Ospreys announce team for Emirates Lions fixture

The Ospreys have named their squad to face the Emirates Lions in Round 4 of the EPCR Challenge Cup. The game will take place at Ellis Park and is kicking off on Sunday 21st January at 3pm local time.

Adam Beard will the captain the side.

Rhys Henry starts at loosehead, with Sam Parry lining up at hooker and Tom Botha completing the front three.

James Ratti partners with Adam Beard at lock. Will Hickey lines up at six, with Harri Deaves on the other flank and Morgan Morse starting at eight

Reuben Morgan-Williams gets the start at scrum half, with Dan Edwards partnering him at 10. Owen Watkin starts with George North in the centres.

In the back three, Iestyn Hopkins starts at full back, with Keelan Giles on one wing and Mat Protheroe on the other.

Prop Cameron Jones takes up a place on the bench and could be in line to make his first appearance for the Ospreys.

Starting XV:

15. Iestyn Hopkins

14. Mat Protheroe

13. George North

12. Owen Watkin

11. Keelan Giles 

10. Dan Edwards

  9. Reuben Morgan-Williams

1. Rhys Henry

2. Sam Parry

3. Tom Botha

4. James Ratti

5. Adam Beard ©

6. Will Hickey

7. Harri Deaves

8. Morgan Morse

Replacements:

16. Ethan Lewis

17. Cam Jones

18. Ben Warren

19. Lewis Jones

20. Tristan Davies

21. Cameron Jones

22. Jack Walsh

23. Keiran Williams

Head Coach, Toby Booth, said:

“The Lions play a slightly different game when they’re at home. They have a stronger understanding of the conditions which they’ll use to their advantage, especially in the kicking game.

“Often games like this one are about whether you can deal with the environment and whether you can adapt quickly, that will be the challenge. Last week against Perpignan we adapted brilliantly at half time in order to be strategically smart in the second half, and credit to the boys for that.”