Baldwin back from bite, but Webb misses Saracens clash

BERNARD Jackman has named a number of his big guns to face Enisei-STM at the Slava Stadium in Moscow today (1300BST) as they look to keep their Challenge Cup hopes alive.

After coming away from Newcastle with a losing bonus point last week, a win in their 50th match in the tournament would put them in a good position.

And the Dragons are clearly targeting the clash at the Slava Stadium – with Jackman opting to bring in a number of first-team regulars who missed last week’s action, making six changes.

Wales international Cory Hill returns to skipper the side in the second-row, while internationals Hallam Amos and Tyler Morgan, as well as Elliot Dee, Leon Brown and Pat Howard all come into the side.

The Dragons will be hoping to improve upon last year’s trip to Russia, when they went down 38-18 to this weekend’s opponents.

Speaking ahead of the trip, wing Jared Rosser said: “I’ve never played against a Russian team so I am looking forward bring.

“As long as we are accurate and take what we have done in training onto the pitch we will be good. Accuracy and attitude are the biggest things away from home in a tough place like Russia, we’ve got to be close as a group.

“We are going there with all respect and know that we’ve got turn up with the right attitude to get the win.” to seeing what they RHYS Webb will round off his week from hell by missing the Ospreys’ Champions Cup clash against Saracens at Allianz Park this evening (7.45pm).

The scrum-half learned on Monday that under Wales’ new selection policy his Test career would grind to a halt next season unless he pulls out of his move to Toulon.

Webb has confirmed he isn’t going to do that and he hit out in an emotional outburst by branding his imminent international exclusion ‘a joke.’

And just when he could have been forgiven for thinking matters couldn’t get any worse, he has had to withdraw from an important European match because of injury.

The 28-cap player left the pitch towards the end of the Ospreys’ game with Clermont Auvergne last weekend. The Ospreys say he has a knee problem and they field Tom Habberfield at No.9, with New Zealander Brendon Leonard on the bench.

The Welsh region make five changes in all from the side that went down 26-21 to the French.

Jeff Hassler and Habberfield return behind, while up front Sam Parry, Adam Beard and James King come back.

There is also a welcome reappearance on the bench of Scott Baldwin, three weeks after he picked up a lion bite while in South Africa for the Guinness PRO14 game with the Cheetahs.

He was witheringly criticised for putting his hand in a cage and attempting to pet the animal, but Ospreys forwards coach Allen Clarke said the matter should now be really consigned to the past.

“Scott knows that he did something that he shouldn’t have done,” said the Irishman.

“He got carried away moment.

“But I try to treat every young man as if he’s my son.

“If he was my son, I’d say: ‘You’re a in the lucky boy, but let’s move on in life, learn from it and start showing resilience.’

“I was very close to him at the time and I can see how it could happen.

“I’ve probably done some stupid things myself in my life and I’ve got away with them.

“For me, he’s a decent young man who has kept his head down and worked hard.

“I can only judge him on the last three months. I’d park it and move on.”

Dan Lydiate returned to form against Clermont after a slow-burn spell following a return from longterm injury. Lydiate didn’t just defend solidly, he also carried a lot of ball.

“I thought he was absolutely fantastic, as good as what there was on the field,” said Clarke.

“He’s a tremendous individual, one of many in this group.

“He shows real energy and an appetite to learn regardless of what level he’s played at. And he’s all about the team, this guy.”

The Ospreys face a huge challenge against a side who went to the east Midlands and thrashed Northampton Saints 57-13 last time out.

But they are enjoying being underdogs.

Flanker Justin Tipuric said: It’s been a difficult spell, one of the most difficult I can remember for the club. “But one game can change it all. “We are going up there against one of the best sides in Europe, but we have nothing to lose.

“Everyone is writing us off. We just want to go there, play good rugby and do ourselves justice.”