Ospreys have named their team to take on Newcastle Falcons in the round of 16 of the European Rugby Challenge Cup at the Liberty Stadium on Saturday 3rd April, K.O 3pm.
Luke Price will make his 50th appearance for the Ospreys and line up with Reuben Morgan-Williams as the half back pairing.
Justin Tipuric returns from International duty to Captain the side alongside fellow Guinness Six Nations Championship winners Alun Wyn Jones, Adam Beard, Nicky Smith, Owen Watkin and George North.
Sam Parry and Ma'afu Fia complete the front-row alongside Smith with Will Griffiths and Player of the Match versus Leinster, Morgan Morris completing the back-row.
Keelan Giles, George North and Dan Evans form the back line with Keiran Williams partnering Watkin in the centre.
Off the bench, Ifan Phillips, Garyn Phillips and Tom Botha provide the front-row cover with Gareth Evans and Rhys Davies completing the forward contingent, with Shaun Venter, Josh Thomas and Mat Protheroe completing the matchday 23.
15. Dan Evans
14. George North
13. Owen Watkin
12. Keiran Williams
11. Keelan Giles
10. Luke Price
9. Reuben Morgan Williams
1.Nicky Smith
2. Sam Parry
3. Ma’afu Fia
4. Adam Beard
5. Alun Wyn Jones
6. Will Griffiths
7. Justin Tipuric ©
8. Morgan Morris
16. Ifan Phillips
17. Garyn Phillips
18. Tom Botha
19. Rhys Davies
20. Gareth Evans
21. Shaun Venter
22. Josh Thomas
23. Mat Protheroe
Toby Booth, Ospreys Head coach, said:
“Newcastle are extremely competitive and they have some internationals back, like Mark Wilson, so they have some reinforcements coming in and they will bring some high energy.
“Without relegation in the Premiership, they can afford to go for everything. I know Dean Richards really well and the group of coaches there, and I know Newcastle well, and they are robust, tough and competitive.
“That manifests itself at the set-piece and the breakdown, so if we want to perform well, we need to be very respectful of those two areas of the game.
“This is an opportunity to see how far we have come and an opportunity to push for silverware. We have done what we needed to do in the Pro14 arena, with Champions Cup qualification, and we have gone from a team that won two games last season to achieving that and that is significant progress.”