Head Coach, Steve Tandy, commented: “It’s a crucial game in terms of securing a play-off spot with Glasgow right up there. If we can get a win then it will put a bit of distance between us and them, which will be important with games starting to run out.
“I’m reasonably pleased with how my first two games have gone, a win and losing bonus point from a difficult trip to Ulster, but there is plenty for us to work on and some areas where we need to improve. A lot of the things we can improve on are under our own control and we’ve been working hard all week to put them right and get the positive performance and result we need on Friday. We’re expecting a difficult night against a tough team who’ve only lost four games this season and it should be a good game.
“It’s an exciting time for Ospreys Rugby, and a fantastic opportunity for some of the young talent we’ve got coming through the pathway. We’ve seen how players like Beck, Bevington, Webb and Tipuric have made a big step-up this season which has been rewarded with international recognition, and in recent months people like Hanno, Eli, Joe Rees, James King and Sam Lewis have been exceptional.
“We’ve got another debut in Ross Jones at full-back this week, and I think it’s fantastic to see so many young players featuring. There are no NWQ players in our starting XV on Friday, which speaks volumes for the work we are doing to develop players, and I really hope that the rugby public recognise and support this.”
The Ospreys 15 Ross Jones 14 Hanno Dirksen 13 Andrew Bishop 12 Ashley Beck 11 Eli Walker 10 Dan Biggar 9 Rhys Webb; 1 Ryan Bevington 2 Richard Hibbard 3 Joe Rees 4 Ian Gough 5 James King 6 Tom Smith (Capt) 7 Sam Lewis 8 Joe Bearman
Replacements: 16 Scott Baldwin 17 Will Taylor 18 Aaron Jarvis 19 Jonathan Thomas 20 George Stowers 21 Kahn Fotuali’i 22 Matthew Morgan 23 Tom Isaacs
