The Ospreys team to play Cardiff Blues at BT Sport Cardiff Arms Park, on Friday 18th November 2016, KO 7.15pm UK, is as follows:
15 Dafydd Howells
14 Tom Grabham
13 Joe Thomas
12 Jonathan Spratt
11 Eli Walker
10 Phil Jones
9 Brendon Leonard
1 Gareth Thomas
2 Scott Otten
3 Rhodri Jones
4 Adam Beard
5 Rory Thornton
6 Olly Cracknell
7 Sam Underhill
8 Rob McCusker (Capt)
REPLACEMENTS
16 Sam Parry
17 Paul James
18 Ma’afu Fia
19 James Ratti
20 Joe Bearman
21 Matthew Aubrey
22 Dan Evans
23 Tom O’Flaherty
Phil Jones makes his Ospreys debut
Head Coach, Steve Tandy, commented:
“Whatever the competition, Ospreys against the Blues is always a fixture to get excited about and we are looking forward to going up there on Friday night.
“The team has a little bit more familiar look to it with one or two boys coming back in to get some game time under their belt with the PRO12 match against Glasgow next week at the back of the mind, but our focus is firmly on Friday, the Blues, and what this group of players can do.
“We were incredibly frustrated against Harlequins last week. We did enough to win the game but one or two things didn’t go our way and we ended up with just a losing bonus point. Given the development nature of the competition, and how we have used it to give youngsters a chance, there’s been times when we’ve sat in the changing room and been delighted to get so close, a bonus point being as much down to character as anything else.
“That wasn’t the case on Friday, it was a disappointed changing room as they realise how close they came. We’ve got to use that and look to kick on from that disappointment. We know that we’re in for a tough night but the focus is entirely on how we prepare for this. If we get the performance right then the rest will fall into place.”
Forthcoming Fixtures
Fri 25 Nov – 7.35pm – Glasgow v Ospreys – Scotstoun – PRO12
Fri 2 Dec – 7.35pm – Ospreys v Edinburgh – Liberty Stadium – PRO12
Thurs 8 Dec – 8.45pm (Local) – Grenoble v Ospreys – Stade Des Alpes – ERCC
Sat 17 Dec – 3.00pm – Ospreys v Grenoble – Liberty Stadium - ERCC