Who will be the top Welsh team in the BKT United Rugby Championship after the first five rounds? That’s the big question that will be answered when the Ospreys host Cardiff Rugby (Saturday, 31 October – 7.30pm). Only two points separate the Ospreys in seventh and Cardiff Rugby in 10th and the now St Helen’s-based […]
Who will be the top Welsh team in the BKT United Rugby Championship after the first five rounds? That’s the big question that will be answered when the Ospreys host Cardiff Rugby (Saturday, 31 October – 7.30pm).
Only two points separate the Ospreys in seventh and Cardiff Rugby in 10th and the now St Helen’s-based Ospreys are seeking back-to-back Welsh derby wins to end the current block on a high.
Last weekend they celebrated their return to their spiritual home on the Swansea shoreline with a comprehensive 31-14 victory over the Dragons and now they have last season’s top ranked Welsh region, Cardiff, in their sights.
“It has been a really tough run of fixtures, and it is testing our squad depth, but we are looking forward to the challenge of facing the Ospreys at their new home ground,” said Cardiff Rugby head coach Corniel van Zyl.
“They’re a quality team and they will be full of confidence following back-to-back wins over the Dragons, either side of a win in the European Challenge Cup, and buoyed by being at St Helen’s
“That provides a real challenge for us, but we see it as an opportunity – and one we are excited for. Welsh derbies always add a bit more flavour into the mix and are always closely contested games.”
Van Zyl’s team has been hit harder than the Ospreys in terms of Welsh squad demands but will have Josh Adams on the wing as Steve Tandy looks to give him more game time ahead of the Nations Championship. There are nine changes from the team that went down 36-21 to the Sharks at the Arms Park last weekend.
Cardiff are without loose head prop Rhys Barratt, hooker Liam Belcher, lock Teddy Williams and back-row forwards Alex Mann, James Botham and Taine Basham all involved in the Wales camp, while Ospreys boss Mark Jones is missing full back Tom Rogers, outside half Dan Edwards, scrum half Reuben Morgan-Williams and loose-head prop Gareth Thomas.
He also has summer Aussie recruits Lalakai Foketi and Marika Koroibete on the injury list, along with Wales flanker Harri Deaves. Deaves is likely to be out for eight weeks after suffering a knee injury.
“There was a lot going on last weekend both on and off the pitch, so I was delighted to come out with maximum points,” said Jones.
“Nobody wanted to be in the team that lost the first game on our return to St Helen’s and now nobody wants to be in a losing team in our second game. To avoid that we will have to produce our best form.
“Cardiff have done really well both home and away in the URC. We feel we are coming together but we need to kick on and become more consistent.”
TEAMS
Ospreys: Iestyn Hopkins; Luke Morgan, Owen Watkin (co-captain), Keiran Williams, Keelan Giles; Lawson Creighton, Luke Davies; Stef Thomas, Sam Parry (co-captain), Tom Botha, James Ratti, Ryan Smith, Liam Wright, Ross Moriarty, Morgan Morris
Reps: Efan Daniel, Cam Jones, Ben Warren, Rhys Davies, Morgan Morse, Harry Williams, Harri Wilde, Evardi BoshoffCardiff Rugby: Matty Young; Josh Adams, Le Roux Malan, Steff Emanuel, Tom Bowen; Jarrod Evans, Johan Mulder; Danny Southworth, Daf Hughes, Keiron Assiratti, Josh McNally (captain), Rory Thornton, Semisi Paea, Dan Thomas, Alun Lawrence
Reps: Tom Howe, Scott Sio, Javan Sebastian, Tom Manz, Lucas de la Rua, Aled Davies, Callum Sheedy, Osian Darwin-LewisReferee: Ben Breakspear (WRU)