The Ospreys team to play Leinster on Friday 23rd March 2012 at the RDS Showground, kick off at 7.05pm, will be as follows:
15 Richard Fussell
14 Hanno Dirksen
13 Andrew Bishop
12 Ashley Beck
11 Eli Walker
10 Dan Biggar
9 Kahn Fotuali’i
1 Paul James
2 Richard Hibbard
3 Aaron Jarvis
4 Ryan Jones
5 Alun Wyn Jones (Capt)
6 Tom Smith
7 Justin Tipuric
8 George Stowers
Replacements:
16 Scott Baldwin
17 Ryan Bevington
18 Adam Jones
19 Ian Evans
20 James King
21 Rhys Webb
22 Matthew Morgan
23 Tom Isaacs
Ian Evans will make his 100th Ospreys appearance if he comes off the bench
The following players were not considered because of injury:
Jonathan Thomas – Illness
Joe Bearman – Illness
Huw Bennett - Achilles
Duncan Jones – Medial ligament
Will Price - ACL
Cai Griffiths - Arm
Richard Kelly - Wrist
Ben John - Groin
Gareth Owen – ACL
Nikki Walker – ACL
Head Coach, Steve Tandy, commented:
“It’s good to be able to welcome back our internationals on the back of their Grand Slam success, and we’ll be looking for them to bring that buzz back with them to the region. We’re proud of what they’ve achieved with Wales, to have 11 boys involved in the Grand Slam is something special, but it’s important now that everyone focuses on the remaining five games of the regular season and the battle for the play-offs.
“Leinster away is always a big ask. Their home record in this competition speaks for itself so we know what to expect out there. But, we’ve won there before and there are plenty of players in this group with that experience to fall back on so although we are still a pretty young group, we believe in each other and our own ability.
“After a disappointing performance last time out it’s important that we show the right attitude. It’s really tight in and around the play-off spots and things are likely to change after every weekend now, so we just have to go out and do what we need to do and not worry about anything else.
“After Leinster we’ve got Treviso home, and the first chance for our fans to come out in numbers to acknowledge the Grand Slam success and a fantastic Osprey in Adam Jones on his first game at the Liberty since signing a new two-year contract last month, so we’ll expect a good crowd turning out to back us. The reality of the situation is we’ll need to be entirely focussed again, as we will every game, know our roles, get our jobs right and ensure we keep moving towards a semi-final place. The fans will have a part to play in that in the closing weeks of the season, giving us the backing we need to get over the line.”
Forthcoming fixtures
Sat 31 Mar – Ospreys v Benetton Treviso – Liberty Stadium – RaboDirect PRO12 – 6.30pm
Sat 14 Apr – Cardiff Blues v Ospreys – Cardiff City Stadium – RaboDirect PRO12 – 6.30pm
Fri 20 Apr – Ospreys v NG Dragons – Liberty Stadium – RaboDirect PRO12 – 7.05pm
Sat 5 May – Aironi v Ospreys – Stadio Luigi Zaffanella – RaboDirect PRO12 – 6.30pm