Tandy names an unchanged starting XV for the ERCC opener against Benetton Treviso at the Liberty Stadium on Sunday at 1.00pm.
The Ospreys team to face Benetton Treviso at the Liberty Stadium, on Sunday 19th October 2014, KO 1.00pm, is as follows:
15 Dan Evans
14 Jeff Hassler
13 Andrew Bishop
12 Josh Matavesi
11 Eli Walker
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 Sam Lewis
8 Dan Baker
REPLACEMENTS
16 Scott Otten
17 Duncan Jones
18 Aaron Jarvis
19 Rynier Bernardo
20 Joe Bearman
21 Justin Tipuric
22 Martin Roberts
23 Sam Davies
The following players were unavailable for selection through injury:
Tyler Ardron - Ankle
Ashley Beck - Hip
Ryan Bevington – Groin
Ross Jones – Ligaments
Sam Parry - Concussion
Tom Smith – Knee
Jonsthan Spratt - Knee
De Kock Steenkamp - Achilles
Head Coach, Steve Tandy, commented:
“This is the start of a new challenge for us as a group. We’ve had a good run of results in the PRO12 but that doesn’t count for anything on Sunday. We’ll go into the game level on points with Treviso, and knowing that we’ll be trailing either Northampton or Racing Metro after they play Saturday. That’s the reality of what this weekend is about.
“We haven’t been focusing on results over the last six weeks, we’ve been consistent since pre-season in that we are concentrating on the performance and ensuring that we get the right balance in the week leading up to the game and then on matchday. We are pursuing excellence in everything we do. We haven’t always achieved that this season, and there’ll be times we fall well short with such a young group, but that has to be the target.
“We are proud of the start we’ve had in the PRO12 but aren’t getting carried away with ourselves. We know that there are some tough tests ahead over the coming weeks and months and we’ll start to find out a lot more about the players in this group when we have our backs to the wall. That will happen, and it’s important that we accept and prepare for it. There’ll be ups and downs, but what we can guarantee is that we will keep focused and keep doing the right thing.
“The supporters were fantastic at the Blues game last weekend and they will have to do the same again on Sunday. They’ve got an important role to play in what we are doing, they’ve got to get behind the team and make the same kind of atmosphere this weekend for the boys to feed off and respond to. It does make a big difference to them, knowing they’ve got that support behind them. Sunday is the first leg of a six game run in this com-petition where we are up against it, but we’ll thrive on the challenge.”
Forthcoming Fixtures
Sat 25 Oct - 5.15pm KO - Northampton Saints v Ospreys - Franklin’s Gardens - ERCC
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