The teenager gave an impressive performance against Leicester Tigers in the LV=Cup last Friday in Bridgend to force his way into the Ospreys reckoning.
Ospreys Head Coach, Sean Holley, commented:“I think the last two weeks have been really positive, culminating in the performance against Leicester. We know we’ve got some raw talent coming through in the region, although we don’t often get the chance to look at them together, which is something that the LV= Cup has afforded us the opportunity to do.
“We were very close to getting a positive outcome in Newcastle, but there were signs there that we had real potential as a team. The performance significantly improved the following weekend and the boys really expressed themselves against Leicester. It was a good stage for them in front of an excellent crowd, and it kicks us on into this week and the Magners League now with us still missing so many players.
“A lot of the faces and combinations we saw last weekend will front up again in Connacht. We’re excited about going there with this group of players. In recent seasons we’ve played them with near enough a full strength squad and we’ve had to really work hard to get a positive result, so it will be a really good test of where these players are right now.
“It’s a tough game and another learning curve for a lot of these players. It won’t be easy, but we’re looking forward to it. We’ve seen a significant change in the Connacht approach under Eric Elwood, they’ve made some good signings and are playing a far more expansive game. They are still really difficult to beat out there, but for different reasons now. We know the conditions are going to be difficult in Galway, but we’ve prepared for that, we know it’s going to be a real test of character for these boys.”
Ospreys 15 Gareth Owen 14 Kristian Phillips 13 Sonny Parker 12 Ashley Beck 11 Richard Fussell 10 Matthew Morgan 9 Rhys Webb; 1 Duncan Jones 2 Mefin Davies 3 Craig Mitchell 4 Conor McInerney 5 Ian Evans 6 Justin Tipuric 7 Marty Holah 8 Jerry Collins (Capt)
Replacements 16 Scott Baldwin 17 Joe Rees 18 Cai Griffiths 19 James Goode 20 James King 21 Jamie Nutbrown 22 Matthew Jarvis 23 Barry Davies
