In the blue corner are Leinster, two times European rugby champions, seeking to become the only team to win back-to-back Heineken Cups since Leicester Tigers and also complete a European-domestic double, in what would be their third victory in four years, surely nailing on their status as one of the greatest Heineken Cup teams ever.

And in the white corner are Ulster, seeking to win for the first time this millennium and recent winners of sweet fanny adams. Uhm…

The first question any preview has to answer is ‘Can Ulster win this and is there any way Leinster can be stopped’, so great is the disparity in recent results between the two teams. Well, maybe my bias is misleading me, but the men from Ravenhill aren’t as far away as it may appear. It’s some challenge for only fifteen men to take on but it can be done and Ulster are an increasingly formidable team in their own right, although there’s no doubt that if both sides play to their best, Leinster simply have more about them.

Leinster have more about them than most mind. Joe Schmidt walked in on Cheika’s half-completed project and has turned them into probably the most complete side in Europe. People often remark most on their handling ability and lines, but their defence is incredible, their kicking game very strong, their set-pieces solid. When you look at the ferocity with which their backs hit tackles and the ease with which their forwards offload, you see a team who have blurred the distinction between forward and back as much as any other. They are masters of the fifteen man game and all the options it offers. They are masters of defence too, and the counter-rucking that the backs do is a large part of what makes them so difficult to score against. There’s been a list of injury worries since their slightly cagey victory over Glasgow in the ProDirect 12 semi-final, but thanks to the recuperative powers of cup finals Leinster will walk out at virtually full strength. Given Leinster’s strength in depth though, a few injuries was far from the end of the world for them. It also gives them, assuming all is well, a formidable bench containing six internationals.

Against this, Ulster have an up-hill struggle, if not up-mountain. But after the colossal defensive display they found to unseat Munster at Thomond Park, a performance that was more remarkable for the desire and mental resilience on show than any level of athletic and technical prowess, it’s not impossible. While its true the results card makes for bad reading, it won’t be registering much in Ulster minds, as it’s very rare for the provinces to meet 1^st XV to 1^st XV. Even last year’s playoff semi-final defeat saw Ulster much reduced with injury, starting with Stephen Ferris. Few men make as much difference to their side as Ferris and his mutant-esque levels of physicality and after very sparing use in recent weeks, he should be fit and raring to go. He’ll be the totem of an all-international pack that has asserted themselves recently as the equal of any in Europe with an abrupt abrasiveness. The set-piece is nigh flawless, it is rammed full with heavyweight carriers, and with Chris Henry back, it offers a fair bit of ruck disruption too. In the backs, Ruan Pienaar carries as much importance as Ferris up front, where so far he has turned in nerveless displays as general and goal-kicker in this tournament. He will probably first and foremost look to dictate territory before unleashing his back-line, but that does not mean the Ulster back-line should be overlooked. It has shown a few killer touches off its own this season, particularly when it links up with its mobile pack in a manner fairly reminiscent of their southern cousins. It may not have quite the same cachet as Leinster’s levy of Lions, but it is filled with talented players who yearn to show that they can be put in the same bracket.

Yearning is an appropriate word for Ulster’s emotional state right now, if anything a little mild. Years of struggle, of living as close to Connacht as to Munster and Leinster, has put an indelible mark on a senior core of players who have lived and breathed for a jersey that is a childhood ambition. It is a subject that has dominated interviews, an emotion that seemed to be made solid flesh at Thomond Park. In a game that will be decided as much by the mind as the body, properly channelled, this bellicose hunger will be a considerable weapon. In captain Johannes Muller, the perennial understudy to Victor Matfield who Andy Goode described as the best leader he’d seen other than Johnson, Ulster have one of the best possible men to do the channelling. Yet opposite him in the lineout will be a man nearly as well-respected for his leadership skills, Leo Cullen. Next to him is Brad Thorn, implacably bent on another trophy. And buzzing around in the backline like a pitbull on steroids will be Brian O’Driscoll. They will keep the desire levels ramped as high as possible. A surfeit of final experience would seem to point to Leinster, but Ulster aren’t short of players who’ve been in a big game or two. No advantage can really be seen at this point in the mental states of the players.

