The Ospreys team to face Edinburgh in the Magners League, on Friday 5th October at Murrayfield, kick off at 7.30pm, will be as follows: -
15 Stefan Terblanche14 Jonathan Vaughton13 Mark Taylor12 Gavin Henson11 Aled Brew10 Shaun Connor
9 Martin Roberts
8 Filo Tiatia (Capt)7 Steve Tandy6 Tom Smith5 Ian Evans4 Lyndon Bateman3 Cai Griffiths
2 Richard Hibbard 1 Paul James Replacements 16 Huw Bennett17 Andrew Millward18 Ian Gough19 Ben Lewis20 Mike Phillips21 Andrew Bishop22 Gareth Owen
Head Coach, Lyn Jones, commented as follows:
"â¬ÅThis week we have welcomed back our Wales internationals in the regional environment. We will be slowly integrating all of the players back into the team through the month of October and Friday"â¬â¢s fixture gives an opportunity for Mike Phillips and Ian Gough to make their first impact in an Ospreys shirt. Settling into a team is a long process and it is important we start the process with these guys as soon as possible. Last week we introduced Lyndon Bateman and Gavin Henson back into the team and this week I am pleased that we will see Ian Evans in an Ospreys shirt for the first time in over nine months."â¬Â
"â¬ÅWe were always going to be a bit undercooked at the start of the season with the number of long term injuries we carried over from the end of last season and with our representation at Rugby World Cup but with players now starting to return in earnest it is clear we are now growing into the season. Scoring thirty seven points against Glasgow last weekend was a start to this process but the players realise we still have a long way to go if we are to realise our ambitions."â¬Â
Injury and squad availability news
Nikki Walker is representing Scotland in RWC 2007
The following players are unavailable for selection due to injury:
David Bishop (knee) will return in November
Ryan Jones (shoulder) has had further feedback from our medial team and has unfortunately been advised that he is unlikely to play before the end of 2007
Lyn Jones commented on Ryan"â¬â¢s extended absence from the team:
"â¬ÅThis is a setback both for Ryan, Wales and Ospreys rugby. It is a huge blow to our Heineken Cup ambitions as Ryan is a big game player who comes to the fore in that environment. To lose our Captain and one of our most influential players for the first four months of the season is a bolt from the blue, but both Ryan and the Ospreys will have to deal with it and look to make the best of what is a bad situation."â¬Â
Fixture News
October 2007 fixtures are as follows:
Friday 5th October "â¬" Magners League "â¬" Edinburgh Rugby v Ospreys "â¬" Murrayfield "â¬" 7.30pm
Sunday 14th October "â¬" Magners League "â¬" Ospreys v Munster "â¬" Liberty Stadium "â¬" 4.10pm
Saturday 27th October "â¬" EDF Energy Cup "â¬" Worcester Warriors v Ospreys "â¬" Sixways "â¬" 2.30pm