Ospreys Team To Face Harlequins

The Ospreys team to face Harlequins in round 3 of the EDF Energy Cup, on Sunday 2nd December at The Stoop (3:10pm kick-off), will be as follows...

The Ospreys team to face Harlequins in the EDF Energy Cup, on Sunday 2nd December at The Stoop, 3.10pm kick off, will be as follows: -15 Lee Byrne14 Nikki Walker13 Mark Taylor12 Gavin Henson 11 Shane Williams / Jonathan Vaughton10 James Hook / Shaun Connor9 Mike Phillips

8 Filo Tiatia / Jonathan Thomas (Capt)7 Marty Holah6 Hale T-Pole5 Ian Evans4 Alun Wyn Jones / Lyndon Bateman3 Adam Jones
2 Huw Bennett 1 Paul James

Replacements:

16 Richard Hibbard17 Duncan Jones18 Andrew Millward19 Lyndon Bateman / Mike Powell20 Ben Lewis21 Justin Marshall22 Shaun Connor / Andrew Bishop

Please note that due to a high number of injuries and late fitness tests ahead of the match the above team is likely to be subject to change.

Head Coach, Lyn Jones, commented as follows:

"€œThis week we travel to London to face a Harlequins side who are on top of their game, having played well but narrowly lost against Gloucester at Kingsholm last weekend. They are no different to a number of English sides in that they have a strong set piece and an appetite to play for territory. Having been edged out in our last two fixtures for similar reasons our players are determined to put things right this weekend and we travel in a buoyant frame of mind boosted by the return of our Welsh internationals."€

"€œIn particular our forwards are right on the top of their game and this has meant that this week's selection has been particularly difficult for all the right reasons. Paul James has been playing well and richly deserves his place in the starting line-up ahead of the consistently excellent Duncan Jones. This week we continue to have issues on the injury front, with four players definitely ruled out through injury and late fitness test on a number of other key individuals. This puts a strain on any squad, particularly with the testing competition and fixture schedule we face during November and December and we hope things will continue to improve over the coming weeks."€

Injury and squad availability news

Seven players are not available for selection this week:

Aled Brew, Gareth Owen and Martin Roberts are representing Wales in the IRB World Sevens in Dubai and South Africa

The following four are unavailable for selection due to injury, with late fitness tests set to take place on a number of other players:

Ian Gough (sternum injury against Gloucester) will be out for about a week

Ryan Jones (shoulder) is continuing to progress, although more slowly than we had thought and he now hopes to be available for selection by the end of this year

David Bishop (knee) should return to rugby, initially for Bridgend, within two or three weeks

Barry Williams (back) is undergoing a rehab programme "€" A date has not yet be set for his return

Fixture News

Upcoming fixtures are as follows:

EDF Energy Cup - Sunday 2nd December - Harlequins v Ospreys - The Stoop - 3.10pm

Heineken Cup - Friday 7th December - Ospreys v Ulster - Liberty Stadium - 8.00pm

Heineken Cup - Friday 14th December - Ulster v Ospreys "€" Ravenhill - 8.00pm

Magners League - Thursday 27th December - Scarlets v Ospreys "€" Stradey Park - 7.35pm

Magners League - Monday 31st December - Ospreys v Blues - Liberty Stadium - 2.05pm

Please note that all fixtures are subject to change