So where do the physical fault lines lie then, other than in Stephen Ferris’ non-existent knee? Ulster will certainly try to target Leinster at the set-piece, but they assuredly won’t be banking on this, particularly as Leinster are reportedly putting in a lot of time on this at training. The breakdown could therefore well be more important, and almost certainly more interesting, with both sides likely to adopt similar approaches in defence. What each team lacks for in jackals it makes up for in masters of the dark arts of slow ball. If the ref doesn’t grip the two teams, the spectacle may well up a victim of Irish excellence in the choke tackle – although if he judges one team to be doing it legally and the other not, he’s probably decided the match. Consistency will be very important here. If Ulster can get quick ball, they will fancy a cut. The normal Ulster tactic is for Andrew Trimble or Paddy Wallace to crash it up relatively narrow and secure quick ball, but you wonder whether Ulster won’t fancy going a bit wider this match. If Ulster can tie down O’Driscoll in the breakdown from first phase, then attacking Leinster’s backline looks far more inviting, particularly if they can get Stephen Ferris arriving onto the ball for the second. Leinster, by contrast, might well be tempted to go narrower than usual. The two Paddy’s – Jackson and Wallace – are excellent tacklers for small men, but they are rather small, and people like Sean O’Brien rather large. Even if they never manage a clean break there, continuous attacking of that channel may lead to Ulster becoming bunched in and vulnerable to the wide sortie. Of course, the danger is that in operating that close to Ulster’s pack, the quick ball necessary may never materialise. Leinster have the more to gain out of the game opening up due to their superior support lines and hands. It will be interesting to see which tactic appeals more, and when Jonathon Sexton will adopt each option. Whatever he picks, I’m expecting a fair few wide passes from both fly-halves, as neither back-three looks particularly inviting to kick to. There will be kicking of course, but it’s timing and execution will need to be spot on. Leinster might toy with repeating Edinburgh’s successful tactic of launching fairly short bombs for Rob Kearney to get on to as a back-up tactic, although both sides would rather wait to kick behind a winger rushing up. Here Ulster hold a minor advantage in that Paddy Wallace is a very accomplished tactical kicker and distributor. The ball in his hands will cause more thinking for opposition wingers than it will in Gordon D’Arcy’s. I feel I should mention the sub’s bench here. Ulster’s isn’t bad, containing a few potential game-changers and some steady performers, but it is nothing like the hidden armoury of internationals Leinster have waiting. To talk about this game’s intensity would be an understatement. Injuries and fatigue will happen. Barring bad luck, the process of attrition is likely to favour Leinster, simply because of their calibre of replacement. That must play a part in Schmidt’s thinking, particularly if he is tempted to play it loose and quick. Will Ulster be able to withstand eighty minutes of such treatment? Ulster need to protect themselves against such an eventuality by taking good care of the pill. Which brings us back to the breakdown again. Schmidt’s selection of McLaughlin over Shane Jennings makes sense, both in terms of safeguarding Leinster’s lineout and providing a physical presence. But it does keep Leinster’s dedicated ruckhog out of the opening exchanges.

Schmidt will probably not end up regretting that. He simply has too much firepower to level at Ulster and mistakes will be savagely punished. Leinster are also capable of operating at a level where they will simply blow Ulster away, unless Ulster find a new defensive level. Between these two facts, Leinster are deserved favourites. But Ulster are not devoid of hope. This match will be won up-front, where Ulster should be able to match Leinster blow for blow. Every minute that Ulster sucks Leinster into a battle there, every minute that Leinster can’t probe for gaps out wide, is a minute that improves Ulster’s chances. Ulster must choke Leinster at source as much as possible. Not an easy task, not at all, but doable. So too is the task of breaking down Leinster’s defence and generating a few scores of their own. McLaughlin must find a plan, his players a way, for no matter how firm the chokehold, Leinster will almost definitely wriggle away from it at some point. Defence will not be enough and it must be allied to ruthless finishing and ruthless ball protection. Do so, and Ulster can finish a shock of a season with the biggest shock of all. Anything else though, and Leinster will surely lift their second Heineken Cup in as many years, and in doing so enter the pantheon of greats.

