Alun Wyn returns to Ospreys’ starting XV
OSPREYS welcome back a number of Wales’ successful Six Nations squad for the visit of Newcastle today (3pm).
Wales skipper Alun Wyn Jones is straight back into the side to play just his fifth game under head coach Toby Booth, who has been in charge for over a year.
Asked whether he would celebrate Wales’ Six Nations title win last Saturday, he said: “They’re all behind me now so I’m looking forward to getting back to the Ospreys.
“I’ve been frustrated for the last few seasons by having some spells on the sidelines. I just want to get back into the swing of things.
“I’ve played four games under Boothy and with the crop we’ve got back there and performances of late it’s a good place to be.”
He is joined by fellow Wales lock Adam Beard, with Justin Tipuric also returning to captain the side.
Nicky Smith starts at loose-head for the Challenge Cup round of 16 match, with George North coming back onto the wing after spending the Six Nations at outside centre.
The vastly-experienced Dan Evans and Keelan Giles complete the back three, with Wales’ Owen Watkin partnering Keiran Williams in the midfield.
Luke Price makes his 50th appearance for the region at fly-half and is partnered at half-back by Reuben Morgan-williams.
Up front, Sam Parry and Ma’afu Fia complete the front row, with Will Griffiths and Morgan Morris joining Tipuric at the back of the scrum.
“Newcastle are extremely competitive and they have some internationals back, like Mark Wilson, so they have some reinforcements coming in and they will bring some high energy,” said Ospreys boss Booth.
“Without relegation in the Premiership, they can afford to go for everything. I know Dean Richards really well and the group of coaches there, and I know Newcastle well, and they are robust, tough and competitive.
“That manifests itself at the set-piece and the breakdown, so if we want to perform well, we need to be very respectful of those two areas of the game.
“This is an opportunity to see how far we have come and an opportunity to push for silverware.
“We have done what we needed to do in the PRO14 arena, with Champions Cup qualification, and we have gone from a team that won two games last season to achieving that and that is significant progress.” OSPREYS: D Evans; G North, O Watkin, K Williams, K Giles; L Price, R Morgan-williams; N Smith, S Parry, M Fia; A Beard, A Wyn Jones; W Griffiths, J Tipuric (c), M Morris. Reps: I Phillips, G Phillips, T Botha, R Davies, G Evans, S Venter, J Thomas, M Protheroe. NEWCASTLE: T Penny; G Wacokecoke, M Orlando, P Lucock, B Stevenson; B Connon, M Young; T Davinson, G Mcguigan, L Mulipola; G Paterson, S Robinson; W Welch, M Wilson (c), C Chick. Reps: J Blamire, K Cooper, M Tampin, D Barry, P van der Walt, L Schreuder, J Matavesi, M Passman. REFEREE: Ludovic Cayre (France).