Coach Lyn Jones is sweating on the fitness of several key players for their trip to the Twickenham Stoop. Six of Jones’s star-studded squad including Wales wing wizard Shane Williams, James Hook and captain Filo Tiatia will undergo late fitness tests along with Jonathan Vaughton, Jonathan Thomas and Alun Wyn Jones.
British Lions No.8 Ryan Jones’s hopes of a comeback have been put on hold after suffering inflammation around the shoulder while Ian Gough and Barry Williams have also been ruled out.
Jones will be praying Justin Marshall comes through unscathed for the Barbarians against world champions South Africa at Twickenham on Saturday.
The former All-Black scrum half has been named on the bench for the match just 24 hours later. And Jones will be delighted by the return of Gavin Henson who impressed for Wales against world champions South Africa last weekend.
Jones added: “We’re boosted by the return of our Welsh internationals but we have four players definitely ruled out through injury and late fitness test on a number of other key individuals.
“It puts a strain on any squad, particularly with the testing competition and fixture schedule we face. We just hope things will improve over the coming weeks.”
Ospreys: L Byrne; N Walker, M Taylor, G Henson, S Williams/J Vaughton; J Hook/S Connor, M Phillips; P James, H Bennett, A Jones, AW Jones/L Bateman, I Evans, H T-Pole, F Tiatia/J Thomas (Capt), M Holah
Replacements: R Hibbard, D Jones, A Millward, L Bateman/M Powell, B Lewis, J Marshall, S Connor/A Bishop
