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Henson eyes New Year’s Eve return

Henson eyes New Year’s Eve return

Gavin Henson faces a late fitness test ahead of the Ospreys clash with the Cardiff Blues at the Liberty Stadium on New Year’s Eve.

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Henson is named as an either/or with Mark Taylor for the No.13 jersey and Ospreys Coach Lyn Jones will make the decision following a fitness test just before kick-off.

The 25-year-old had been ruled out for six weeks after breaking his hand in the club’s 19-8 EDF Energy Cup win at the Harlequins earlier this month. But he has made an earlier than expected comeback which has delighted Assistant Coach Sean Holley.


“We’ve been reviewing the progress on his hand and it seems to be healing quite well,” he Holley. “We’ll take a decision early in the weekend as to whether he will be available for the Blues, but he will certainly be back for the Leinster game in a week’s time.”


The Ospreys will be looking to bounce back from their 17-12 defeat to the Scarlets, while Blues Coach Dai Young is hoping for a more entertaining game than the dour 11-6 win over the Newport Gwent Dragons.


 “I didn’t enjoy it and I think it was a very poor standard game,” he said. “It was very hard to put any tempo to the game, the tackle area wasn’t sorted out and people were allowed to kill the ball.”


Lock Paul Tito will be available after a WRU Disciplinary Panel ruled no further action would be taken following his red card for fighting with Dragons back row Joe Bearman.


Ospreys centre Sonny Parker expects to miss another three weeks after a knee operation, while hooker Barry Williams (hip) is a long-term casualty.


The Ospreys have won just one of their last five league clashes with the Blues and have lost all three derbies against Welsh sides this season, while the Blues have won all three of theirs.


Head Coach, Lyn Jones said, “Rivalry between the Blues and ourselves has intensified since our 39-3 victory at the Gnoll back in September 2004, when James Hook and Aled Brew made their debuts as Ospreys players.


“A vocal home crowd at the Liberty makes a big difference when players need to find the extra five percent and I can assure all involved that we will have another physical encounter, with no quarter asked or given.


“We have some big fixtures ahead of us over the coming month and we are looking to peak at the right time in terms of our enthusiasm, attitude, physical and mental preparation. It is vital that we do not over-play individuals and that all of our players make our selection meetings as difficult as possible.”



Ospreys: Lee Byrne; Nikki Walker, Gavin Henson / Mark Taylor, Andrew Bishop, Shane Williams; James Hook, Justin Marshall; Ryan Jones (Capt), Marty Holah, Filo Tiatia, Ian Evans, Ian Gough, Adam Jones, Huw Bennett, Paul James


Replacements: Richard Hibbard / Ed Shervington, Duncan Jones, Alun Wyn Jones, Jonathan Thomas, Mike Phillips, Shaun Connor, Mark Taylor / Jonathan Vaughton



Blues: Ben Blair; Gareth Thomas, Jamie Robinson, Tom Shanklin, Jamie Roberts; Nic Macleod, Richie Rees; Gethin Jenkins, Gareth Williams, Taufa’ao Filise, Deiniol Jones, Scott Morgan, Ma’ama Molitika, Martyn Willams, Xavier Rush (Capt)


Replacements: Gary Powell, T Rhys Thomas, Mark Lewis, Andy Powell, Darren Allinson, Rhys Jones, Dafydd Hewitt

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