The Clash to Watch – John Afoa vs. Cian Healy. Given the extreme familiarity between Tom Court and Mike Ross, it seems likely that any decisive swing in the in the scrum will come on the opposite side. Given the burden both Healy and Afoa bear in the loose, particularly in defence, if one man starts to take heavy physical punishment from the other then it could well prove a decisive advantage. Afoa would seem the favourite of the two to accomplish such a feat, but Healy is not a man lightly written off.

Their 19-15 home semi-final win over Glasgow Warriors not only earned them a ticket into the Final, but also guaranteed them home advantage after they finished as the No1 seed from the regular season.

The Ospreys beat reigning champions Munster 45-10 at the Liberty Stadium on Friday night to book their ticket into their second Final in three seasons. They were champions in 2010, beating Leinster at the RDS, and semi-finalists last season.

The two teams will be eligible for up to 50% of the tickets in each category and details of sales will be issued by both clubs asap.

RaboDirect PRO12 Final, 2012

Sunday, 27 May – 4.00pm

LEINSTER RUGBY v OSPREYS

RDS, Dublin

Leinster outside half Johnny Sexton was named as the RaboDirect PRO12 Man of the Match against Glasgow after scoring 14 points, but Ospreys No 10 Dan Biggar toped that with a 25 point haul against Munster to pass 300 for the season and 1,000 in his career at the Ospreys.

"The Ospreys were pretty outstanding against Munster and it’s going to be a difficult game". said Jonny Sexton, "They beat us in Dublin two years ago in the final, and they beat us at the RDS this season as well.”

The RaboDirect PRO12 Final will bring down the curtain on one of the great professional careers when Ospreys wing Shane Williams plays his final game for the Welsh region. Williams has already won three titles in this competition, two Grand Slams and been named the IRB World Player of the Year.

He scored a record 58 tries in 87 Tests for Wales and also scored two tries for the British & Irish Lions in four Tests on two tours. He was the RBS 6 Nations Player of the Tournament in 2008.

“It has been great been involved in some small way with Shane’s career and it would be wonderful to send him into retirement with another title. But we know that Leinster are the best team in European rugby and the RDS is one of the toughest places to go and play,” said Biggar.

“It was great to play so well in beating Munster, but you don’t win anything in a semi-final. We are under no illusions as to how hard it is going to be in Dublin and how well we are going to have to play.”

Leinster will be hoping it will be third time lucky in the Final having been beaten 17-12 by the Ospreys in 2010 and going down 19-9 to Munster at Thomond Park last year.

As stated at the start of the season, and in accordance with the way the final venues were determined in the previous two seasons, the top ranked team from the regular campaign will enjoy home advantage.

The final rankings from the 22 rounds of RaboDirect PRO12 matches were as follows:

1. Leinster

2. Ospreys

3  Munster

4  Glasgow Warriors

This means the three possible venues for the RaboDirect PRO12 Final at RDS, home of Leinster, the Liberty Stadium, home of the Ospreys, and Thomond Park, home of the reigning champions Munster.

One of the three venues will be ruled out after the first semi-final in Swansea tonight, when the Ospreys host Munster. Whichever team wins will still have a chance of hosting the Final.

However, if Leinster beat Glasgow Warriors at the RDS on Saturday night then they will host the Final due to their No1 ranking.

“Ever since we introduced the Play-Off system at the start of the 2009/10 season we have wanted to reward the team finishing in the top two positions in the regular season. This means they get home advantage in the semi-finals and then, possibly, in the Final,” explained Feehan.

