Ospreys announce team for Benetton EPCR Challenge Cup fixture

Ospreys have named their squad to face the Benetton in Round 1 of the EPCR Challenge Cup. The game will take place at the Swansea.com Stadium and is kicking off on Saturday 9th December at 17:30pm.

The team sees a much different look to the side that travelled to Treviso last week in the BKT URC.

Morgan Morris will captain the side for the third successive week.

Gareth Thomas starts at loosehead, with Dewi Lake lining up at hooker and Tom Botha completing the front three.

James Fender partners with Adam Beard at lock. Rhys Davies lines up at six, with Jac Morgan on the other flank and Morgan Morris starting at eight.

Reuben Morgan-Williams lines up at scrum half, with Owen Williams starting at 10. Owen Watkin starts with George North in the centres.

In the back three, Iestyn Hopkins starts at full back, with Keelan Giles returning from injury on one wing and Luke Morgan on the other.

Starting XV:

15. Iestyn Hopkins

14. Luke Morgan

13. George North

12. Owen Watkin

11. Keelan Giles 

10. Owen Williams

9. Reuben Morgan-Williams

1. Gareth Thomas

2. Dewi Lake

3. Tom Botha

4. James Fender

5. Adam Beard

6. Rhys Davies

7. Jac Morgan

8. Morgan Morris ©

Replacements:

16. Sam Parry

17. Nicky Smith

18. Ben Warren

19. Harri Deaves

20. Tristan Davies

21. Luke Davies

22. Jack Walsh

23. Mat Protheroe

Head Coach, Toby Booth, said:

“They’re a good team, you don’t get the results they’ve had without playing to a certain standard.

“We had plenty of opportunity against Benetton last week and we felt we left a bit out there. We didn’t convert enough of the pressure we had early on into points, so we’ll need to be more clinical this week.”