Leinster have been victorious on their last four visits to Wales, the most recent seeing them draw 10-all with Conference B rivals, the Scarlets. Allen Clarke’s Ospreys will present another tough challenge, especially with some of their Six Nations representatives back on board.
GUINNESS PRO14: Saturday, March 24
OSPREYS (6th, Con A) v LEINSTER (1st, Con B), Liberty Stadium, 7.35pm (live S4C/highlights TG4)
Team News: Leinster currently lead the Conference B table by three points ahead of the Scarlets, who face Munster at Thomond Park today. Several internationals have come straight back into the Leinster team following Ireland’s Grand Slam success last weekend.
Luke McGrath has recovered from the knee injury he sustained against the Scarlets last month and will captain the province in Swansea. He is partnered at half-back by fellow former St. Michael’s College pupil Ross Byrne, who is the third top points scorer in this season’s PRO14 with 101 points so far.
Noel Reid, who is just three appearances away from a century of Leinster caps, teams up again with Rory O’Loughlin in midfield, while Joey Carbery, who featured in Ireland’s wins over Italy, Wales, Scotland and England, will start at full-back. Fergus McFadden is selected on the right wing with Barry Daly, who has scored nine tries in the current campaign, on the left.
There is further international experience in the front row to face the Ospreys with Grand Slam winners Jack McGrath, Sean Cronin and Andrew Porter all selected to start. Ross Molony and Scott Fardy form the conference leaders’ second row partnership.
Leinster’s latest centurion, Jordi Murphy, returns at openside flanker, fresh from helping Ireland register a clean sweep of Six Nations victories, with fellow Ireland squad member Jack Conan and Josh Murphy completing the back row trio.
Meanwhile, Ospreys interim head coach Allen Clarke is boosted by the availability of a number of Wales players for their first match in the space of a month. Their scheduled clash with Zebre in Parma was postponed three weeks ago due to the severe weather conditions at the time.
Justin Tipuric, who has been included in the Welsh Sevens squad for next month’s Commonwealth Games, will start for the region along with the returning Dan Biggar, Bradley Davies, Alun Wyn Jones and Nicky Smith. Owen Watkin, who was capped against Scotland and Italy in recent weeks, is on the bench.
Half-backs Biggar and Tom Habberfield are the two back-line changes from the Ospreys side that edged out the Toyota Cheetahs 27-26 last time out. Hooker Scott Otten and locks Davies and Jones are the switches up front along with Tipuric’s inclusion at openside flanker.
OSPREYS: Dan Evans; Jeff Hassler, Kieron Fonotia, Ashley Beck, Hanno Dirksen; Dan Biggar, Tom Habberfield; Nicky Smith, Scott Otten, Dmitri Arhip, Bradley Davies, Alun Wyn Jones (capt), Olly Cracknell, Justin Tipuric, Sam Cross.
Replacements: Ifan Phillips, Rhodri Jones, Ma’afu Fia, Adam Beard, Rob McCusker, Matthew Aubrey, Sam Davies, Owen Watkin.
LEINSTER: Joey Carbery; Fergus McFadden, Rory O’Loughlin, Noel Reid, Barry Daly; Ross Byrne, Luke McGrath (capt); Jack McGrath, Sean Cronin, Andrew Porter, Ross Molony, Scott Fardy, Josh Murphy, Jordi Murphy, Jack Conan.
Replacements: James Tracy, Ed Byrne, Michael Bent, Ian Nagle, Max Deegan, Jamison Gibson-Park, Dave Kearney, Adam Byrne.
Referee: John Lacey (Ireland)
Assistant Referees: Andrew Brace, Frank Murphy (both Ireland)
Television Match Official: Simon McDowell (Ireland)
Match Odds (Paddy Power): Ospreys to win: 15/8; Draw: 17/1; Leinster to win: 4/9
Pre-Match Quotes: Ross Molony (Leinster) – “We were disappointed to concede that penalty in the last minute of the Scarlets game but a draw still left us three points ahead of them in Conference B, and as a result, the outcome of the conference is still very much in our hands.
“With four remaining PRO14 games, we have full control of how we want this season to end. With a massively exciting European game ahead as well, our goal in the league remains to finish with a home semi-final. Giving us the best possible chance for a positive outcome for the end of the 2017/’18 season.