“We have enjoyed full houses at both previous Finals – 19,500 for Leinster v Ospreys in 2010 and 26,100 for Munster v Leinster in 2011 – and look forward to another world class, capacity occasion at the end of this month. Each team will be able to ask for up to 50% of the tickets for the Final.

“Due to the Republic of Ireland international football match against Bosnia at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday, 26 May, PRO12 decided, after discussions with both Leinster and our TV partners, to avoid any potential clash and switch a Dublin Final to Sunday, 27 May.

“It was also felt by all parties that due to the tight turn-around between the semi-finals and Final, it would be better to confirm the RDS as Leinster’s home venue, rather than consider a possible switch to the Aviva Stadium, to help with the ticketing, policing, travel and administration of the Final.”

Below are he confirmed dates and kick-off times of all possible combinations for the RaboDirect PRO12 Final, the broadcasters will be announced once the two finalists are known:

SATURDAY, 26 MAY

Ospreys v Glasgow Warriors– Liberty Stadium (20,000 capacity)

Kick-Off: 6.00pm

Munster v Glasgow Warriors– Thomond Park (26,000 capacity)

Kick-Off: 6.00pm

SUNDAY, 27 MAY

Leinster v Ospreys / Munster– RDS (18,200 capacity)

Kick-Off: 4.00pm

O’Gara suffered a leg injury in that game that has kept him sidelined until this week and his return comes at a more than opportune time as Munster’s latest bout of injury removed Paul O’Connell and Damien Varley from the Swansea equation.

A big crowd is expected at the Liberty for what may be a final goodbye from wing legend Shane Williams to the Ospreys fans

Coach Steve Tandy confirmed today that Williams, will be in his starting XV on Friday.

Munster will name their starting XV tomorrow at midday before flying out to Bristol in the afternoon.

Munster Squad: F Jones, D Barnes, J Murphy, I Dineen, K Earls, L Mafi, S Zebo, T O’Leary, C Murray, S Deasy, I Keatley, R O’Gara, D Kilcoyne, W du Preez, S Archer, J Ryan, M Sherry, D Fogarty, S Henry, BJ Botha, Donncha O’Callaghan, M O’Driscoll, D Ryan, T O’Donnell, Dave O’Callaghan, P O’Mahony, P Butler.

Top seed Leinster will host fourth placed Glasgow Warriors at the RDS, Dublin, on Saturday 12 May (kick-off 7.35pm), whilst the second and third placed teams, Ospreys and Munster, will face each other at the Liberty Stadium 24 hours earlier on Friday 11 May (7.35pm kick-off).

Visser, who qualifies to play for Scotland this summer, is once again the leading try scorer in the RaboDirect PRO12 and has bagged 36 tries in 56 appearances for Edinburgh up to Round 22 of the 2011/12 campaign this weekend.

That total has worked him into third place in the PRO12 all-time try scoring list level with Nikki Walker and just behind Shane Horgan (39) and Tommy Bowe (46). He picked up 15 out of a possible 28 votes for the two wing positions, with his nearest rivals way back on four.

There are five players in the 2011/12 Dream Team who have retained their place from the previous year. A panel of 14 journalists from Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales were canvassed to select the team after 19 rounds of the tournament and four of the returning players were in the back line.

Leinster’s utility back Isa Nacewa once again won the full back shirt, beating off the strong challenge of Glasgow Warriors rising star Stuart Hogg, while Ruan Pienaar was the overwhelming choice at scrum half with 10 of the 14 votes.

Cardiff Blues centre Casey Laulala was the other player to make it two in a row as he won the race to join the Ospreys’ Ashley Beck (8 votes) at centre. His Blues team mate, Wales Grand Slam wing Alex Cuthbert, took the left wing spot on try count over Munster’s Simon Zebo.

It was also tight at outside half, where Glasgow Warriors’ Duncan Weir just pipped Leinster’s Ian Madigan for the No 10 jersey after both players received four votes. In the end, Weir’s superior scoring record earned him the half-back berth alongside Pienaar.

