Bradley makes his return as Ospreys head to Bridgend
PARRY IS BRISTOL-BOUND AS SAMOAN PROP ARRIVES
WALES forward Bradley Davies plays his first game in four months when the Ospreys take on Ulster in an important Guinness PRO14 encounter at the Morganstone Brewery Field tonight (7.35pm).
The 64-cap lock has been sidelined since undergoing an operation on an injured knee.
He hasn’t featured since the European Challenge Cup clash with Pau in Swansea in October, but his return could hardly be more timely for the Ospreys, providing them with priceless experience at the heart of their pack at a time when they are hit heavily by Wales calls.
The 6ft 6in, 19st 3lb Davies had been playing well before his injury and will hope he still has time to mount a late charge for a Wales World Cup squad place.
But his first priority will be to get back up to speed and help the Ospreys during a potentially defining phase of their season, with Ulster, Munster (h) and Connacht (a) to be faced in the coming weeks.
Allen Clarke hands a debut to Jordan Lay, the Samoa international signed on loan from Bristol Bears. He packs down at loose-head in a front row that includes Scott Baldwin and Tom Botha.
Sam Davies leads the side, with promising teenager Tiaan ThomasWheeler having another run after his strong performance against Pau last time out.
He features alongside Cory Allen in midfield, while Hanno Dirksen and Luke Morgan fill the wing spots, with Keelan Giles on the bench.
It’s a significant evening for fullback Dan Evans, who makes his THE Ospreys bolstered their pool of props by signing Samoa international Jordan Lay ahead of tonight’s Guinness PRO14 clash with Ulster at the Morganstone Brewery Field.
The 26-year-old loose-head has penned a month-long loan deal from Bristol Bears at a time when the Welsh region are without three frontline No.1s.
And the Ospreys are reciprocating by sending their hooker Sam Parry the other way on loan for the same period.
Lay’s arrival at Llandarcy will ease a crisis that has seen Allen Clarke’s team robbed of the injured Rhodri Jones and Gareth Thomas, with Nicky Smith away on Six Nations duty with Wales.
The Ospreys also saw injury force Paul James to pack in as a player earlier in the season.
They have used Aberavon’s Rowan Jenkins on permit for the past three games, but prior to Lay’s arrival he was the only fit loosehead available to them.
Lay, pictured, has played in 11 Tests, making his debut against
100th league appearance for the Ospreys.
Head coach Clarke said: “Our last game in Bridgend, against Connacht in October, was an excellent occasion on and off the field.
“The crowd were fantastic, getting behind the team rightup to the final play which earned us abonus-point win.
“We’re looking forward to going back there and we appreciate the Tonga in July 2017 and facing England at Twickenham later in the same year, and he has experience of the PRO14 with Edinburgh prior to his move to Bristol.
Parry heads east as he continues his recovery after an injury-hit period.
He said: “It’s been a frustrating time with injury and then not getting the game-time I would like, so this is the right option for me, the Ospreys and Bristol.
“I’m looking forward to the challenge of the next few weeks, going into a new environment and testing myself in a competition I’ve not experienced before. It’ll give me the opportunity to get the minutes under my belt that I need.” support we get. Hopefully, we can make it anothermemorable occasion.
“Points are precious for all teamswith this period of the season going a long way to define league positions and subsequent play-off spots.
“It’s great to have Bradley Davies back to bolster the team who collectively and individually have a clear understanding of what is required during this mini Six Nations block.”
The match is a big one for both sides, with the Ospreys needing points to consolidate their position in the top three in Conference A, while Ulster are involved in a tight struggle in Conference B.
D. Evans; H. Dirksen, C. Allen, T. Thomas-Wheeler, L. Morgan; S. Davies (capt), T. Habberfield; J. Lay, S. Baldwin, T. Botha, L. Ashley, B. Davies, O. Cracknell, J. King, S. Cross. Reps: S. Otten, R. Jenkins, M. Fia, W
Ospreys:
Griffiths, R. McCusker, M. Aubrey, L Price, K. Giles.
P. Nelson; A. Kernohan, D Cave, S. McCloskey, L. Ludik; M. Lowry, J. Cooney; E. O’Sullivan, R. Herring, M. Moore, A. O’Connor (capt), I. Henderson, C. Ross, N. Timoney, J Murphy. Reps: J. Andrew, A. Warwick, T. O’Toole, K. Treadwell, S. Reidy, D. Shanahan, J. Hume, R. Lyttle.
Quinton Immelman (South
Ulster: Referee:
Africa).