Ireland trio back for Munster

Magners League: Ronan O'Gara, Tomás O'Leary and Marcus Horan are back in the Munster side to face Ospreys at Thomond Park on…

Magners League:Ronan O'Gara, Tomás O'Leary and Marcus Horan are back in the Munster side to face Ospreys at Thomond Park on Saturday (6.30pm). The inclusion of the trio goes some way to offsetting the continued absence of Paul O'Connell, Keith Earls and Tony Buckley ahead of the crucial game between two teams locked in a battle for second place.

With both sides level on 43 points behind Leinster, the winner of this game will go along way to securing a home semi-final in the play-off stages.

Neither O'Connell or Earls were named in the extended squad during the week, while Buckley has failed to recover from a knee injury picked up in the game against Connacht on Sunday.

Scott Deasy, who scored at the Sportsground, is retained in the starting XV but moves from fullback to the left wing as Paul Warwick takes the number 15 jersey. Simon Zebo, who debuted against Connacht, moves to the bench.

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Ireland wing Tommy Bowe is one of a number of big names returning to the Ospreys side.

The Monaghan man was rested for the meeting with Leinster last week but is one of six changes as the Welsh side look to score a vital win in Limerick.

Fullback Lee Byrne returns in place of Gareth Owen, while Sonny Parker makes way for James Hook's return to inside centre, with Andrew Bishop to the outside.

Outhalf Dan Biggar will be partnered by Mike Phillips who replaces Jamie Nutbrown, and up front, captain Ryan JOnes is back at number eight instead of Filo Tiatia.

Alun Wyn Jones drops to the bench to make room for lock Jonathan Thomas.

Munster (v Ospreys):P Warwick; T Gleeson, L Mafi, J De Villiers, S Deasy; R O'Gara capt, T O'Leary; M Horan, J Flannery, J Hayes; D O'Callaghan, M O'Driscoll; A Quinlan, D Wallace, J Coughlan. Replacements: D Varley, J Brugnaut, B Holland, N Ronan, P Stringer, D Hurley, S Zebo.

Ospreys (v Munster):L Byrne, T Bowe, A Bishop, J Hook, S Williams; D Biggar, M Phillips; P James, H Bennett, A Jones; I Gough, J Thomas; J Collins, M Holah, R Jones (capt). Replacements: E Shervington, R Bevington, A Wyn Jones, F Tiatia, J Nutbrown, S Parker, N Walker.