A 'Must Win' For Munster - Gaffney

The perennial Heineken Cup quarter-finalists suffered a major blow ahead of their crucial Pool 4 match against the Ospreys when the Test fly half broke a bone in his right hand against Leinster on Saturday (1 January, 2005) and will miss the final two Pool matches, against the Ospreys and NEC Harlequins.

However, a fourth Pool 4 victory of the 10th anniversary season of the tournament would take Anthony Foley's Munster another giant step closer to making the knock-out stages for a remarkable seventh successive season, although coach Alan Gaffney is conscious a slip now could put it all back into the melting pot.

The size of the task facing the Ospreys is massive. Munster have lost only once in 29 home matches in the Heineken Cup - 37-32 to Cardiff in Cork in 1997/98 - and have never been beaten in 20 matches at their Thomond Park fortress in Limerick.

"It is absolutely critical that we win on Saturday," said Gaffney, whose team edged out the Ospreys 20-18 at The Gnoll back in October and top the group three points clear of Castres Olympique and four ahead of the Welsh region.

"If we don't win this one we could be in all sorts of trouble - we could find ourselves going from top to third in Pool 4 and that would leave us having to go to Twickenham to play Harlequins in the final Round with someone else in the driving seat.

"We must make maximum use of our final home game and our fantastic support. The fans were brilliant against Castres Olympique and I am sure they will do the same for the visit of the Ospreys.
"However, we know it is down to us to do the job out on the pitch and we will have to play well to get the result.

"I was extremely happy with the performance against Castres but we will have to go up another gear from that against the Ospreys.

"They are a hard-headed bunch with plenty of experience in their squad and they will come over here believing they can win.

"We know they will try and dismiss the Thomond Park factor to keep their qualification hopes alive.

"It was a very close game between us in Round 2 and, with players like Gavin Henson in their side, you have to be alert for every second of the game.

"The Ospreys have been scoring some very good tries this season and the one started by Shane Williams and finished off by Barry Williams recently against Llanelli Scarlets was quite outstanding.

"They have got a very strong pack of forwards and an attacking back line but this is a match we simply have to win."