Ospreys name team to face Edinburgh

The Ospreys team to face Edinburgh in the Magners League, on Friday 5th October at Murrayfield, kick off at 7.30pm, will be as follows: -

15 Stefan Terblanche
14 Jonathan Vaughton
13 Mark Taylor
12 Gavin Henson
11 Aled Brew
10 Shaun Connor
9 Martin Roberts

8 Filo Tiatia (Capt)
7 Steve Tandy
6 Tom Smith
5 Ian Evans
4 Lyndon Bateman
3 Cai Griffiths
2 Richard Hibbard
1 Paul James

16 Huw Bennett
17 Andrew Millward
18 Ian Gough
19 Ben Lewis
20 Mike Phillips
21 Andrew Bishop
22 Gareth Owen

Head Coach, Lyn Jones, commented as follows:

"This week we have welcomed back our Wales internationals in the regional environment. We will be slowly integrating all of the players back into the team through the month of October and Friday's fixture gives an opportunity for Mike Phillips and Ian Gough to make their first impact in an Ospreys shirt. Settling into a team is a long process and it is important we start the process with these guys as soon as possible. Last week we introduced Lyndon Bateman and Gavin Henson back into the team and this week I am pleased that we will see Ian Evans in an Ospreys shirt for the first time in over nine months."

"We were always going to be a bit undercooked at the start of the season with the number of long term injuries we carried over from the end of last season and with our representation at Rugby World Cup but with players now starting to return in earnest it is clear we are now growing into the season. Scoring thirty seven points against Glasgow last weekend was a start to this process but the players realise we still have a long way to go if we are to realise our ambitions."

Injury and squad availability news

Nikki Walker is representing Scotland in RWC 2007

The following players are unavailable for selection due to injury:

David Bishop (knee) will return in November

Ryan Jones (shoulder) has had further feedback from our medial team and has unfortunately been advised that he is unlikely to play before the end of 2007

Lyn Jones commented on Ryan's extended absence from the team:

"This is a setback both for Ryan, Wales and Ospreys rugby. It is a huge blow to our Heineken Cup ambitions as Ryan is a big game player who comes to the fore in that environment. To lose our Captain and one of our most influential players for the first four months of the season is a bolt from the blue, but both Ryan and the Ospreys will have to deal with it and look to make the best of what is a bad situation."