Only one forward survived from the 2010/11 Dream Team, Leinster hooker Richardt Strauss. He polled eight votes with the Ospreys’ Richard Hibbard his nearest rival with three.

There was another close call at loose head prop, where Glasgow’s Jon Welsh and Leinster’s Heinke van der Merwe were locked on three votes each. In the end, the decision went to Welsh on the basis he had scored three tries to Van der Merwe’s one.

Munster’s BJ Botha beat off the challenge of Ospreys’ Adam Jones and Ulster’s John Afoa to complete the front row as the tight head choice. There were 15 different players put forward for the two second row positions, but Ulster’s Dan Tuohy and Glasgow’s Tom Ryder were the clear favourites over some illustrious candidates.

Tuohy topped the poll with six votes, while Ryder had four, and their elevation into the Dream Team was a reflection on their reliability and durability at the heart of their respective packs over the season.

The back row comprises three players who failed to make their nation’s World Cup squads, yet all featured in the RBS 6 Nations. Edinburgh’s Dave Denton took the blindside flanker position ahead of nine other candidates, while new England No 8 Ben Morgan, of the Scarlets, crowned his great season by polling twice as many votes as his nearest rival.

The No 7 jersey went to the Ospreys outstanding openside flanker Justin Tipuric, who received the third highest number of votes of any player – Visser 15, Pienaar 10 – with nine to leave the 2011 nominee, Sam Warburton, trailing in his wake.

No fewer than 89 players from all 12 clubs in the RaboDirect PRO12 received votes and the final make up of the team is as follows:

RaboDirect PRO12 Dream Team 2011/12: Isa Nacewa (Leinster), Tim Visser (Edinburgh), Casey Laulala (Cardiff Blues), Ashley Beck (Ospreys), Alex Cuthbert (Cardiff Blues); Duncan Weir (Glasgow Warriors), Ruan Pienaar (Ulster); Jon Welsh (Glasgow Warriors), Richardt Strauss (Leinster), BJ Botha (Munster), Dan Tuohy (Ulster), Tom Ryder (Glasgow Warriors), Dave Denton (Edinburgh), Justin Tipuric (Ospreys), Ben Morgan (Scarlets)

Teams (8):Glasgow Warriors 3, Cardiff Blues 2, Edinburgh 2, Leinster 2, Ospreys 2, Ulster 2, Munster 1, Scarlets 1

RABODIRECT PRO12 DREAM TEAM 2011 / 12

• FULL BACK – ISA NACEWA (LEINSTER)
• RIGHT WING – TIM VISSER (EDINBURGH)
• OUTSIDE CENTRE – CASEY LAULALA (CARDIFF BLUES)
• INSIDE CENTRE – ASHLEY BECK (OSPREYS)
• LEFT WING – ALEX CUTHBERT (CARDIFF BLUES)
• OUTSIDE HALF – DUNCAN WEIR (GLASGOW WARRIORS)
• SCRUM HALF – RUAN PIENAAR (ULSTER)
• LOOSE HEAD PROP – JON WELSH (GLASGOW WARRIORS)
• HOOKER – RICHARDT STRAUSS (LEINSTER)
• TIGHT HEAD PROP – BJ BOTHA (MUNSTER)
• LOCK – DAN TUOHY (ULSTER)
• LOCK – TOM RYDER (GLASGOW WARRIORS)
• BLINDSIDE FLANKER – DAVE DENTON (EDINBURGH)
• OPENSIDE FLANKER – JUSTIN TIPURIC (OSPREYS)
• N0 8 – BEN MORGAN (SCARLETS)

Dream Team 2010/11:Isa Nacewa (Leinster); Fionn Carr (Connacht), Casey Laulala (Cardiff Blues), Jonathan Davies (Scarlets), Tim Visser (Edinburgh); Ronan O’Gara (Munster), Ruan Pienaar (Ulster); Iestyn Thomas (Scarlets), Richardt Strauss (Leinster), Mike Ross (Leinster), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Richie Gray (Glasgow Warriors), Sean O’Brien (Leinster), Sam Warburton (Cardiff Blues), Jamie Heaslip (Leinster)

