INJURIES TAKING TOLL ON OSPREYS

Knocks suffered by Leigh Davies (knee) and Andy Lloyd (head) in the home win against the Dragons in midweek have given Jones cause for concern in preparation for the encounter at Netherdale. Summer signing Davies and back row Lloyd join Jones’s growing list of casualties, headed by British Lions Gavin Henson and Shane Williams, both with groin problems.

Ryan Jones’s unavailability due to Lions commitments in the summer increases the strain on the squad as they look for their third win of the season in the pursuit of the Celtic League title for a second successive year.

“Three fixtures over the course of a week has been a big ask for the players, coaches and team management,” said coach Jones. “But our players will travel in a determined frame of mind and we hope to come away with a positive result.”

The Reivers have made nine changes in their starting line-up which lost at home to Llanelli. Stuart Moffat moves from full-back to wing, Garry Law from wing to centre and centre Charlie Hore to fly-half.

The changes come after Scottish internationals Gregor Townsend and Simon Danielli both suffered ankle injuries in the 24-15 defeat to the Scarlets. Calum MacRae starts at full-back, fit-again Nikki Walker lines up on the wing, while Steve Scott, Mark Blair, Andy Rennick and Andy Miller start up front.
Ross Ford, Colin Stewart, Scott Gray and Wayne McEntee are the forwards that miss out.

Border Reivers:
C MacRae
S Moffat
B MacDougall
G Law
N Walker
C Hore
C Cusiter
P Thomson (capt)
S Scott
B Douglas
M Blair
O Palepoi
A Rennick
K Brown
A Miller