Ospreys team to play Zebre

The Ospreys team for the PRO12 game against Zebre at Liberty Stadium on Saturday 28th March 2015, KO 7.15pm, is as follows:

 

15 Dan Evans

14 Tom Grabham

13 Jonathan Spratt

12 Josh Matavesi

11 Hanno Dirksen

10 Sam Davies

9 Tom Habberfield

 

1 Ryan Bevington

2 Scott Baldwin

3 Aaron Jarvis

4 Lloyd Peers

5 Tyler Ardron

6 James King

7 Justin Tipuric (Capt)

8 Dan Baker

 

REPLACEMENTS

 

16 Scott Otten

17 Nicky Smith

18 Dmitri Arhip

19 Alun Wyn Jones

20 Dan Lydiate

21 Rhys Webb

22 Dan Biggar

23 Ben John

 

The following players were unavailable for selection through injury:

 

Joe Bearman – Groin

Ashley Beck - Ankle

Rynier Bernardo - Knee

Andrew Bishop – Back

Tevita Cavubati - Shoulder

Cai Griffiths - Bicep

Jeff Hassler – Knee ligaments

Dafydd Howells - Ankle

Ross Jones – Ankle

Aisea Natoga – Knee ligaments

De Kock Steenkamp – Achilles

 

Ieuan Jones has returned to Cardiff Blues following the completion of his loan period


Head Coach, Steve Tandy, commented: 

We are at the business end of the season now and with just five games to go theres no margin for error. Its incredibly tight at the top of the table and we know what we have to do as a group if we want to retain our play-off spot.

Its great to be able to welcome our Wales boys back. As always, they have reported back for duty at Llandarcy with a great attitude and a real desire to pull on the black shirt again, to help us in our hunt for a play-off place. Theyve all slotted back in seamlessly and had a good training week, but they havent had it easy, which is exactly how it should be. The boys in the core group who have been working tirelessly for the cause over the last two months have really stepped up, as we saw last time out against Munster. While that makes selection difficult on the one hand, it also allows us to think longer term as far as the reintegration of the internationals go. That will benefit everybody over the remaining weeks of the season.

Its going to be tough on Saturday night. We only just scraped through out there in October, while last season we had two difficult games, winning one and losing one. We know what to expect, but weve prepared well this week and are looking forward to the game.

The Munster game set a standard for us that we have to not only maintain this weekend, but keep improving on. That win was down to the preparation in the week prior to the game. It was about attention to detail, individually and collectively, and being accurate in everything we do. Itll be the same again on Saturday, and in the four games after that. Drop off in any facet of our game and well be up against it, so its important we get the right performance.

The supporters at the Munster game really appreciated the effort and commitment they saw and got right behind the team. Well need that again on Saturday, their backing could make all the difference when we find ourselves up against it.

 

Forthcoming Fixtures 

Fri 10 Apr 7.35pm KO Benetton Treviso v Ospreys PRO12

Sat 25 Apr 2.30pm KO Cardiff Blues v Ospreys PRO12

8/9/10 May KO TBC Ospreys v Glasgow PRO12

Sat 16May 3.00pm KO Connacht v Ospreys PRO12