The Ospreys team to play Biarritz at Liberty Stadium on Saturday 12th November 2011, kick off at 3.40pm, will be as follows:
15 Richard Fussell
14 Tommy Bowe
13 Andrew Bishop
12 Ashley Beck
11 Shane Williams
10 Dan Biggar
9 Kahn Fotuali’i
1 Duncan Jones
2 Huw Bennett
3 Adam Jones
4 Alun Wyn Jones (Capt)
5 Ian Evans
6 George Stowers
7 Justin Tipuric
8 Jonathan Thomas
Replacements:
16 Richard Hibbard
17 Ryan Bevington
18 Aaron Jarvis
19 Ryan Jones
20 Joe Bearman
21 Rhys Webb
22 Matthew Morgan
23 Sonny Parker
George Stowers makes his first Ospreys start
Ashley Beck makes his first Heineken Cup start
Kahn Fotuali’i makes his Heineken Cup debut
Matthew Morgan will make his Heineken Cup debut if he comes off the bench
The following players were not considered because of injury:
Gareth Owen – ACL
Nikki Walker – ACL
Paul James – Thumb
Ospreys Forwards Coach, Jonathan Humphreys, commented:
“We haven’t had a first-up home game since I have been at the Ospreys, so it’s a start that can hopefully bring us points on the board. You have to make sure you are rock-solid at home and then build from there. After this game we have a very difficult trip to Treviso — and the days of picking up bonus points from there are gone. It’s a tough group.
“It’s going to be a huge physical battle on Saturday. They have one of the biggest packs out there, a great set-piece and they are going to come down here, make this game tight, want Yachvili to be kicking goals and playing in our area of the field. So I’d imagine it would be very tight. We expect them to be as physical and as dangerous as when we played them two years ago.
“They have a huge scrum, probably one of the best number eights in the world and a nine who can control the game for them. A lot of times I have seen them play not particularly well but still win games. They’re an extremely physical side, probably one of the largest French sides out there, and they come with the potency that all French sides carry – a big scrum, a big driving line-out and the ability to score tries with gas out wide. What’s important to us is that we play in the right areas and we don’t turn over as much ball as we have been turning over.
“We’ve been entirely focused on what is a massive rugby match, and a huge test, against one of the best French sides, with players from the World Cup final coming to the Liberty Stadium for a game which should get any Welsh rugby person excited. That’s all we’ve been concentrating on and talking about as a group, which is what makes it surprising that others seem to want to focus on other stuff.
“Selection for this game has been difficult and there’s been plenty to think about this week. We’ve gone with a 23 that we believe can do the necessary job to give us the start we need if we are going to progress in this competition.”
Forthcoming fixtures
Sat 19 Nov – Benetton Treviso V Ospreys – Stadio Comunale di Monigo – Heineken Cup - 2.30pm
Sat 26 Nov – Connacht v Ospreys – The Sportsground - RaboDirect PRO12 – 6.30pm
Sat 3 Dec – Ospreys v Munster – Liberty Stadium – RaboDirect PRO12 – 6.30pm
Sat 10 Dec – Saracens v Ospreys – Wembley Stadium – Heineken Cup – 6.00pm
Fri 16 Dec – Ospreys v Saracens – Liberty Stadium – Heineken Cup – 8.00pm
Mon 26 Dec – Scarlets v Ospreys – Parc Y Scarlets – RaboDirect PRO12 – 2.05pm
Sun 1 Jan – Ospreys v Cardiff Blues – Liberty Stadium – RaboDirect PRO12 – 6.30pm