The Ospreys have named their team to face Leinster in round five of the Guinness PRO14 at the Liberty Stadium on Sunday 8th November, K.O 3pm.
Dan Lydiate will lead his side for the third time this season. He's joined in the back-row by Gareth Evans at number 8 and Will Griffiths who makes his first PRO14 start for the Ospreys. An unchanged front five sees Rhodri Jones, Dewi Lake and Ma'afu Fia line up in the front-row and Adam Beard and Bradley Davies in the second. Ifan Phillips, Gareth Thomas and Tom Botha provide the cover off the bench alongside Olly Cracknell and Ospreys debutant Rhys Davies.
In the backs Cai Evans comes into the starting line-up alongside the unchanged duo of Luke Morgan and Mat Protheroe on the wings. Joe Hawkins and Scott Williams maintain the centre partnership with Reuben Morgan-Williams and Josh Thomas taking the keys to nine and ten shirts once again.
Off the bench Callum Carson is named after making his PRO14 debut last weekend, alongside the experienced duo of Hanno Dirksen and Shaun Venter.
Ospreys:
15. Cai Evans
14. Mat Protheroe
13. Scott Williams
12. Joe Hawkins
11. Luke Morgan
10. Josh Thomas
9. Reuben Morgan-Williams
1. Rhodri Jones
2. Dewi Lake
3. Ma’afu Fia
4. Adam Beard
5. Bradley Davies
6. Will Griffiths
7. Dan Lydiate ©
8.Gareth Evans
16. Ifan Phillips
17. Gareth Thomas
18. Tom Botha
19. Rhys Davies
20. Olly Cracknell
21. Shaun Venter
22. Callum Carson
23. Hanno Dirksen.
Speaking ahead of the game, Head Coach Toby Booth said:
“I am less worried about Leinster and where they are in their journey as a team, everyone knows how good they are, they are the market leaders in the PRO14. Everyone knows they are there to aspire to but we can’t control them and I am more interested in what we do and how we respond from last week.
“The character side of our team I am really proud of. The ability to keep fighting until the bitter end and we came up short, only just, last Monday, but if we have good character, a good culture and consistent performances you get closer to teams like Leinster.
“We are looking forward to the challenge and it’s another opportunity to see where we are.”