Tandy names team to face Munster on Sunday afternoon at the Liberty Stadium (4.00pm KO)
The Ospreys team to play Munster at the Liberty Stadium on Sunday 23rd February, KO 4.00pm, is as follows:
15 Sam Davies
14 Aisea Natoga
13 Jonathan Spratt (Capt)
12 Ashley Beck
11 Jeff Hassler
10 Matthew Morgan
9 Tom Habberfield
1 Duncan Jones
2 Scott Baldwin
3 Dan Suter
4 Perry Parker
5 James King
6 Tyler Ardron
7 Sam Lewis
8 Joe Bearman
REPLACEMENTS
16 Matthew Dwyer
17 Marc Thomas
18 Joe Rees
19 Ryan Jones
20 Dan Baker
21 Tito Tebaldi
22 Hanno Dirksen
23 Richard Fussell
Dan Suter makes his first PRO12 start
Hanno Dirksen will makes his 50th Ospreys appearance if he comes off the bench
Head Coach Steve Tandy said:
“This game will be a big step up in intensity from what this young group have experienced in recent weeks, but it’s a challenge they are definitely up for. It was a good win last weekend but it’s been important to keep people’s feet on the ground in training. We put together some decent attacking moves, something we’ve put a lot of work into, but analysing the performance as a whole in the early part of this week we picked up a lot of areas where we need to improve.
“What was really pleasing about the Treviso game was the positive intent about the performance, how we took things we’ve been working on in training and put them into practice. It was exciting to see the youngsters who are getting their chance in the PRO12 to really take the opportunity to go for it and anyone who was here for the game would have left the Liberty full of optimism about the future of the Ospreys.
“We’ve worked hard on developing local young talent and it’s really pleasing to see that the increased investment that the board are making in that area bearing real fruit. Like I said, Sunday’s game against Munster will be another level again for these boys but they will be approaching the game with confidence and self belief that they can get the performance right and make the supporters proud of them. There’s responsibility on the likes of Jonathan Spratt, Duncan and Joe Bearman to provide the experience and the guidance to these youngsters, but there is a good mix and a good feeling about the group.
“Hopefully the supporters will buy into what we are doing and will get behind this team in the numbers they deserve on Sunday.”
The following players were unavailable for selection through injury:
Dmitri Arhip – Achilles
Andrew Bishop – Back
Tom Isaacs – Ankle
Aaron Jarvis - Calf
Ben John - Shoulder
Lloyd Peers - Shoulder
Tom Smith - Knee
Eli Walker - Hamstring
Sam Williams - Shoulder
Forthcoming Fixtures
Fri 28 Feb 7.35pm KO - Edinburgh v Ospreys - PRO12
Fri 21 March 7.05pm KO - Ospreys v Cardiff Blues - PRO12
Fri 28 March 7.35pm KO - Glasgow v Ospreys - PRO12
Fri 11 April 7.05pm KO - Ospreys v Leinster - PRO12
Sun 20 April - 4.45pm KO - NG Dragons v Ospreys - PRO12