Teams (9):Leinster 5, Blues 2, Scarlets 2, Ospreys 1, Connacht 1, Glasgow Warriors 1, Edinburgh 1, Munster 1, Ulster 1

Dream Team 2009/10:Ben Blair (Cardiff Blues); Tommy Bowe (Ospreys), Brian O’Driscoll (Leinster), James Hook (Ospreys), Tim Visser (Edinburgh); Dan Parks (Glasgow Warriors), Tomas O’Leary (Munster); Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), Ken Owens (Scarlets), Adam Jones (Ospreys), Leo Cullen (Leinster), Ali Kellock (Glasgow Warriors), Jerry Collins (Ospreys), John Barclay (Glasgow Warriors),

Jamie Heaslip (Leinster)

Teams (7):Ospreys 4, Glasgow Warriors 3, Leinster 3, Blues 2, Edinburgh 1, Munster 1, Scarlets 1

Dream Team 2008/09:Lee Byrne (Ospreys); Tommy Bowe (Ospreys), Brian O’Driscoll (Leinster), Lifeimi Mafi (Munster), Leigh Halfpenny (Cardiff Blues); Ronan O’Gara (Munster), Mike Phillips (Ospreys); Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), Jerry Flannery (Munster), Adam Jones (Ospreys), Paul O’Connell (Munster), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Rocky Elsom (Leinster), Martyn Williams (Cardiff Blues), Jamie Heaslip (Leinster)

Teams (4):Ospreys 5, Munster 4, Leinster 3, Blues 3

Dream Team 2007/08: Ben Blair (Cardiff Blues); Tommy Bowe (Ulster), Lifeimi Mafi (Munster), Nick de Luca (Edinburgh), Shane Williams (Ospreys); Felipe Contepomi (Leinster), Mike Blair (Edinburgh); Ollie Le Roux (Leinster), Bernard Jackman (Leinster), Stan Wright (Leinster), Malcolm O’Kelly (Leinster), Leo Cullen (Leinster), Ryan Jones (Ospreys), Martyn Williams (Cardiff Blues), Jamie Heaslip (Leinster)

Teams (6):Leinster 7, Blues 2, Edinburgh 2, Ospreys 2, Munster 1, Ulster 1

Dream Team 2006/07: Ben Blair (Cardiff Blues); Denis Hickie (Leinster), Regan King (Scarlets), Gordon D’Arcy (Leinster), Shane Williams (Ospreys); Felipe Contepomi (Leinster), Mike Phillips (Cardiff Blues); Iestyn Thomas (Scarlets), Matthew Rees (Scarlets), Euan Murray (Glasgow Warriors), Justin Harrison (Ulster), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Simon Easterby (Scarlets), Colin Charvis (Dragons), Jamie Heaslip (Leinster)

Teams (7):Leinster 4, Scarlets 4, Blues 2, Ospreys 2, Ulster 1, Dragons 1, Glasgow 1

Head Coach Brian McLaughlin said: “The mood in the camp has been fantastic this week. We are back in training and the standard has been high as we prepare for Munster on Saturday. It is always a difficult place to go and Munster will put everything into winning the PRO12. It is another vital match for us.”

Going into the last round of fixtures, Ulster need to register a bonus point win and hope Glasgow and Scarlets pick up nothing from their games, if they are to reach the PRO12 play off for the second successive year. McLaughlin is fully aware that the chances of progression are slim:

“We have to be honest; it’s a long shot now with one game remaining. But we did a great job in Limerick a few weeks ago in the quarter final and we will approach the game with the same mindset. We have proved Ulster can do a job no matter where we play. We need to get a win and hope that other results are favourable so it’s not ideal.”

