We are firmly at the business end of the rugby season and Munster are well positioned to make another run at the URC title.
Graham Rowntree's side shocked Leinster in last year's semi-final at the Aviva Stadium en route to victory and snatched the trophy in unexpected fashion.
Fast forward a year and they are the in-form team, finishing top of the league standings. The side are playing brilliant rugby this side of the new year, including putting in a brilliant shift when in South Africa.
But the real challenge begins now as they take on Ospreys in their URC quarter-final clash. The Welsh outfit have had an up-and-down year but snatched the eighth and final playoff spot.
Today's game takes place at Thom*ond Park in Limerick with kick-off at 7.35 pm. The game is available to watch live on RTE Two and can be streamed on the RTE Player. The game is also available to watch live on Premier Sports.
Munster : Simon Zebo; Calvin Nash, Antoine Frisch, Seán O’Brien, Shane Daly; Jack Crowley, Craig Casey; Jeremy Loughman, Niall Scannell, Stephen Archer; RG Snyman, Tadhg Beirne (C); 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.
Darragh Culhane
Full time! Munster 23-7 Ospreys
An offside against Ospreys and Munster kick it into touch and are into the semi-finals.
Darragh Culhane
Munster 23-7 Ospreys
All Munster here as they run down the clock. Crowley missed a kick but it has been his only mistake thus far. Ospreys' race seems run at this point as they have an unnecessary knock on.
Darragh Culhane
Munster 23-7 Ospreys
Munster win another penalty and now lead by 16.
Darragh Culhane
Munster 20-7 Ospreys
Munster win a penalty and stretch their lead to 13 points.
Darragh Culhane
Munster 17-7 Ospreys
Really good attack by Munster here but Ospreys defend well at the try line. Coombes looks like he knocked it on but it goes against the Ospreys
Munster's next few attacks threaten the try line but they can't get that killer score.
Darragh Culhane
Back Underway!
We areback underway in Thom*ond Park!
Darragh Culhane
Half time! Munster 17-7 Ospreys
Ospreys steal the ball and will get one more attack before the half. O'Brien somehow steals it back and kicks it to touch.
Darragh Culhane
Munster 17-7 Ospreys
Ospreys have penalty advantage right at the try line. Munster put in a real defensive shift to not give away an easy try and force Ospreys back and it's robbed. It goes back for the penalty.
Ospreys take the scrum and Munster win the penalty! They celebrate as if they've won the game. Huge moment.
Darragh Culhane
Munster 17-7 Ospreys
Ospreys have a penalty and kick for touch. They'll really want a score as we hit 35 minutes.
Darragh Culhane
Munster 17-7 Ospreys
Munster upset they can't play on while at the try line and it's dragged back for a penalty. Jack Crowley is going to take a shot at goal.
He taps it over
Darragh Culhane
Munster 14-7 Ospreys
Jack Crowley tags on the extra couple of points.
Darragh Culhane
Munster 12-7 Ospreys
Munster back their maul and then Niall Scannell goes for it and he grounds it! Munster are back in the lead.
Darragh Culhane
Munster 7-7 Ospreys
Munster are just short of the try line and have a penalty advantage. Craig Casey goes for an ambitious crossfield kick which comes to no avail and Munster kick for touch again.
Darragh Culhane
Munster 7-7 Ospreys
All a bit manic here so far as we hit the 15 minute mark. A lot of the game played in the middle of the park. Munster have a penalty and will kick for touch.
Darragh Culhane
TRY! Munster 7-7 Ospreys
Keelan Giles makes amends for his missed tackle on Simon Zebo and it was a great attack from Ospreys to get the try. All level after the conversion
Darragh Culhane
Munster 7-0 Ospreys
Jack Crowley steps up for the conversion and makes no mistake
Darragh Culhane
TRY! Munster 5-0 Ospreys
Brilliant from Munster. Relentless attack and Simon Zebo finds a gap and goes the whole way. Munster lead
Darragh Culhane
We are underway!
Jack Crowley kicks off the game
Darragh Culhane
Ready to go!
The teams are on the field and we are ready to go!
Darragh Culhane
Peter O'Mahony before the game
Darragh Culhane
Betting Odds
Munster 1/8
Ospreys 5/1
Draw 33/1
Darragh Culhane
Team News
Munster: Simon Zebo; Calvin Nash, Antoine Frisch, Seán O’Brien, Shane Daly; Jack Crowley, Craig Casey; Jeremy Loughman, Niall Scannell, Stephen Archer; RG Snyman, Tadhg Beirne (C); 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.
Darragh Culhane
Hello and welcome
Hello and welcome to live coverage as Munster take on Ospreys in the URC quarter-finals. Today's game takes place at Thom*ond Park in Limerick with kick-off at 7.35 pm.
Coverage of the game is on RTE Two and can be streamed on the RTE Player. Premier Sports will also show the game live.
The Irish Mirror will be providing live score updates of the game right here, including all the pre-game and post-match reaction.
So make sure to stay tuned to all the action right here.
