The Ospreys – one of only two teams in the Heineken Cup yet to earn a point – take on Edinburgh – the only unbeaten side in the competition. The Scot’s are flying as high as they ever have, while the Ospreys have been awaiting take-off for more than two months – as their nine straight losses indicate.
Ospreys coach Lyn Jones has left struggling club skipper Scott Gibbs out of his squad, and young Wales dynamo Jonathan Thomas takes over the skipper’s armband.
‘We’re expecting an extremely tough fixture,’ Jones admitted. ‘We are out of the competition and have only pride to play for.
‘Edinburgh are a form team who have performed admirably in the European Cup this season. Challenges do not come any bigger than facing them in their backyard at this time.’
Jones has selected former Springbok winger Stefan Terblanche at fullback, with Samoan flyer Elvis Seveali’i and Wales star Shane Williams on the wing. Incredibly, despite his heroics at the World Cup, Williams hasn’t played in a winning team since the Test win over Romania nearly five months ago.
Skipper Gibbs has a leg injury, while lock Gareth Llewellyn, hooker Huw Bennett and flanker Gavin Thomas are also ruled out.
Edinburgh Rugby: D Lee; S Webster, M Di Rollo, B Laney (capt), C Joiner; C Paterson, M Blair; A Jacobsen, D Hall, C Smith, N Hines, S Murray, A Dall, A Hogg, S Taylor
Replacements: C Di Ciacca, J Brannigan, A Kellock, S Cross, G Burns, T Philip, H Southwell
Neath-Swansea Ospreys: S Terblanche; E Seveali’I, J Storey, D Tiueti, S Williams; G Henson, A Williams; D Jones, B Williams, A Jones, A Newman, J Thomas (capt), J Bater, S Tandy, N Bonner-Evans
Replacements: C Wells, A Millward, R Pugh, L Tait, A Durston, M Brayley, S Connor
Referee: Eric Darriere (France)