Chris Henry, who suffered an ankle injury against Leinster two weeks ago, is once again ruled out of contention for Saturday. With Johann Muller, Stephen Ferris and Ruan Pienaar picking up knocks in the Edinburgh clash, the Ulster coach says there could be some changes to his squad for Saturday.

“There’s no way Chris will be fit this weekend; he’s improving greatly but there is still a little bit to go. Quite a few of the others have plenty of bumps and bruises after a very physical game against Edinburgh. We are very happy with the injury list; it’s not as bad as it could be.The team will depend on how fit people are. We will continue to assess people and get the final injury report before selection. A number of players have played a lot of rugby this year so it’s important they are managed well,” concluded McLaughlin.

Penney has signed a two-year contract with the province  ahead of other candidates Anthony Foley and Tana Umaga.

Penney has been Head Coach of Canterbury since 2006, and last season took them to their fourth straight ITM Cup national provincial title. He also has Super Rugby coaching experience with the Crusaders where he was assistant coach in 2005 when they won the Super 12 title and he has maintained his involvement with the Crusaders as Development Squad Coach.

A former Canterbury Academy Manager, Penney will coach the defending World Champion New Zealand Under 20 side during next month’s IRB Junior World Championship in South Africa,and he is expected to arrive in Munster in mid July for the start of a two year contract.

Anthony Foley will continue on as Forwards Coach while expected change in the rest of the management team will be finalised following consultation with the new Head Coach.

Commenting on the appointment Munster CEO Garrett Fitzgerald said, " We conducted a thorough search to find a replacement for Tony McGahan and were delighted with the calibre of the candidates. Rob Penney’s record speaks for itself and we look forward to welcoming him to Munster.”

Canterbury Rugby Football Union CEO Hamish Riach said, “Rob has been a great servant for Canterbury rugby. We are very sorry to lose a talented coach, but this is a fantastic opportunity for him and we wish him all the best.”

Head Coach Steve Tandy has revealed that he’s hoping to tap into the feel-good factor at the Ospreys as he looks to path a course for his team into the RaboDirect PRO12 final at the end of the month.

A fourth successive win last weekend saw the Ospreys secure second spot, and with it a home semi-final on Friday 11th May with a game to spare, and Tandy insists that getting the maths sorted out early is a huge bonus to the team’s preparations.

“Getting to the play-offs was the target when we took over so I’m pleased that we’ve managed to achieve that with a game to spare” he said.

“It’s a real boost for the business and I think there’s a real positive feel about the place at the moment which is great.

“As far as the team is concerned, securing the home semi with a game to spare is really important. It means we’ve got extra preparation time for the game. Yes, we don’t know who we are playing yet but it’s given us another two weeks to prep and get the team ready to go, rather than having to wait with a few different scenarios on the go. The uncertainty has been lifted and when we are planning for the next couple of weeks we know exactly where we are and what we are doing which has to be a huge benefit in terms of our preparations for 11th May.

“We’ve got Aironi first up though and we know we can’t take them lightly. While as coaches we have to plan further ahead, as far as the team is concerned it’s one game at a time and Aironi will present a real challenge. It could be their final game, which gives it that something extra and it will be an emotional evening there. They are a physical bunch and just looking at their results at home you can see what they are capable of. They’ll want to go out on a high.

“The players are aware that every game they are involved in they are representing the Ospreys at all times and will go out there looking to keep the momentum going with a good performance that will send us into the semi at the Liberty the following week in the right shape.”

The win over the Dragons last time out was witnessed by the highest crowd of the season, and Tandy is in no doubt that the big turnout provided his charges with a big lift. While the story of the night was all about Shane Williams and his last gap try, Tandy is quick to point out the importance of the late touchdown.

“It was superb at the stadium last time out, seeing so many supporters there” agreed Tandy.

“It really lifted the team and I’ve no doubt it helped us get the result in the end. It was a great occasion and the ending was very fitting for Shane, but you can’t lose sight of how important that try was for the team. It wasn’t just about Shane, we needed a fourth try for the bonus point and that bonus point in the end was enough to ensure that we have a home semi.

