Ospreys will take on Connacht in the United Rugby Championship clash in Swansea tonight (7.35pm kick-off) minus 24 players who are either sidelined by injury or on Wales duty.Who’d be a rugby coach?Toby Booth tried to put a brave face on matters at the region’s press call this week, presumably on the basis that if he didn’t stay positive then who else would.
But his team faces a major challenge against opponents who ran in five tries in a 36-14 win over the Scarlets last time out.Tiann Thomas-Wheeler and Keiran Williams return in the centre for their first starts since the game with the Lions last March.
Harri Deaves, Rhys Henry, Rhys Davies and Huw Sutton are among the young guns named up front, with skipper-for-the-evening Scott Baldwin and tighthead prop Tom Botha adding experience. -Connacht are led by one of the finest game controllers in the URC in fly-half Jack Carty.The match at the Swansea.com Stadium kicks off at 7.35pm, and is being broadcast live on S4C, Premier Sports and RTÉ but if you can't get in front of the box, stay tuned for live updates on our blog right here.
Win free tickets to see Wales play New Zealand in Cardiff courtesy of Dove Men+Care Ospreys: Max Nagy; Luke Morgan, Tiaan Thomas-Wheeler, Keiran Williams, Keelan Giles; Jack Walsh, Reuben Morgan Williams; Rhys Henry, Scott Baldwin (capt), Tom Botha, Rhys Davies, Huw Sutton, Ethan Roots, Harri Deaves, Morgan Morris. Replacements: Sam Parry, Garyn Phillips, Ben Warren, Jack Regan, Tristan Davies, Matthew Aubrey, Luke Scully, Cai Evans. Connacht: Tiernan O'Halloran; Alex Wootton, Tom Farrell, David Hawkshaw, John Porch; Jack Carty (capt), Caolin Blade; Denis Buckley, Dylan Tierney-Martin, Jack Aungier, Oisín Dowling, Gavin Thornbury, Shamus