After consecutive away wins over the Scarlets and the Blues, the Ospreys are in good form at the head of the table. This week they face their first home clash with the Dragons the visitors to the Brewery Field – home of Principality Premiership side Bridgend Ravens.
“We are feeling confident, we’ve had two wins so far where we have played well and had some really good performances,” said Ospreys and Wales Under 18 No. 8 Jon Fox.
“The Dragons are well known for their big strong forwards and they try to use them as much as they can with the driving line outs so I think it will be a very forward oriented game.
“It’s particularly important our own forwards are focused and can do the right stuff on the night and the backs can put the passes in that we need.”
Ospreys head coach Shaun Connor keeps the majority of the side who have been unbeaten so far though Niall Popham and Morgan Jones come into the match day 15 and get their first starts after being on the bench in the previous two games.
Connor said: “The match will be a big challenge for us. The Dragons have a big physical pack with a lot of Under 18 internationals in it so they will be very strong.
“They also have a young back line who look to play so we’ll have to be on our guard up front and also behind. We’ve prepared well this week though. We have reviewed where we feel we could have been more clinical against the Blues and hopefully this will show in the game on Wednesday.”
The second game this week sees the Scarlets take on the Blues. Shaun Evans leads the Scarlets from the back row alongside No. 8 Josh Middleton. Middleton’s head-to-head with opposite number Hemi Barnes looks one to watch out for.
Ospreys: 15 Stuart Nicholas 14 Morgan Jones 13 Joe Thomas 12 Owen Watkin 11 Rhys Gealy 10 Luke Price 9 Nial Popham, 1 Harrison Walsh 2 Luke Davies 3 Sam Martin 4 Adam Beard 5 Mathew Dodd 6 Max Easy 7 Ben Davies 8 Jon Fox.
Replacements: Shaun Howard, Lewis Francis, Lloyd Rees, Rowan Davies, Josh Cole, Jacob Williams, James Davies, James Roberts.
Dragons: 15 Kan Keen 14 Curtis Ayling 13 Tyler Morgan 12 Ben Snell 11 Lloyd Lewis 10 Connor Goode 9 Owen Davies, 1 Kegan Bale 2 Ellis Shipp 3 Luke Leddington 4 Lewis Johnson 5 Joe Davies 6 Llloyd Phillips 7 Seamus Casey 8 Harrison Keddie (c).
Replacements: Jack Williams, Kieron Jenkins, Leon Brown, Gareth Allen, Jack Johnsey, Ben Pesci, Taylor Dimmick, Steffan Olszanski.
Scarlets: 15 Kieran Jones 14 Rob Stevenson 13 Billy McBryde 12 Matthew Pearce 11 Rhys Davies 10 Dan Jones 9 Ilan Wyn Jones, 1 Jac Parry 2 Ifan Phillips 3 Richard Bassett 4 Ryan Morgan 5 Dan Gallwey 6 Josh Macloed 7 Shaun Evans (C) 8 Josh Middleton.
Replacements: Kieran Cullan, Warren James, Alex Williams, Stephen Leonard, Shaun Edwards, Kieran Hardy, Jack Evans, Shaun Pearce.
Blues: 15 James Whittingham 14 Josh Rodgers 13 Harri Millard 12 Teri Morgan Gee 11 Ellis Wyn Benham 10 Jarod Evans 9 Rory Harries, 1 Rob Lewis 2 Liam Belcher (c) 3 Kieron Assiratti 4 Ben Murphy 5 Seb Davies 6 Jordan Viggers 7 Owen Young 8 Hemi Barnes.
Replacements: Bleddyn Griffiths, Gerwyn Coleman, Joel Ringer, Jack Davies, Joe Gaughan, Mike Hale, Tyler Williams, Josh Lloyd.
