Ospreys v Gloucester - Teams

Liberty Stadium, Saturday January 12, ko 5.30pm, live on Sky Sports

Last updated: 11th January 2008   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Ospreys v Gloucester - Teams

Henson: Chance to impress new Wales coach

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Gavin Henson returns to the Ospreys team for their crunch Pool Two clash with Gloucester, which is live on Sky Sports.

The Wales centre has not featured since breaking his left hand in the EDF Energy Cup victory over Harlequins at the start of December.

His return is a timely boost as the Magners League outfit must win at the Liberty Stadium to keep alive their qualification hopes.

Henson - who will play alongside Sonny Parker in midfield - will also be keen to impress new Wales coach Warren Gatland, who names his squad for this year's Six Nations tournament on Monday.

Back-to-back victories over Ulster in the last two rounds have kept the Ospreys European dreams alive, although they now face the tough task of ending the Cherry-and-Whites' 100 percent record.

"Our players are well prepared and invigorated ahead of the Gloucester challenge on Saturday," head coach Lyn Jones said on the club's website.

"Matches such as this are what players and coaches aspire to and we have worked hard to get ourselves in this position."

Shane Williams is also back on the wing in an Ospreys side that is captained by flanker Ryan Jones.

Andrew Bishop - who has had a pin inserted in a small bone in his hand - and Barry Williams (hip) are both ruled out through injury.

Balshaw returns

Gloucester welcome back a quintet of internationals for the trip to the Liberty Stadium.

Andy Titterrell, Gareth Delve, Iain Balshaw, Gareth Cooper and James Simpson-Daniel are all fit to take their place in the starting XV.

Hooker Titterrell has overcome a shoulder injury and replaces Olivier Azam, while No.8 Delve is fit to start following a knee injury.

Willie Walker drops to the bench to accomodate Balshaw, who has recovered from a gashed knee and starts at full-back.

Cooper comes in for Rory Lawson at scrum-half, and Simpson-Daniel has recovered from 'flu to take his place on the wing.

Ospreys: 15 Lee Byrne, 14 Nikki Walker, 13 Sonny Parker, 12 Gavin Henson, 11 Shane Williams, 10 James Hook, 9 Justin Marshall; 1 Duncan Jones, 2 Huw Bennett, 3 Adam Jones, 4 Ian Gough, 5 Alun Wyn Jones, 6 Ryan Jones (capt), 7 Marty Holah, 8 Filo Tiatia
Replacements: 16 Richard Hibbard, 17 Paul James, 18 Ian Evans, 19 Jonathan Thomas, 20 Mike Phillips, 21 Mark Taylor, 22 Jonathan Vaughton

Gloucester: 15 Iain Balshaw, 14 James Simpson-Daniel, 13 Mike Tindall, 12 Anthony Allen, 11 Leon Lloyd, 10 Ryan Lamb, 9 Gareth Cooper; 1 Nick Wood, 2 Andy Titterrell, 3 Carlos Nieto, 4 Marco Bortolami (capt), 5 Alex Brown, 6 Peter Buxton, 7 Akapusi Qera, 8 Gareth Delve
Replacements: 16 Olivier Azam, 17 Christian Califano, 18 Luke Narraway, 19 Alasdair Strokosch, 20 Rory Lawson, 21 Chris Paterson, 22 Willie Walker