The Ospreys team to play Newport Gwent Dragons at the Liberty Stadium on Friday 1st January 2016, KO 2.00pm (Local), is as follows:
15 Dan Evans
14 Jeff Hassler
13 Ben John
12 Josh Matavesi
11 Hanno Dirksen
10 Sam Davies
9 Tom Habberfield
1 Nicky Smith
2 Scott Baldwin
3 Aaron Jarvis
4 Lloyd Ashley
5 Alun Wyn Jones (Capt)
6 Dan Lydiate
7 Justin Tipuric
8 Dan Baker
REPLACEMENTS
16 Sam Parry
17 Ryan Bevington
18 Dmitri Arhip
19 Rory Thornton
20 James King
21 Martin Roberts
22 Dan Biggar
23 Jonathan Spratt
Dmitri Arhip will make his 50th Ospreys appearance if he comes off the bench
The following players were unavailable for selection due to injury:
Tyler Ardron – Knee
Ashley Beck – ACL
Gareth Delve - Ankle
Dafydd Howells - Hamstring
Marc Thomas – Hip
Rhys Webb – Foot
Ospreys Head Coach, Steve Tandy, said:
“It was an important win on Boxing Day but it won’t count for much if we don’t follow it up with a good performance against the Dragons. It’s important we recognise that not many teams go to Parc y Scarlets in the PRO12 and win, it was only their second home defeat in two years, so we can be happy with the outcome and the character of the squad, if not some elements of the performance.
“There’s plenty to work on this week and that’s a good place for us to be in, with the win but knowing where we need to improve. It’s a huge month for us in the PRO12 and in Eu-rope, with four home games that we want to use to shape the rest of the season. We’ve got to back up the Scarlets win over the next couple of weeks. With Leinster home as well next weekend it’s a great opportunity for us to make some progress up the table.
“We’re expecting a difficult afternoon against the Dragons, as is always the case. They have been in good form, won three from four in December, are doing will in Europe and were really unlucky not to win on Sunday. They’ll come here full of confidence, so we’ll have to be at our best. There’s no margin for error now and that adds spice to every game that we play.
“There were two big crowds for the two derbies last weekend and they were treated to two cracking contests that went to the wire, full of intensity, and hopefully we’ll see the same this weekend. Our supporters went to Parc y Scarlets in big numbers, lifting the players when they needed them, and hopefully they can do the same on Friday. With the boys do-ing their part week in, week out, it’s important that they can see that the supporters are getting behind the region for these big games.”
Forthcoming Fixtures
Fri 8 Jan – 7.45pm KO – Ospreys v Leinster - PRO12
Fri 15 Jan – 7.45pm KO – Ospreys v Clermont Auvergne – ERCC
Sun 24 Jan – 3.15pm KO – Exeter Chiefs v Ospreys - ERCC