15 Dan Evans
14 Jeff Hassler
13 Josh Matavesi
12 Owen Watkin
11 Ben John
10 Sam Davies
9 Rhys Webb (Capt)
1 Nicky Smith
2 Sam Parry
3 Dmitri Arhip
4 Tyler Ardron
5 Rory Thornton
6 James KIng
7 Olly Cracknell
8 Dan Baker
REPLACEMENTS
16 Scott Otten
17 Gareth Thomas
18 Ma'afu Fia
19 Adam Beard
20 Joe Bearman
21 Tom Habberfield
22 Jonathan Spratt
23 Tom Grabham
The following players were unavailable for selection due to injury:
Lloyd Ashley - Knee
Ashley Beck - Knee
Ryan Bevington - Hip
Gareth Delve - Ankle
Hanno Dirksen - Ankle
Matthew Dwyer - Ankle
JJ Engelbrecht - Ankle
Aaron Jarvis - Hamstring
Dafydd Howells - Hamstring
Sam Underhill - Neck
Eli Walker - Ribs
The following players are absent on international duty:
Scott Baldwin, Paul James, Alun Wyn Jones, Dan Lydiate, Justin Tipuric and Dan Biggar
Ospreys Head Coach, Steve Tandy, said:
"Clearly we were disappointed about the outcome last weekend in Connacht, we saw the good and bad of a young, developing team over the course of 80 minutes, but there was so much to be proud of as a coach. We started sluggishly, gave them a head start and found ourselves playing catch up, something that's probably the story of our season, but you have to give credit for the attitude, endeavour, and bloody mindedness I suppose, in the way that once again they refused to throw the towel in and deserved to bring something home with them.
"We are going to need that attitude in buckets on Saturday as we are going to one of the toughest places in European rugby and we know that we have to be at our best from the very first whistle. Give a team like Leinster a head start and there's no way back.
"In terms of our season, last weekend's result doesn't change anything. We knew that we would have to probably win all of our remaining games to grab a Champions Cup spot and that is still the same. That has to be what we set out to achieve over the next few months. This period has seen us defeat Edinburgh and Munster and draw with Glasgow, as well as last week's loss, so we've taken big strides forward. We'll focus on performance on Saturday, look after the areas that we can control, try and find that extra accuracy that can make a difference, and if we do that, then we feel we can make the next stride.
"We've said all season long that it was going to be a tough year and that's how it's turned out, with international commitments and injuries biting. On the flip side of that, we've seen incredible growth in what is the youngest squad in European rugby. People like Owen Watkin, Sam Davies, Nicky Smith, Rory Thornton, Olly Cracknell, Adam Beard, Gareth Thomas and Sam Underhill are getting invaluable experience, learning what it takes to play at this level, showing that they can make that next step, and showing that we have a bright future at the Ospreys. Whatever the outcome on Saturday, or this season, we can all look ahead with real optimism.
"It's disappointing that we've lost a few more players to injury this week but we'll be looking for that Ospreys spirit again, with the same standards expected whoever is in the shirt, captained by Rhys Webb, someone who will lead by example from first whistle to last."
Forthcoming Fixtures
Sat 26 Mar - 3.00pm KO - Ospreys v Scarlets - PRO12
Fri 1 Apr - 7.05pm KO - NG Dragons v Ospreys - PRO12
Fri 15 Apr - 7.35pm KO - Ospreys v Benetton Treviso - PRO12
Sat 30 Apr - 2.30pm KO - Cardiff Blues v Ospreys - PRO12
Guinness PRO12 Ospreys News
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