Ospreys team to play Leinster

The Ospreys team to play Leinster at the Liberty Stadium, on Saturday 8th April 2017, KO 3.00pm is as follows:

15 Sam Davies

14 Keelan Giles

13 Kieron Fonotia

12 Josh Matavesi

11 Dan Evans

10 Dan Biggar

9 Rhys Webb (Capt)

 

1 Nicky Smith

2 Scott Baldwin

3 Brian Mujati

4 Lloyd Ashley

5 Rory Thornton

6 Olly Cracknell

7 Justin Tipuric

8 Dan Baker

 

REPLACEMENTS

16 Scott Otten

17 Paul James

18 Maafu Fia

19 Bradley Davies

20 Tyler Ardron

21 Sam Underhill

22 Tom Habberfield

23 Jonathan Spratt

 

Dan Biggar plays his 200th game for the Ospreys, the youngest player to achieve that landmark

Rhys Webb make his 100th PRO12 appearance

The following players were unavailable for selection due to injury:

Dmitri Arhip Shoulder

Adam Beard Elbow

Hanno Dirksen - Knee

Jeff Hassler Achilles

Ben John HIA

Alun Wyn Jones - Shoulder

Dan Lydiate Knee

Rob McCusker Ankle

Sam Parry - Neck

James Ratti - Shoulder

Eli Walker Back

Owen Watkin Knee

 

Head Coach, Steve Tandy, commented:

Its been a tough week off the back of the Stade game. Theres been a lot of soul searching at the start of the week and some pretty difficult questions being asked, but as the week as gone on weve had to put that behind us and focus on the challenges ahead of us instead of looking back.

The last two weeks have been incredibly disappointing and frustrating but weve got to show that we have what it takes to bounce back from those setbacks. I dont think theres a bigger challenge in European rugby this season than Leinster, but this group has to step up and show what theyre about. Its as much a test of character as it is of ability, but we know that this is a proud group capable of performing to a much higher standard than they achieved in the last two games. 

Just as we werent the best team in the world when the PRO12 broke for a few weeks at the start of March off the back of a decent run of results, losing the last two games doesnt makes us the worst in the world.  What we are, is a group of players who this season, when they have got their performance right, have shown that they can compete and play good rugby. We have to get to that level this Saturday at the Liberty. Its about knowing your roles, attention to detail and being clinical, small things where we have let ourselves down recently.

Weve put ourselves in a good position and now is the time to see the job off, with Ulster and the Scarlets breathing down our neck. Its challenging, definitely, but its exciting. You look at the fixture list for the coming weeks and you can see what weve got to do, but we know that we are in a position where we control our own destiny. What weve got to do now is finish the job off, starting this weekend in front of our own supporters, and really give them something to get excited about.

 

Forthcoming Fixtures

Sat 15 Apr 2.45pm Cardiff Blues v Ospreys Principality Stadium PRO12

Sat 29 Apr 3.00pm Ospreys v Ulster Liberty Stadium PRO12

Sat 6 May 5.15pm Scarlets v Ospreys Parc y Scarlets PRO12