Exiles v Ospreys: Teams

At Madejski Stadium, Sunday 2 November, Kick-off 3pm

Last updated: 1st November 2008   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Exiles v Ospreys: Teams

Casey: Irish leader

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London Irish will be going all out to beat defending champions Ospreys and hope results go their way to make the EDF Energy Cup semi-finals.

Bob Casey leads a strong London Irish side at the Madejski on Sunday which knows that even a win leaves them still sweating on the result of Harlequins' trip to Worcester.

Only a win over Welsh side Ospreys and a Quins victory at Sixways will help the Exiles into the semi-finals of the competition.

"We will be going out against the Ospreys to win, without question," said coach Toby Booth.

"The Ospreys are among the most talented teams in these islands as their position at the top of the Magners League testifies."

Internationals

Booth is able to name a strong side to take on the Magners League front runners though, with eleven full internationals in his starting XV for the game.

An experienced bench will also back-up the starting side, with the likes of Mike Catt and Peter Richards able to come on during the contest.

The Ospreys also have a strong side despite the on-giong feud with the Welsh Rugby Union over player availability for internationals.

Wales starters Gavin Henson, Shane Williams and James Hook are all in the Ospreys XV in the backs, with Ian Evans, Ian Gough, Adam Jones and Huw Bennett starting in the pack.

Ryan Jones has also been named amongst the replacements alongside three other members of the Wales squad, a move which will not go down well with the WRU.

London Irish go into the game on the back of a three-game winning streak, but have not beaten a Welsh side in the EDF Energy Cup since 2005.

For their part, the Ospreys are in even better form with four wins out of their last five games in all competitions and have won their last seven in the competition they won last year.

London Irish: 15 Peter Hewat, 14 Topsy Ojo, 13 Elvis Seveali'i, 12 Seilala Mapusua, 11 Sailosi Tagicakibau, 10 Shane Geraghty, 9 Paul Hodgson, 8 Chris Hala'Ufia, 7 Steffon Armitage, 6 Richard Thorpe, 5 Bob Casey, 4 James Hudson, 3 Faan Rautenbach, 2 David Paice, 1 Clarke Dermody.

Replacements: 16 Tonga Lea'aetoa, 17 James Buckland, 18 Kieran Roche, 19 Declan Danaher, 20 James Bailey, 21 Peter Richards, 22 Mike Catt.

Ospreys: 15 Jonny Vaughton, 14 Nikki Walker, 13 Tommy Bowe, 12 Gavin Henson, 11 Shane Williams, 10 James Hook, 9 Jamie Nutbrown, 8 Filo Tiatia, 7 Marty Holah, 6 Tom Smith, 5 Ian Evans, 4 Ian Gough, 3 Adam Jones, 2 Huw Bennett, 1 Paul James (c).

Replacements: 16 Richard Hibbard, 17 Craig Mitchell, 18 Lyndon Bateman, 19 Ryan Jones, 20 Rhys Webb, 21 Dan Biggar, 22 Andrew Bishop.