Wales stars back in starting line-up for west-east derby
ALUN Wyn Jones and George North start for the Ospreys when they host the Dragons in today’s United Rugby Championship encounter in Swansea (1pm kickoff ).
Fellow Six Nations squad member Keiran Williams is also in the run-on side, with Gareth Thomas on the bench along with Dewi Lake, who missed the championship because of injury.
For the Dragons, Wales men Bradley Roberts and Aaron Wainwright are named among the replacements.
Both sides have assessed their internationals on a case-by-case basis, with Jones and North evidently feeling in need of a game ahead of the European Champions Cup knockout date with Saracens in London a week on Sunday.
The pair bolster a side which lost to Benetton last time out, while Jack Walsh starts at flyhalf.
Williams figures at inside centre alongside Owen Watkin, with the Ospreys declaring the former fit and well after an injury was said to have ruled him out of contention for Wales’ games against Italy and France.
“He’s not injured, he’s fine,” said attack coach Richard Fussell, who does not feel he will need to lift Williams after the centre didn’t play a single minute in the Six Nations despite being in Warren Gatland’s squad.
“Unfortunately, he didn’t get an opportunity to play, but for him to get exposure in those environments, alongside those quality players as well, is going to be massive.
“I don’t need to tell him anything. He’s the kind of bloke, he wants to play rugby.
“He wants to get better, he
loves the physical side of the game. For him, it’s just about getting on the pitch and having that ability to play.
“Hopefully, now, we get to see that over the next couple of weeks.”
Ospreys head coach Toby Booth said: “The Dragons have been playing better rugby than their last few results suggest, and they beat us when we faced them at Rodney Parade.
“We’ve had a good couple of weeks in preparation for this game. This is a great opportunity for us to get back to winning ways and set the record straight.”
Booth’s Dragons counterpart Dai Flanagan makes eight changes to his starting lineup with fit-again Ollie Griffiths named in the middle of the back row.
Elliot Dee and Lloyd Fairbrother come into the front row, while Sean Lonsdale and George
Nott combine at lock with Harri Keddie leading the side from No. 7. Sio Tomkinson takes over at outside centre and Jordan Williams figures on the right wing.
Dragons won a humdinger of a clash 32-25 against their Swansea-based rivals at Rodney Parade in October.
Head coach Flanagan said: “It’s exciting to be back playing after a stop-start spell, and the fact it is a derby has put a spring in everyone’s step this week.
“There is also a bit of edge because the Ospreys put a lot of points on us down there at the end of last season.
“Playing at Rodney Parade is easy for us. We get ourselves up for the game well and we have represented ourselves well at home.
“But we need to make sure we do it on the road and look to avenge what happened last season.”
The Ospreys won last year’s equivalent game 50-31.
Ospreys: Iestyn Hopkins; Luke Morgan, Owen Watkin, Keiran Williams, George North; Jack Walsh, Reuben Morgan-Williams; Nicky Smith (capt), Sam Parry, Tom Botha, Huw Sutton, Alun Wyn Jones, Dan Lydiate, Ethan Roots, Morgan Morris.
Replacements: Dewi Lake, Gareth Thomas, Ben Warren, Rhys Davies, Harri Deaves, Matthew Aubrey, Luke Scully, Michael Collins.
Dragons: Angus O’Brien; Jordan Williams, Sio Tomkinson, Steff Hughes, Ashton Hewitt, Will Reed, Rhodri Williams; Rhodri Jones, Elliot Dee, Lloyd Fairbrother, Sean Lonsdale, George Nott, Ross Moriarty, Harri Keddie (capt), Ollie Griffiths.
Replacements: Bradley Roberts, Aki Seiuli, Chris Coleman, Huw Taylor, Aaron Waainwright, Taine Basham, Lewis Jones, Max Clark