“That is why Saturday’s game is crucial to continue us on this path for silverware. The Ospreys will no doubt have returning Welsh players and because they are still fighting for that fourth place spot and a shot at qualifying for next season’s Champions Cup, they won’t want for motivation.
“They’ve got their season – and potentially next season – on the line. Having some of our own internationals return this week has really boosted the squad. There is a great buzz around the place with players and staff.
“While many fans may have one eye on next weekend in the Aviva, we are ready for a battle in the Liberty Stadium. On a personal level, I’m extremely excited for this game. It’s an opportunity for us, as a squad, to push on and also for players to perform in the jersey they are given.”
Allen Clarke (Ospreys) – “It’s been a month without any game-time so everybody is really looking forward to Saturday night. We’ve been able to welcome back quality and experience into the group this week and we’re in a good place as far as preparation is concerned.
“It says a lot about our environment that players are making themselves available straight off the back of a busy Six Nations campaign, key individuals want to pull on the shirt for these big games.
“We are playing a quality outfit on Saturday, whatever team Leinster send out will be full of top, top players. We respect the opposition and understand what we are up against, but our focus is always on ourselves and on taking care of our own business.”
Top Scorers – 2017/18 GUINNESS PRO14: Ospreys – Points: Sam Davies 65; Tries: Rhys Webb, Jeff Hassler 3 each; Leinster – Points: Ross Byrne 101; Tries: Barry Daly 9
2017/18 TEAM FORM: Ospreys – Played 16, Won 6, Lost 10, 30 Points; W 22-13 v Zebre (home), L 31-10 v Glasgow Warriors (away), L 21-16 v Munster (home), L 16-6 v Benetton Rugby (away), L 44-25 v Toyota Cheetahs (away), L 19-18 v Scarlets (home), W 28-14 v Dragons (home), L 37-10 v Edinburgh (away), L 47-6 v Glasgow Warriors (home), L 36-10 v Munster (away), L 12-9 v Scarlets (away), W 22-9 v Dragons (away), W 29-28 v Cardiff Blues (home), L 26-15 v Connacht (away), W 26-12 v Southern Kings (home), W 27-26 v Toyota Cheetahs (home); Leinster – Played 17, Won 13, Drew 1, Lost 3, 64 Points; W 39-16 v Dragons (away), W 37-9 v Cardiff Blues (home), W 31-10 v Southern Kings (away), L 38-19 v Toyota Cheetahs (away), W 21-13 v Edinburgh (home), W 23-17 v Munster (home), W 25-10 v Ulster (away), L 31-21 v Glasgow Warriors (away), W 54-10 v Dragons (home), W 36-10 v Benetton Rugby (away), W 34-24 v Munster (away), W 21-18 v Connacht (home), W 38-7 v Ulster (home), L 29-24 v Edinburgh (away), W 20-13 v Scarlets (home), W 64-7 v Southern Kings (home), D 10-10 v Scarlets (away)
RECENT LEAGUE MEETINGS:
Saturday, November 29, 2014 – Leinster 18 Ospreys 12, the RDS
Friday, February 27, 2015 – Ospreys 9 Leinster 9, Liberty Stadium
Friday, January 8, 2016 – Ospreys 9 Leinster 22, Liberty Stadium
Saturday, March 5, 2016 – Leinster 19 Ospreys 16, the RDS
Friday, September 23, 2016 – Leinster 31 Ospreys 19, the RDS
Saturday, April 8, 2017 – Ospreys 18 Leinster 20, Liberty Stadium
MATCH FACTS:
– The Ospreys have lost just one of their last five GUINNESS PRO14 fixtures: 26-15 away at Connacht in round 14
– The Welshmen have not lost at the Liberty Stadium in the Championship since Glasgow Warriors were the visitors on November 26
– Leinster’s lone defeat in any competition since early November was 29-24 against Edinburgh at Myreside on February 9
– The Leinstermen are unbeaten on their last four visits to Wales since they lost 39-28 at Parc y Scarlets in November 2016
– Leinster’s only loss in their last eleven encounters with the Ospreys in all tournaments was 25-19 at the Liberty Stadium in the PRO12 in April 2014
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