The Ospreys team to play Glasgow Warriors at Liberty Stadium on Sunday 31st January 2016, KO 2.30pm, is as follows:
15 Dan Evans
14 Tom Grabham
13 Owen Watkin
12 Josh Matavesi
11 Eli Walker
10 Sam Davies
9 Brendon Leonard (Capt)
1 Nicky Smith
2 Sam Parry
3 Dmitri Arhip
4 Rynier Bernardo
5 Rory Thornton
6 Joe Bearman
7 Sam Underhill
8 Dan Baker
REPLACEMENTS
16 Scott Otten
17 Gareth Thomas
18 Ma’afu Fia
19 Adam Beard
20 Olly Cracknell
21 Tom Habberfield
22 Ben John
23 JJ Engelbrecht
JJ Engelbrecht will make his Ospreys debut if he comes off the bench
Adam Beard will make his PRO12 debut if he comes off the bench
The following players were unavailable for selection due to injury:
Tyler Ardron – Knee
Lloyd Ashley - Knee
Ashley Beck – Knee
Gareth Delve – Ankle
Hanno Dirksen - Ankle
Jeff Hassler - Thigh
Dafydd Howells – Hamstring
Rhys Webb – Foot
The following players are absent on international duty:
Paul James, Scott Baldwin, Aaron Jarvis, Alun Wyn Jones, Dan Lydiate, Justin Tipuric, James King and Dan Biggar
Ospreys Head Coach, Steve Tandy, said:
“This game marks the start of the next phase of the season for us. We’ve got a tough run of games during the Six Nations that will push us but we have to rise to the challenge if we want to get the outcome we want.
“We have a very young group of players that we are turning to during this period but they are excited about the opportunity to really push the team up the table. Some of them have already gained great experience belt in Europe and the league this season while others are really itching to pull the shirt on and show what they are about during this period.
“There’s no margin for error, we have to get the performance level where it needs to be if we’re going to get the right outcome. Youth and inexperience isn’t going to be an excuse, this is their time. We know that with Glasgow just behind us in the table they’ll target this match as one where they can push ahead of us and damage our hopes, so it has the makings of a great contest.
“It’s not about these boys keeping the shirt warm for the internationals when they are away. It’s about representing the shirt and all it stands for and ensuring that we remain in contention, so that when the internationals come back we are still involved at the sharp end. The boys here understand that they have a big job on their hands and they can’t wait to get stuck into it.
“We know what we’ve got to do between now and the end of the season, starting on Sunday, if we want to make sure we are back in the top level of European competition next season. Everybody has to pull together now, on and off the field. This is a team of young and predominantly local players so I’d like to think that the community will get behind them.
“The atmosphere we’ve had at the Liberty in recent games has been brilliant, I think the supporters understand the part they’ve got in this battle and we want to see them inspiring the team again on Sunday afternoon.”
Forthcoming Fixtures
Sun 14 Feb – 5.00pm KO – Munster v Ospreys – PRO12
Fri 19 Feb – 7.05pm KO – Ospreys v Edinburgh – PRO12
Sat 27 Feb – 7.35pm KO – Connacht v Ospreys – PRO12
Sat 5 Mar – 3.00pm KO – Leinster v Ospreys – PRO12