Ospreys team to play Newport Gwent Dragons

The Ospreys team to face Newport Gwent Dragons at the Liberty Stadium on Sunday 11th January 2015, KO 4.00pm (UK), is as follows:

 

15 Dan Evans

14 Richard Fussell

13 Ashley Beck

12 Josh Matavesi

11 Eli Walker

10 Dan Biggar

9 Rhys Webb

 

1 Duncan Jones

2 Sam Parry

3 Dmitri Arhip

4 James King

5 Alun Wyn Jones (Capt)

6 Dan Lydiate

7 Justin Tipuric

8 Tyler Ardron

 

REPLACEMENTS

 

16 Scott Baldwin

17 Gareth Thomas

18 Aaron Jarvis

19 Rynier Bernardo

20 Sam Lewis

21 Martin Roberts

22 Sam Davies

23 Hanno Dirksen

 

Ashley Beck makes his 100th appearance for the Ospreys

 

The following players were unavailable for selection through injury:

Dan Baker – Shoulder

Joe Bearman - Groin

Ryan Bevington – Groin

Andrew Bishop - Neck

Jeff Hassler – Ligaments

Lloyd Peers - Ligaments

Nicky Smith – Pectoral muscle

Jonathan Spratt - Knee

De Kock Steenkamp – Achilles

 

Head Coach, Steve Tandy, commented:

This week is a real test of character for the group, to bounce back from the disappointment of last week and go into another big Welsh derby. The Dragons have been playing really well in recent weeks so will come here full of confidence and looking to get one over us on Sunday so we are going to have to put in a much better performance this week.

Weve had a great first half of the season in the PRO12, but weve said all along that there will be peaks and troughs, particularly with this squad being such a young group, and the key is that we dont kneejerk off the back of one defeat just as we didnt get carried away and get ahead of ourselves on the back of a few wins. We take each game one at a time and its important that we keep focusing on the job in hand.

Training has been about getting back to basics, ensuring we are doing the things that weve done so well throughout this season so far, to get the right performance on Sunday. We know itll be tough, itll be physical and well have to be at our very best. If we can do that, if we are clinical in everything we do and we get a good crowd behind us doing their bit for the cause then we can make the next step.

It is a young squad at the moment, one with a real desire to learn and improve, to represent the jersey in the right fashion. Obviously, starting 2015 in first place is fantastic but no one will be getting carried away as we know there is a hell of a lot of rugby still to be played between now and May. 

Weve got the three other teams in the top four still to come here, weve got this derby match, and Id like to think that the supporters will buy into what we are doing and really get behind us for this last push, turning up at the Liberty Stadium in big numbers.

  

Forthcoming Fixtures

Sun 11 Jan 4.00pm KO Ospreys v NG Dragons Liberty Stadium PRO12

Sun 18 Jan 5.30pm KO Ospreys v Northampon Saints ERCC

Sat 24 Jan 4.15pm KO Benetton Treviso v Ospreys  - ERCC

Sat 31 Jan 3.00pm KO Gloucester v Ospreys LV= Cup

Sat 07 Feb 3.00pm KO Bath v Ospreys LV= Cup