OSPREYS: All four Wales call-ups start as Ospreys name strong side for first game at the rebuilt St Helen’s

All four Ospreys in Steve Tandy’s Wales squad start against the Dragons on Saturday, in the first game at the rebuilt St Helen’s (7pm).

Gareth Thomas, Reuben Morgan-Williams, Dan Edwards and Tom Rogers join up with Wales next week, ahead of the November Tests against Japan, New Zealand and Australia.

Owen Watkin and Sam Parry will be the first co-captains to lead the Ospreys out at their new home.

Four changes from the Rodney Parade derby win

Mark Jones makes four changes from the side that beat the Dragons 38-31 at Rodney Parade a fortnight ago.

Watkin returns at outside centre in place of Evardi Boshoff. Morgan-Williams takes over at scrum-half from Kieran Hardy, who is out with a knee injury.

Harri Deaves starts at openside, with Ross Moriarty dropping to the bench, and Iestyn Hopkins comes in on the wing.

Marika Koroibete, whose debut ended early at Rodney Parade, is not in the 23.

Same front five, and Morgan Morris at eight

The front five is unchanged from the derby. Thomas, Parry and Tom Botha make up the front row, with Rhys Davies and Ryan Smith behind them.

Liam Wright is at six and Morgan Morris at eight. Morris scored twice in the closing stages at Rodney Parade to win the derby.

Keiran Williams partners Watkin in midfield. Keelan Giles, a try-scorer in the derby, is on the other wing, with Rogers at full-back.

Only Smith, Morgan-Williams, Hopkins and Watkin keep their places from the side that beat Black Lion 39-14 in Tbilisi last Saturday. Moriarty, Lawson Creighton and Lalakai Foketi are among the replacements.

Home at last after Durban, Johannesburg, Newport and Tbilisi

Saturday is the Ospreys’ first game at the rebuilt St Helen’s, after a season that has so far taken them to Durban, Johannesburg, Newport and Tbilisi.

Cardiff visit a week later, on Saturday, 31 October (7.45pm).

Ospreys team v Dragons

Ospreys: 1. Gareth Thomas, 2. Sam Parry (co-capt), 3. Tom Botha, 4. Rhys Davies, 5. Ryan Smith, 6. Liam Wright, 7. Harri Deaves, 8. Morgan Morris, 9. Reuben Morgan-Williams, 10. Dan Edwards, 11. Keelan Giles, 12. Keiran Williams, 13. Owen Watkin (co-capt), 14. Iestyn Hopkins, 15. Tom Rogers.

Replacements: 16. Efan Daniel, 17. Steffan Thomas, 18. Rhys Henry, 19. James Ratti, 20. Ross Moriarty, 21. Luke Davies, 22. Lawson Creighton, 23. Lalakai Foketi.

Author

Richard Bond

Swansea-based sports journalist.
Twitter: @RichBond00
Email: RichardBond@swanseabaynews.com