News
Preview: Ospreys v Harlequins
October 03 2008
The Ospreys have namde as strong a team as possible for their EDF Energy Cup match against Harlequins on Sunday, in what is likely to be a rehearsal for their trip to face Leicester in the Heineken Cup next week.
The only comparative weakness is at scrum-half, where Mike Phillips and Jamie Nutbrown both continue to toil on the sidelines with innury, but young Rhys Webb has been playing excellently in the Magners League.
"After playing some positive rugby at the Liberty Stadium last time out against Ulster, we will be looking to continue our home form against Harlequins on Sunday, hopefully in front of a large and vocal Ospreys support," said current Head Coach Sean Holley.
"We've been pleased with the form that we've shown in the Magners League so far, but the EDF Energy Cup provides us with a different type of challenge, offering us the opportunity to refocus.
"Having secured the trophy on a memorable afternoon in Twickenham back in April, we are all excited about launching our defence. It is a competition that we value very highly, it has helped to put the Ospreys on the map across the UK and we are proud to be champions.
"To successfully defend the trophy is a big incentive for the players, it is not a trophy they are going to give up lightly. Our fans have enjoyed our Anglo-Welsh matches over the last two seasons, and I'm sure that they are looking forward to these games as much as the players are.
"We welcome back a familiar midfield partnership in Gavin and Sonny, who are both well aware of the competition in the squad and will no doubt be looking to impress ahead of further EDF matches and the Heineken Cup Pool games over the coming weeks.
Meanwhile, after an impressive win away at Sixways over Worcester, Quins will see a number of players making their first starts of the season, and fourteen changes to the side that beat the Warriors. Only Chris Robshaw survives in the starting XV.
In the front row, Tani Fuga will be joined by Aston Croall and Mark Lambert. James Percival and George Robson will join forces in the second row and Robshaw, Neil McMillan and Phil Davies will complete the forward pack.
The backs will be led by captain Andy Gomarsall at scrum-half and directed by Waisea Luveniyali at fly-half. Tosh Masson and De Wet Barry come together in the centre, with Charlie Amesbury and Epi Taione on the two wings. Tom Williams starts at full-back.
Ollie Kohn and Tom Guest, who both played at Sixways, take their places on the bench, beside Dan Frazier, Ignacio Elosu, Gareth Williams, Seb Jewell and Seb Stegmann.
Form: Defending EDF Energy Cup champions, Ospreys, have won four of their last five matches in the Magners League. Ospreys only defeat in their last eleven EDF Energy Cup ties was 35-41 to Leicester in the 2007 final at Twickenham. The Welshmen have won four of their last five games against English teams in all competitions, whilst the only English side to win at Liberty Stadium in the EDF Energy Cup is Bath, 27-20, on 9 October 2005. Harlequins visit Worcester on Thursday evening. 'Quins only previous victory in the EDF Energy Cup was 10-8 over London Irish at Madejski Stadium on 28 October 2007, whilst their most recent victory over a Welsh side was 31-27 over Caerphilly in the Parker Pen Challenge Cup at the Stoop on 19 October 2002. Ospreys have won all three previous encounters with Harlequins in all competitions including a 19-8 victory at the Stoop in round 3 of the EDF Energy Cup last season.
The teams:
Ospreys: 15 Lee Byrne, 14 Jonny Vaughton, 13 Sonny Parker, 12 Gavin Henson, 11 Shane Williams, 10 James Hook, 9 Rhys Webb, 8 Ryan Jones (c), 7 Marty Holah, 6 Filo Tiatia, 5 Alun-Wyn Jones, 4 Ian Gough, 3 Adam Jones, 2 Huw Bennett, 1 Duncan Jones.
Replacements: 16 Richard Hibbard, 17 Andrew Millward, 18 Lyndon Bateman, 19 Steve Tandy, 20 Tom Smith, 21 Daniel Biggar, 22 Tommy Bowe.
Harlequins: 15 Tom Williams, 14 Epi Taione, 13 De Wet Barry, 12 Tosh Masson, 11 Charlie Amesbury, 10 Waisea Luveniyali, 9 Andy Gomarsall (c), 8 Phil Davies, 7 Neil Mcmillan, 6 Chris Robshaw, 5 George Robson, 4 James Percival, 3 Mark Lambert, 2 Tani Fuga, 1 Aston Croall.
Replacements: 16 Dan Frazier, 17 Ignacio Elosu, 18 Ollie Kohn, 19 Tom Guest, 20 Gareth Williams, 21 Seb Jewell, 22 Seb Stegmann.
Date: Sunday, October 5
Venue: Liberty Stadium, Swansea
Kick-off: 15.05 BST
Referee: Tim Wigglesworth (England)
Touch judges: David Rose (England), Bob Mullis (England)
Television match official: Tony Rowlands (Wales)