The Ospreys team to play Edinburgh on Saturday 4th December 2010 at The Liberty Stadium, kick off at 6.30pm, will be as follows:
15 Lee Byrne
14 Nikki Walker
13 Andrew Bishop
12 Ashley Beck
11 Richard Fussell
10 Dan Biggar
9 Jamie Nutbrown
1 Duncan Jones
2 Richard Hibbard
3 Craig Mitchell
4 Alun Wyn Jones (Capt)
5 Ian Evans
6 Justin Tipuric
7 Marty Holah
8 Ryan Jones
Replacements
16 Mefin Davies
17 Paul James
18 Adam Jones
19 Ian Gough
20 Jonathan Thomas
21 Mike Phillips
22 James Hook
23 Tommy Bowe
The following players were not considered because of injury:
Jonathan Spratt – ACL
Ben Lewis – Neck
Morgan Allen – Ankle
Eli Walker – Ribs
Ryan Bevington – Finger
Ben John – Wrist
Dai Flanagan - Back
Shane Williams – Shoulder
Kristian Phillips – Ankle
Conor McInerney – Knee
Rhys Webb – Hip
Tom Isaacs is on Wales Sevens duty
Ospreys Head Coach, Sean Holley, commented:
“We’ve had a core squad here for the last month that have done really well and all credit to the players and coaches. After quite a long autumn period we’ve got boys turning up who are pretty keen to get back home as it were, see the rest of their team-mates, and get on with the rest of the season.
“With some big games on the horizon and having won the last two Magners games, this game is important in terms of the overall picture. It’s all about this weekend, we need a performance and we need to get guys back in an Ospreys shirt. When they are away with international teams, for right or for wrong they play a different way, they are coached differently and there are different mental pressures from our environment. What this weekend affords us is a chance to get back to our environment, which is a good one for them and one that they are used to. We need to maximise that quickly because the season dictates that we are straight back into Europe next week.
“We’ve worked really hard to get three wins and an away bonus point in November, we’re in better shape in the Magners now and even though we are using the LV= Cup as a development competition we wanted to put ourselves in a better position that we did last year. To get the six points from the two games puts us in a strong position there, which is great for the guys coming through.
“This young group has really kicked on over the last month and become true Ospreys in their own right. That is good for the squad overall as it creates internal pressure on players coming back who will be well aware that they have to reach the highest standards if they want to be sure of their place as we have these youngsters breathing down their necks who have shown that they are capable of doing a very good job at this level.
“Now we have to push through to the next stage of the season, and it is vitally important that we get the performance right on Saturday evening.”
Forthcoming fixtures
Sun 12 Dec – Munster V Ospreys – Thomond Park – Heineken Cup – 1.00pm
Sat 18 Dec – Ospreys V Munster – Liberty Stadium – Heineken Cup – 3.30pm
Sun 26 Dec – Ospreys V Scarlets – Liberty Stadium – Magners League – 4.10pm
Fri 31 Dec – Cardiff Blues V Ospreys – CC Stadium – Magners League – 2.05pm