The Ospreys team to play London Irish on Sunday 16th January 2011, at The Madejski Stadium, kick off at 3.00pm, will be as follows:
15 Barry Davies
14 Nikki Walker
13 Tommy Bowe
12 James Hook
11 Richard Fussell
10 Dan Biggar
9 Mike Phillips
1 Paul James
2 Richard Hibbard
3 Adam Jones
4 Ryan Jones
5 Alun Wyn Jones (Capt)
6 Jerry Collins
7 Marty Holah
8 Jonathan Thomas
Replacements
16 Huw Bennett
17 Duncan Jones
18 Craig Mitchell
19 Ian Gough
20 Justin Tipuric
21 Jamie Nutbrown
22 Sonny Parker
23 Lee Byrne
James Hook makes his 100th appearance for the Ospreys
Sunday's match is the Ospreys 50th Heineken Cup fixture
The following players were not considered because of injury:
Jonathan Spratt – ACL
Ben Lewis – Neck
Ben John – Wrist
Shane Williams – Shoulder
Conor McInerney – Knee
Andrew Bishop - Ankle
Ospreys Head Coach, Sean Holley, said:
“This is the first of two season-defining games over the next couple of weekends and you can’t failed to be excited by the challenge. It’s why we’re all involved in rugby isn’t it?
“We are up against a very good London Irish side, a team that will be very dangerous and will provide a very real challenge. We’re under no illusions as to how dangerous they can be. When they played us at the Liberty earlier in the season we saw their quality. We had to defend more defensive sets in that game than against any other team this season. They have threats across the park and I suppose the pressure is off them a little in terms of the Heineken Cup. Make no mistake about it the pressure is on us, as we go there knowing that we have to win, and hope for the right result elsewhere.
“We are going there confident in our ability, you have to be. We know that we’ll be backed by a large travelling contingent as is always the case, they’ll be loud and proud and they will have a part to play. Hopefully, we will be able to get the result we need to set up a real big one against Toulon at the following weekend, where we will need everyone, fans included, to be on top of their game, to blackout the Liberty Stadium.
“We won’t be taking anything for granted, make no mistake, our focus is entirely on doing what we have to do against London Irish on Sunday. Anything else, we can think about after that.”
Forthcoming fixtures
Sat 22 Jan – Ospreys V Toulon – Liberty Stadium – Heineken Cup – 3.30pm
Sat 29 Jan – Cardiff Blues V Ospreys – CC Stadium – LV= Cup – 6.30pm
Sun 6 Feb – Ospreys V London Wasps – RH Brewery Field – LV= Cup – 3.00pm
Sun 13 Feb – Ospreys V Ulster – Liberty Stadium – Magners League – 5.10pm
Sat 19 Feb – Benetton Treviso V Ospreys – Stadio Comunale di Monigo – Magners League – 5.30pm