Fresh from their 27-22 victory over Connacht A, the Ospreys face Leinster who will be daunting opposition with Ireland international Dave Kearney in their side.
Ospreys head coach Richard Fussell said: “I think we learnt a lot from last weekend’s game against Connacht. If we’re giving away penalties and cheap opportunities, then our opposition are going to use that against us.
“First and foremost, we’ve got to look at ourselves and make sure we have our house in order and that we don’t give the opposition those opportunities.
“I thought the boys responded well in the second half against Connacht, whereas in the first we struggled to get into the game. We defended really well in the first half, our defensive sets were great, but we definitely have areas to build on.”
Ospreys include powerful No 8 Guido Volpi from the off with Morgan Morris and Charlie Davies completing the back-row. Reuben Morgan-Williams and Josh Thomas are the half backs.
Jack Kelly will captain Leinster from full-back with starting wingers Adam Byrne and Kearney possessing 163 senior Leinster caps between them.
“Against Connacht we got into the game a bit more in the second half, so hopefully we can create opportunities in this game like we did in the last,” said Fussell.
“It’s going to be massive for us but if we get our set-piece functioning, it gives us a decent platform to build off. Leinster are going to be a formidable outfit, they are three from three at the moment and we’re going over there.
“Hopefully we can get stuck into them and deliver a performance for 80 minutes.
“I think that’s going to be the real challenge for these boys. We have to start straight away. When we do, we’re a decent outfit, so hopefully we can come away with a good result.”
In Saturday’s fixtures, Cardiff Blues A and Scarlets A are at home to Munster A and Connacht Eagles respectively.
The final match sees Dragons A travel to face Ulster A with James Chapron’s Welsh raiders led once again by flanker Lennon Greggains.
Ben Fry is named at blindside flanker, scrum-half Rhodri Davies will start the game – joining forces with Ben Botica at half-back – while George Gasson is named on the wing.
Tom Hoppe come in at centre to play alongside James Benjamin. Joe Davies, Rob Brookson and Will Kelly are named among the replacements.
Blues A have made eight changes for their Munster clash which forms a double header as Richie Rees’ side host the Irish province before Cardiff RFC welcome Bargoed in the Principality Premiership.
Rees has added experience to his backline with Aled Summerhill, Steven Shingler and Lewis Jones recalled to the starting line-up, replacing Dan Fish, Ben Jones and Dane Blacker respectively.
The other change amongst the backs sees Max Llewellyn drafted in at centre as Harri Millard switches to the bench.
In the pack, there is a new-look front row as Rhys Carré is named at loosehead, fresh from Guinness PRO14 duty against Zebre and Munster.
Carré is joined by Ethan Lewis and Will Davies King, with the final change seeing Ioan Rhys Davies replacing Cai Devine in the back row.
Late calls will be made on Shingler and Sion Bennett, who feature on the bench for the Blues in Friday night’s PRO14 clash against Toyota Cheetahs, depending on their playing-time for the senior side.
Rees hopes to build upon the positives from last week’s defeat to Ulster A, but expects another tough challenge against Munster.
“Last week was certainly an improvement compared to the performance out in Leinster, and it was good to see us in the fight for the full 80 minutes,” he said.
“We showed some nice touches throughout, but struggled to adapt to the difficult weather conditions.
“Hopefully the conditions this week will allow us to play a bit more open and attacking rugby, which is the identity we’re trying to give this team.
“We’re under no illusions that this will be a huge task against Munster A. They’ve performed well in the opening rounds of the Celtic Cup and we’ll have to be at our best to compete.
“But we have to remember that the focus of this competition is development and it’s great to welcome a few older heads into the side who will guide the younger boys throughout the game.
“Boys like Will Davies King and Ioan Rhys Davies have been brought in, and it’s great to be able to give these boys an opportunity to put their hands up ahead of another tough game next week in Galway.”
Looking ahead to his team facing Connacht A, Scarlets head coach Richard Kelly has continued with centre Steffan Hughes as captain with fly-half Dan Jones named in the squad for the first time in the competition.
“I definitely see a massive difference from when we first started this tournament. I see the young boys especially stepping up and gaining a lot of confidence whilst playing with the more experienced players,” Kelly said.
“They’ve dealt with a higher intensity game and I‘m thrilled to see them play comfortably at that level.”
