Ospreys Head Coach, Sean Holley, commented:
"We need to get on a bit of a roll and get some performances under our belt, starting at Glasgow. It was a happy hunting ground for us last year, we played well up there, but it's always a very difficult place to go so we're under no illusions. Munster and the Scarlets have been beaten there this year so it's going to be a difficult game. They've got an outstanding set of half-backs, who play for territory well and they've got a very tenacious pack. They've got a very good mix there and we are going to have to improve significantly to do well there.
"Of course we're disappointed by the two most recent performances, that goes without saying, but it's important that, as coaches, we remain level headed and focused on the job in hand, which is to guide the Ospreys to where we want to take them as a coaching team, and we realise that it's not easy and it won't happen overnight. We're making changes, and we know that some of them will take time, we're making progress every session. This time last year we'd raced to a seven try win against Ulster, we'd won in Glasgow, beaten the Blues with a bonus point and were top of the Magners League. Come the end of the season it was a different story. We realise it's a long haul and that's what we've focused on this week, working at what we believe is right and keep trying to improve. The important thing is that the people here realise that what we are attempting to do will benefit everybody at the Ospreys in the long run, so they are buying into it, and are working together to pull us in the right direction. Despite the disappointment there is a unity and togetherness that we believe will see us through.
"Marty Holah has been one of our outstanding players in the early part of the season so we're giving him a well earned rest. Steve Tandy has impressed during the warm-up games and in training so deserves his chance. It's great to have Ian Evans back, it's been a long slog for him and we're delighted to have him back in our squad. With Ian and Alun-Wyn now both available, it's allowed us to give Ian Gough a rest as well, before we focus on some of the big tests that we've got coming up over the next few weeks."
The Ospreys team to face Glasgow in the Magners League on Friday 25th September 2009 at Firhill, kick off at 7.05pm, will be as follows:-
15 Lee Byrne
14 Tommy Bowe
13 Sonny Parker
12 James Hook
11 Shane Williams
10 Dan Biggar
9 Mike Phillips
1 Paul James
2 Huw Bennett
3 Craig Mitchell
4 Alun-Wyn Jones
5 Jonathan Thomas
6 Tom Smith
7 Steve Tandy
8 Ryan Jones ©
Replacements:
16 Richard Hibbard
17 Duncan Jones
18 Ian Evans
19 Jerry Collins
20 Jamie Nutbrown
21 Gareth Owen
22 Nikki Walker
Forthcoming Fixtures
Fri 25th Sept - Glasgow V Ospreys - Magners League - Firhill - 7.05pm
Sun 4th Oct - Ospreys V Edinburgh - Magners League - Liberty Stadium - 4.00pm
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