Munster v Ospreys live score updates from the URC clash at Virgin Media Park news@irishmirror.ie (Michael Scully) — Irish Mirror – Home

After last week’s shock loss at Zebre, Munster want to make a statement in very wet conditions in Cork against the Ospreys.Head coach Graham Rowntree will demand a response and that message will be echoed by senior stars Tadhg Beirne – the province’s new captain – Peter O’Mahony and Jack Crowley, who all make their first appearance of the season tonight.Munster have conceded over 70 points over the course of their opening two URC fixtures and, for the team that had the best defensive record in the competition for the past two seasons, the bleeding has to stop.Defence coach Denis Leamy admitted this week that he has taken the 10 tries conceded in the opening night win against Connacht and against Zebre personally and Rowntree will want to see that area tidied up.But Ospreys are a tricky side to play against, especially in the wet and windy conditions on Leeside as the city endures an orange weather warning this evening. The Reds have made eight changes from last week, Centre Alex Nankivell misses out with a shoulder injury after it was hoped he would be available, so he joins the casualty list with Shane Daly (elbow) and Thaakir Abrahams (leg).Bryan Fitzgerald makes his first start for the Reds after making a good impact off the bench last week, while 21-year-old academy winger Shay McCarthy, Jeremy Loughman, Niall Scannell and Jack O’Donoghue also come into the side..Mike Haley, Calvin Nash and McCarthy start in the back three. Craig Casey and Crowley are in the half-backs as Fitzgerald and Tom Farrell start together in midfield. A positional change sees Farrell return to outside centre.After last week’s shock loss at Zebre, Munster want to make a statement in very wet conditions in Cork against the Ospreys.Head coach Graham Rowntree will demand a response and that message will be echoed by senior stars Tadhg Beirne – the province’s new captain – Peter O’Mahony and Jack Crowley, who all make their first appearance of the season tonight.Munster have conceded over 70 points over the course of their opening two URC fixtures and, for the team that had the best defensive record in the competition for the past two seasons, the bleeding has to stop.Defence coach Denis Leamy admitted this week that he has taken the 10 tries conceded in the opening night win against Connacht and against Zebre personally and Rowntree will want to see that area tidied up.But Ospreys are a tricky side to play against, especially in the wet and windy conditions on Leeside as the city endures an orange weather warning this evening. The Reds have made eight changes from last week, Centre Alex Nankivell misses out with a shoulder injury after it was hoped he would be available, so he joins the casualty list with Shane Daly (elbow) and Thaakir Abrahams (leg).Bryan Fitzgerald makes his first start for the Reds after making a good impact off the bench last week, while 21-year-old academy winger Shay McCarthy, Jeremy Loughman, Niall Scannell and Jack O’Donoghue also come into the side..Mike Haley, Calvin Nash and McCarthy start in the back three. Craig Casey and Crowley are in the half-backs as Fitzgerald and Tom Farrell start together in midfield. A positional change sees Farrell return to outside centre. …Read More