The Ospreys team to play Newport Gwent Dragons at Rodney Parade on Friday 15th April 2011, kick off at 7.05pm, will be as follows:
15 Lee Byrne
14 Tommy Bowe
13 Andrew Bishop
12 James Hook
11 Nikki Walker
10 Dan Biggar
9 Rhys Webb
1 Paul James
2 Huw Bennett
3 Adam Jones
4 Ryan Jones
5 Alun Wyn Jones (Capt)
6 Tom Smith
7 Marty Holah
8 Jerry Collins
Replacements
16 Richard Hibbard
17 Ryan Bevington
18 Cai Griffiths
19 Ian Gough
20 Justin Tipuric
21 Tom Isaacs
22 Sonny Parker
23 Richard Fussell
Nikki Walker makes his 100th Ospreys appearance
Cai Griffiths will make his 100th Ospreys appearance if he comes off the bench
The following players were not considered because of injury:
Jonathan Spratt – ACL
Gareth Owen – Knee
Morgan Allen – Ankle
Tom Prydie – ACL
Jamie Nutbrown – Shoulder
Craig Cross – Hamstring
Ben John – Wrist
Shane Williams – Knee
Craig Mitchell – Shoulder
Ben Thomas – Knee
Richard Kelly – Lower leg
Jonathan Thomas - Hamstring
Director of Coaching, Scott Johnson commented:
“It’s a big period for us now, we’ve got three games left to secure a place in the top four and there’s everything to play for. We know what we need to do.
“It’s always a very difficult place to go, but we realise that what we need to do is focus on our own preparation, be diligent and thorough about the way we go about things, and ensure that we are clinical on the night. If the players know their jobs and do their homework on the opposition then we are confident that we can put in the level of performance required.
“We’re playing a team that enjoy playing at home and have a great record there, including beating Munster earlier this season. They are dangerous because they can get continuity into their game over a season, they aren’t as affected by international calls as others so they have the same group of players involved all season long, and continuity is the obvious benefit of having less players absent.
“It’s going to be a bumpy ride, they’ll try to make life difficult for us, but we’ve got to be professional and rise above that. We have to concentrate on our own job and not be sidetracked by anything else.”
Forthcoming fixtures
Sat 23 Apr – Ospreys V Munster – Liberty Stadium – Magners League – 6.30pm
Fri 6 May – Aironi V Ospreys – Stadio Luigi Zaffanella – Magners League – 7.05pm (UK time)