugby
Get the pre-match stats ahead of this weekend’s Guinness PRO12 semi-final as Munster prepare to face Ospreys at Thomond Park this Saturday at 2.30pm.
No away team has ever beaten their host in the semi-final stages of the PRO12 but history will count for nothing come kick-off time in Limerick this weekend.
Ospreys have won their last six Guinness PRO12 matches since drawing 9-9 at home to Leinster on February 27th. The Welshmen have won their last three away games in the tournament, and will be looking for their first four in a row on the road in the history of the competition.
The form Welsh club side at the moment, this is Ospreys’ first appearance in the play-offs since 2012 and coincidentally their two most recent appearances at this stage were both against Munster – losing in Limerick in 2011 before exacting revenge at Liberty Stadium a year later.
With just one place and one league point separating the sides after 22 league rounds this season – Munster 2nd, Ospreys 3rd – the sides are also evenly met in terms of tries conceded. If fact, between them, the sides boast the best defensive records of the league this season – Ospreys just shading it to date, conceding 30 tries as opposed to 31 for Munster.
However, it’s recent victories that will give Anthony Foley’s men the greatest cause for concern with the Welsh outfit already recording back to back victories over the province this season, becoming one of only two league sides to have defeated Munster at Thomond Park in this campaign, the other being Edinburgh in Round 1.
Ospreys’ last four visits to Thomond Park have resulted in two victories, one draw and just one defeat.
Munster for their part are unbeaten in their last five PRO12 encounters, a run which has seen them now reach the play-off stages in five of the last six seasons, although none of those encounters have been played at Thomond Park since 2011.
While Ospreys’ will hope to buck trend of home side progression this weekend, Munster too will look to improve their semi-final success averages, having won just one of their last nine semi-final appearances in all tournaments since 2008. Incidentally that last win came against Ospreys, winning 18-11 in Limerick on their way to claiming the 2011 league title.
Join us on the #HomeRun as Munster bid to turn Thomond Park into a #FieldOfDreams this Saturday – KO 2.30pm.
Tickets from just €;20 for Adults and great value Family Terrace Packs from just €;40 are available to purchase online here, from the Munster Rugby Ticket Offices at Irish Independent Park and Thomond Park, or by calling 0818 719 300.
GROUP SPECIAL OFFER – 20 Junior tickets & 5 Adult tickets 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.
