The Ospreys team to play Edinburgh at Myreside on Friday 3rd March 2017, KO 7.35pm is as follows:
15 Dan Evans
14 Keelan Giles
13 Kieron Fonotia
12 Josh Matavesi
11 Dafydd Howells
10 Sam Davies
9 Tom Habberfield (Capt)
1 Nicky Smith
2 Sam Parry
3 Brian Mujati
4 Tyler Ardron
5 Rory Thornton
6 Olly Cracknell
7 Sam Underhill
8 James King
REPLACEMENTS
16 Hugh Gustafson
17 Paul James
18 Rhodri Jones
19 Joe Bearman
20 Dan Baker
21 Brendon Leonard
22 Jonathan Spratt
23 Jay Baker
Paul James will make his 150th appearance in the competition if he comes on, putting him one ahead of Duncan Jones as the leading Ospreys appearance maker in the PRO12
11 players were unavailable for selection due to international duty with Wales senior, U20 and 7s squads
The following players were unavailable for selection due to injury:
Dmitri Arhip – Shoulder
Lloyd Ashley - HIA
Adam Beard – Elbow
Ashley Beck - Shoulder
Bradley Davies – Knee
Ma’afu Fia – Ankle
Tom Grabham – Knee
Hanno Dirksen - Knee
Jeff Hassler – Achilles
Rowan Jenkins – Bicep
Ben John - HIA
Dan Lydiate – Knee
Rob McCusker – Ankle
Scott Otten – Knee
James Ratti - Shoulder
Eli Walker – Back
Owen Watkin – Knee
Head Coach, Steve Tandy, commented:
“There’s a very short turnaround from Sunday but the boys were back in the following morning, working hard and preparing for what will be a tough evening in Edinburgh against a physical, forward based team who are going to make life very difficult for us.
“Edinburgh hasn’t been a happy place for us these last few years and we want to put that right. To do that, we know that we will have to perform for 80 minutes, something that we’ve been guilty of not doing over the last couple of weekends.
“If we can end this block of fixtures with a positive result then we can really pleased with the outcome from a busy period of games. We’ve been stretched, are continuing to lose players, but what I like about this group is that they aren’t looking for excuses; they are looking for solutions. There’s a great appetite for work, a desire to improve, and that’s what’s needed if you want to build a squad capable of surviving these international periods and coming through the other side to be competing in the spring.
“We’ve not won anything yet, we’re all aware of that, but we’ve dug in and are still in there. We’ve prepped well this week and we know that we need a good performance on Friday night then we can take stock of where we are ahead of what promises to be a tough but exciting couple of months for Ospreys Rugby.”
Forthcoming Fixtures
Fri 3 Mar – 7.35pm – Edinburgh v Ospreys – Myreside – PRO12
Sat 25 Mar – 8.35pm (Local) – Benetton Treviso v Ospreys- Stadio Comunale di Monigo, - PRO12
Sun 2 Apr – 5.45pm – Ospreys v Stade Francais – Principality Stadium – ERCC
Sat 8 Apr – 3.00pm – Ospreys v Leinster – Liberty Stadium – PRO12