“That’s how important it was. It was a huge moment that has given that extra bit of breathing space and prep time that could be all important if we are going to be successful in the playoffs.

“To have 14,500 there was amazing but if we could go even better than that for the semi-final would be fantastic. It would give the boys such a boost to see so many people supporting them in a knockout game against Munster or Glasgow.”

As an Ospreys ‘original’ from the 2003/04 season, and a member of the ‘100 club’ at the region, Tandy was a key figure in the three previous league title successes and he urged the class of 2012 to go on and become the first team to claim four Celtic League titles:

“It will be special if we can achieve that, there’s no question about it. On and off the field there’s been a lot of change this year and with it some ups and downs, but ultimately we’ve put ourselves in a position where this group can make history this season.

“We’ve got to stay focussed, build on the momentum of the last four or five weeks and prepare properly. Whoever we play, Munster or Glasgow, we know they are both really good teams so we’ve got to make sure that we are up for it and in good shape if we want to get through to the final.”

He has however left one other position to be finalised as he waits to see if Luke O’Dea, scorer of a cracking try in that RDS semi, is fit enough to make the starting line.

Up front Costello opts for the experience of Stephen Archer over John Ryan in the front row while a return to fitness sees Dave O’Callaghan preferred to Barry O’Mahony who is named on the bench.

The halves remain the same but Ivan Dineen gets moved from the wing to inside centre at the expense of JJ Hanrahan while Denis Hurley comes in to the left wing berth occupied by Dineen so ably in the semi-final.

Ten of the starting XV were involved in the inaugural British & Irish Cup final when Munster were beaten 23-14 by Cornish Pirates.

Munster (v Cross Keys, British & Irish Cup final): S Scanlon; AN Other, D Barnes, I Dineen, D Hurley; S Deasy, D Williams; D Kilcoyne, S Henry, S Archer; B Hayes, I Nagle; B Holland capt, D O’Callaghan, P Butler. Replacements: D Fogarty, J Ryan, B O’Mahony, B O’Hara, G Hurley, D Cusack, JJ Hanrahan.

Meanwhile Fridays game could be the last time Denis Fogarty will be seen in a Munster shirt

He leaves at the end of the season to take up a two year contract with the French Pro Div 2 side Aurillac coached by former Ireland international Jeremy Davidson.

The 28 year old from Cashel Co Tipperary, the younger bother of Leinster Elite Player Development Officer, John, was offered terms to remain with the side he’s been a member of since 2004, but opted for the offer from Davidson instead.

Educated at Rockwell College, where he gained Irish Schoolboy international honours, he came into the Munster squad shortly after appearing in the 2004 U21 World Cup Final and made his senior debut off the bench against The Borders in Musgrave Park in November 2004.

His first start came against Connacht in Thomond Park in December 2005 and he ended that season with a Heineken Cup winners medal to his credit, on the bench in the final win over Biarritz Olympique.

Since then he’s added a second Heineken Cup winners medal, a Churchill Cup and three Magners League title medals and played his 90th senior game for Munster against Aironi in Parma last month.

An infectious humour was one reason for his huge popularity within the Munster squad, a popularity that was in equal proportion to the respect he commanded from both the senior players and the new generation. Donncha O’Callaghan was wing forward when Fogarty made his first start and is adamant that his departure will be keenly felt. "He’s Munster to the core. An incredible character who brings so much to the squad both on and off the field. He’ll be sorely missed, maybe much more than some people might imagine right now. But he goes with the best wish of everyone in the squad."

Fogarty himself admits the decision to leave wasn’t an easy one. "You don’t leave a squad like Munster without giving it a great deal of thought. Its been a huge part of my life and I’ve really enjoyed my time here. I’ve learnt a lot and made lifelong friends who I will miss. I wish them all the best in the future.

The opportunity was there for me to remain but I feel the time is right for me to look for a new challenge. I’m grateful to Jeremy Davidson for providing me with that challenge and its one I’m looking forward to.