The Ospreys return to European action where Jones’ side lie in fifth place in Pool 2 having picked up one win and one loss in their opening fixtures.
A crushing defeat in the south of France by Montpellier was followed by an impressive victory over Emirates Lions in Llanelli last month to leave the group finely placed with two rounds of fixtures remaining.
Whilst the French outfit look odds on to progress, the remaining place finishes are far more competitive. With one point separating Section Paloise in second – the side Ospreys face the other side of the English Channel in their final match-up next weekend, it is still all to play for a place in the knockout stages.
Teams must finish in the top four of six teams in their respective pools to reach the round of 16 where they would be joined by four teams dropping down from the Champions Cup.
Rock bottom Newcastle Falcons are the opponents this weekend, a side without a point after defeats to the Dragons and newcomers Paloise. Whilst the Gallagher Premiership side may have one eye on their domestic survival, Jones feels both sides will be keen to kick start their seasons with victory come Saturday night.
“For us as coaches, Europe has not lost its romance, it is the pinnacle of competitions,” said Jones in his pre-match press conference.
“Everyone wants to lift a European trophy because it does send out a huge marker of where your squad is.
“The competitions used to be very domestic based but obviously now with the URC it is multi-national, even hemispheric!
“It’s not as niche anymore but it’s still the marker when you are going up against players and teams from different nationalities all over the World.
“We are keen to do well in it after last year where the boys loved going deeper into the competition. We would love to be in a position where we can do the same again.”
Jac Morgan leads out the Ospreys who see Walsh replace unavailable Max Nagy at full-back. Wing Dan Kasende is the only other change in the back division with Keelan Giles continuing on the opposite side.
Lock James Fender, sent off at the Arms Park on New Year’s Day, was eligible to play, but is not in the Ospreys’ 23.
Instead, Will Griffiths and Will Spencer form an all-fresh second row.
Rhys Henry replaces Tom Botha at tight-head prop to partner Gareth Thomas at loosehead, with Sam Parry lining up at hooker completing the front-row.
Morgan lines up at six, Justin Tipuric takes up the other flank and Morgan Morris starts at eight.
Reuben Morgan-Williams continues his budding partnership at half-back with Dan Edwards at ten. Keiran Williams and Owen Watkin then form the midfield engine room at centre.
“The squad is good. We have had a lot of illness going around which is much like other squads,” continued Jones.
“Considering the upheaval, we had in the week where we had a lot of illness in the building the medical staff have done a terrific job in terms of mitigating that.
“Rhys [Davies] has had a bit of swelling on his knee from the Cardiff game and we have made the decision to pull him out of contention this week.
“He has been out for a long time and the last thing we want to do is force him into a situation where we are compromising him. He is getting some treatment from the physios, and we are assessing that at the moment.
“We are hoping it is not going to be too long, but we are looking to see what the source of that swelling is. We want to give it time to settle, the last thing we want to do is put him in a position where he is not comfortable at pushing his body. We need to do what is best for Rhys.”
Jones, once a Heineken Cup semi-finalist with Llanelli feels Newcastle, the team lying at the foot of the Gallagher Premiership will still be a difficult proposition despite their league standing.
“They talked a couple of months ago before the competition that they were going to take a charter to Pau and they really wanted to attack the competition, and the owners wanted to get behind it,” explained Jones.
“They done that, but results haven’t happened yet. They lost to the Dragons at home and the same out in Pau. From a results point-of-view, it hasn’t put them in the best position, but they are probably looking at it as they can still qualify potentially.
“I’m not sure if it will change their mindset around it but obviously the [Gallagher] Premiership is a tough competition, and they are still waiting on whether there is promotion or relegation.
“I’d imagine they would have their sites on [staying in] the Prem, but it doesn’t mean they are not a dangerous side coming down here. Perhaps it takes a bit of pressure off maybe.”
Ospreys starting XV:
15. Jack Walsh, 14. Dan Kasende, 13. Owen Watkin, 12. Keiran Williams, 11. Keelan Giles, 10. Dan Edwards, 9. Reuben Morgan-Williams
1. Gareth Thomas, 2. Sam Parry, 3. Rhys Henry, 4. Will Spencer, 5. Will Griffiths, 6. Jac Morgan (captain), 7. Justin Tipuric, 8. Morgan Morris.
Replacements:
16. Lewis Lloyd, 17. Garyn Phillips, 18. Tom Botha, 19. James Ratti, 20. Morgan Morse, 21.Kieran Hardy, 22. Evardi Boshoff, 23. Harri Houston.
[Lead image: Ospreys Rugby]
