OSPREYS READY FOR “KEY FIXTURE” AGAINST GLASGOW
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The Ospreys are currently in 11th place in the table, six points behind Glasgow, and crucially, three and four points behind the Dragons and Blues respectively.
With Welsh sides assured of a place in the Heieneken Cup, the Ospreys will be desperate to avoid finishing fourth and being faced with a possible playoff against the third ranked Italian side.
“This is a key fixture for us as we continue our hunt to secure Heineken Cup qualification for next season,” said Jones.
“We still have a free weekend to come which will give us four points and our destiny is very much in our own hands. Having said that we must start securing results in places such as Glasgow”
“They had an excellent result against Bourgoin last weekend and they are a side capable of playing effective and entertaining rugby. Difficulties in terms of the availability of players this week has presented an opportunity for our younger squad members to show us what they can do.
“The guys we have brought into the match day squad have tremendous potential and I have faith that they will come through this test”
The Ospreys have included Neath’s Craig Mitchell and Martin Roberts plus Swansea’s Alun Wyn Jones and Richard Hibbard in their squad for the trip north.
Jon Thomas and Paul James are injured, while Adam Jones, Duncan Jones and Shane Williams are on Wales duty.
Number eight James Bater will captain the Ospreys in the absence of Barry Williams and Duncan Jones.
Glasgow: Rory Lamont, Hefin O’Hare, Andy Craig, Graeme Morrison, Mike Roberts, Colin Gregor, Graeme Beveridge, Kevin Tkachuk, Fergus Thomson, Euan Murray, Gregor Hayter, Dan Turner, Steve Swindall, Jon Petrie (capt), John Barclay.
Replacements: Eric Milligan, Lee Harrison, Craig Hamilton, James Eddie, Sam Pinder, Ben Cairns, Graydon Staniforth.
Ospreys: Adrian Cashmore; Stefan Terblanche, Sonny Parker, Andrew Bishop, Richard Mustoe; Shaun Connor, Jason Spice; Andrew Millward, Huw Bennett, Cai Griffiths, Lyndon Bateman, Alun-Wyn Jones, Des Dillon, Steve Tandy, James Bater (capt).
Replacements: Richard Hibbard, Craig Mitchell, Andrew Newman, Lee Beach, Martin Roberts, Matthew Jones, Damian Karauna.
Referee: Donal Courtney (Ireland)