On Jones’ selection Kelly explained: “He’s an experienced outside-half, he runs the game well, and is a brilliant communicator. He’s perfect for what these younger players need in order to bring them up to speed to the level of rugby they’ll be playing in a few years.”
CELTIC CUP FIXTURES:
Leinster A vs Ospreys A (Friday, September 28 – kick-off: 7.30pm)
Cardiff Blues A vs Munster A (Saturday, September 29 – kick-off: 2pm)
Scarlets A vs Connacht Eagles (Saturday, September 29 – kick-off: 2.30pm)
Ulster A vs Dragons A (Saturday, September 29 – kick-off: 2.30pm)
TEAMS:
Leinster A: Jack Kelly (capt); Adam Byrne, Jimmy O’Brien, Conor O’Brien, Dave Kearney; Ciaran Frawley, Hugh O’Sullivan; Peter Dooley, Bryan Byrne, Tom Clarkson, Jack Dunne, Ian Nagle, Josh Murphy, Scott Penny, Ronan Foley
Replacements: Dan Sheehan, Michael Milne, Vakh Abdaladze, Charlie Ryan, Ronan Watters, Patrick Patterson, David Hawkshaw, Michael Silvester
Ospreys A: Dewi Cross; Dylan Moss, Tom Williams, Callum Carson, Joe Jenkins; Josh Thomas, Reuben Morgan-Williams; Rhys Davies, Ifan Phillips (capt), Mitchell Walsh, Matthew Dodd, James Ratti, Charlie Davies, Morgan Morris, Guido Volpi
Replacements: Dewi Lake, Jordan Walters, Rhys Henry, Jay Williams, Joe Grabham, Iwan Temblett, Frankie Jones, Caine Woolerton
Cardiff Blues A: Tom Williams; Aled Summerhill, Max Llewellyn, Ben Thomas, Tom James; Steven Shingler, Lewis Jones; Rhys Carré, Ethan Lewis, Will Davies King, Shane Lewis Hughes, James Down, Ioan Rhys Davies, Sion Bennett, Alun Lawrence (capt)
Replacements: Liam Belcher, Fraser Young, Keiron Assiratti, Callum Bradbury, Teddy Williams, Dane Blacker, Harri Millard, Dan Fish
Munster A: Stephen Fitzgerald; Liam Coombes, Sean French, Alex McHenry, Calvin Nash; Bill Johnston (capt), Jack Stafford; Josh Wycherley, Diarmuid Barron, Jeremy Loughman; Darren O’Shea, Sean O’Connor; Dave O’Callaghan, Jack Daly, Gavin Coombes
Replacements: Eoghan Clarke, Cronan Gleeson, Keynan Knox, Paddy Kelly, John Hodnett, John Poland, Ben Healy, Conor Philips
Scarlets A: Morgan Williams; Tomi Lewis, Corey Baldwin, Steff Hughes (capt), Ryan Conbeer; Dan Jones , Declan Smith; Jamie Hughes, Dafydd Hughes, Javan Sebastian, Josh Helps, Morgan Jones, Tom Phillips, Stuart Worrell, Joe Miles
Replacements: Torin Myhill, Berian Watkins, Kemsley Mathias, Jac Price, Chris Long, Dafydd Land, Osian Knott, Tom Rogers
Connacht A: TBC
Ulster A: Bruce Houston; Iwan Hughes, Stewart Moore, Ben Power, Aaron Sexton; Johnny McPhillips, Michael Stronge; Peter Cooper, Zack McCall, Rodney Ah You, Matthew Dalton, Caleb Montgomery, Joe Dunleavy, Aaron Hall, Marcus Rea (capt)
Replacements: Peter Cromie, Campbell Classon, Paul McGookin, Bradley Luney, Matthew Agnew, Greg Jones, Graham Curtis, Robbie Johnston
Dragons A: Carwyn Penny, George Gasson, Tom Hoppe, James Benjamin, Deon Smith, Jacob Botica, Rhodri Davies; Josh Reynolds, Rhys Lawrence, Chris Coleman, Matthew Screech, Max Williams, Ben Fry, Lennon Greggains (capt), Taine Basham
Replacements: Zac Hewlett, Scott Evans, Luke Yendle, Joe Davies, Rob Brookson, Dafydd Buckland, Calvin Wellington, Will Kelly
