Nicky Smith and Tom Botha

Ospreys team to face Ulster

The Ospreys have named their team to face Ulster at the Kingspan Stadium on Friday 26th February in the Guinness PRO14, K.O 8pm.

Tom Botha will run out for his 50th appearance in an Ospreys jersey this weekend and will be joined in the front row by Sam Parry and Gareth Thomas. The second row partnership of Lloyd Ashley and Rhys Davies return with Will Griffiths, Olly Cracknell and Morgan Morris forming the back-row.

Rhys Webb takes the captaincy for the second week in a row and partners Stephen Myler at 10. Keiran Williams and Tiaan Thomas Wheeler form the centres with Luke Morgan, Keelan Giles and Dan Evans in the back three.

Off the bench, Nicky Smith returns from injury to provide the front row cover alongside Ma'afu Fia and Ifan Phillips. Gareth Evans and Sam Cross complete the forward replacement contingent with Shaun Venter, Joe Hawkins and Luke Price completing the matchday 23. 

Ospreys

15. Dan Evans

14. Keelan Giles

13. Tiaan Thomas-Wheeler

12. Keiran Williams

11. Luke Morgan

10. Stephen Myler

9. Rhys Webb ©

 

1.Gareth Thomas

2. Sam Parry

3. Tom Botha

4. Lloyd Ashley

5. Rhys Davies

6. Will Griffiths

7. Olly Cracknell

8. Morgan Morris

 

16. Ifan Phillips

17. Nicky Smith

18. Ma’afu Fia

19. Gareth Evans

20. Sam Cross

21. Shaun Venter

22. Joe Hawkins

23. Luke Price

 

 

Toby Booth, Ospreys Head coach, said:  

We know how good Ulster are, the table doesn’t lie and we know the Irish provinces are the benchmark. We didn’t get the result against Munster but we got the result against Connacht, so this is another opportunity to benchmark ourselves. 

“We have made some progress and we have a greater understanding of what we are trying to do, but there are always 15 people on the other side trying to stop you do that. 

“That is the challenge every week but were certainly much clearer on what we are trying to do, have a greater understanding and have only just scratched the surface and are still trying to grow our people and our game."