The Ospreys have named their team to face Cardiff Blues on Saturday 24th April at the Liberty Stadium for round one of the GuinnessPRO14 Rainbow Cup, K.O 5:15pm.
Justin Tipuric leads out the Ospreys for this weekend's Welsh derby. He lines up in the back-row with Morgan Morris and Ethan Roots who will make his Ospreys debut.
Nicky Smith, Ifan Phillips and Tom Botha form the front-row with Adam Beard and Rhys Davies completing the starting pack. Sam Parry, Jordan Lay and Rhys Henry provide the cover up front with Bradley Davies making his return from injury named on the bench alongside Sam Cross.
Josh Thomas and Matthew Aubrey form the half-back partnership with Keiran Williams and Owen Watkin lining up in the centre. Mat Protheroe and George North are named on the wings with Dan Evans at fullback. Reuben Morgan-Williams, Joe Hawkins and Cai Evans complete the matchday 23 off the bench.
15. Dan Evans
14. George North
13. Owen Watkin
12. Keiran Williams
11. Mat Protheroe
10. Josh Thomas
9. Matthew Aubrey
1.Nicky Smith
2. Ifan Phillips
3. Tom Botha
4. Adam Beard
5. Rhys Davies
6. Ethan Roots
7. Justin Tipuric ©
8. Morgan Morris
16. Sam Parry
17. Jordan Lay
18. Rhys Henry
19. Bradley Davies
20. Sam Cross
21. Reuben Morgan-Williams
22. Joe Hawkins
23. Cai Evans
Head Coach, Toby Booth said: “We haven’t played for a while and we are excited about playing again. We will be looking to strike a balance between giving players an opportunity that deserve an opportunity and trying to improve our performances.
“It’s important we finish the season well. We are only nine months into this project and the more time we get executing and practicing our principles of what we want to be, the better.
“Dai Young is now at the Cardiff Blues and he will be doing what we are doing, and will be embedding things he wants to change, because he is there for a while, just like we are doing at the Ospreys.
“This is a different competition for us all and it does provide you with an opportunity to experiment if you want. For us, it’s all about refining what we do.”