The Ospreys team to face Northampton Saints at Franklin’s Gardens, on Saturday 25th October 2014, KO 5.15pm, is as follows:
15 Dan Evans
14 Jeff Hassler
13 Andrew Bishop
12 Josh Matavesi
11 Hanno Dirksen
10 Dan Biggar
9 Rhys Webb
1 Nicky Smith
2 Scott Baldwin
3 Dmitri Arhip
4 Lloyd Peers
5 Alun Wyn Jones (Capt)
6 James King
7 Justin Tipuric
8 Joe Bearman
REPLACEMENTS
16 Sam Parry
17 Duncan Jones
18 Aaron Jarvis
19 Rynier Bernardo
20 Morgan Allen
21 Sam Lewis
22 Martin Roberts
23 Sam Davies
The following players were unavailable for selection through injury:
Tyler Ardron – Ankle
Dan Baker - Head
Ashley Beck - Hip
Ryan Bevington – Groin
Olly Cracknell – Ankle
Ben John - Hamstring
Ross Jones – Ligaments
Tom Smith – Knee
Jonsthan Spratt - Knee
De Kock Steenkamp – Achilles
Eli Walker - Ankle
Head Coach, Steve Tandy, commented:
“The European Cup is all about testing yourself against the very best, and that’s what we are up against this weekend. We’re talking about English champions and current Premiership leaders, with quality and experience right throughout the team, so we know that we are in for a tough 80 minutes.
“We played them twice last season and came off second best so we know what we are going into. If we aren’t at our best, in terms of preparation in the days leading into matchday, and then from the first whistle, make no mistake, we could find ourselves in for a rough ride. This is a young group of players and for some of them this will be a whole new experience, so we’ve got to make sure that they treat it like any other game and are 100 per cent focused on the job in hand and don’t get carried away with the occasion and the atmosphere.
“With any young group there’s going to be ups and downs over the course of a season, and at the moment it’s been mostly ups. We aren’t getting carried away and realise there’ll be hiccups, maybe some big ones, and the key is to make sure when we come across them we react in a positive, consistent way and don’t kneejerk.
“This group of players will fight for the jersey and fight for each other, to the very last whistle, you can guarantee that. There is a quiet confidence in the team at the moment, which is understandable with the way they’ve been growing together on and off the field, and they’ll go to Northampton believing that if they put together their very best game then we are in with a chance. That is the key, it will have to be their very best.
“We are going to have be disciplined, relentless and accurate in everything we do, from the very first whistle. It’s going to be a rough ride but we’re looking forward to it.”
Forthcoming Fixtures
Fri 31 Oct - 7.35pm KO - Ospreys v Connacht - Liberty Stadium - PRO12
Fri 7 Nov – 7.35pm KO – Ospreys v Saracens – The Gnoll – LV= Cup
Fri 14 Nov – 7.35pm KO – Ospreys v NG Dragons – Brewery Field – LV= Cup
Fri 21 Nov – 7.35pm KO – Ulster v Ospreys – Kingspan Stadium – PRO12
Sat 29 Nov – 5.15pm KO – Leinster v Ospreys – RDS – PRO12
Sat 6 Dec - 3.15pm KO – Ospreys v Racing Metro – Liberty Stadium - ERCC