European Rugby Champions Cup Pool 5: Benetton Treviso v Ospreys preview
Last Updated: 24/01/15 7:30pm
Tyler Ardron will skipper the Ospreys for the first time in Saturday’s European Rugby Champions Cup Pool 5 fixture at Benetton Treviso.
The Canada international, who also captains his national side, takes over the responsibility from Alun Wyn Jones as head coach Steve Tandy makes six changes for the trip to the Stadio Comunale di Monigo.
As well as Jones, fellow Wales internationals Dan Biggar and Rhys Webb are rested, so Sam Davies and Martin Roberts form the half-back pairing.
Richard Fussell and Tom Grabham come into the back three, with Hanno Dirksen replacing Josh Matavesi at outside centre, while Sam Lewis comes into the back row alongside Ardron.
"It’s a huge honour for me to captain the Ospreys, there have been some absolute legends have done the job before me," said Ardron.
"Filling in for Alun Wyn, who is such an inspirational captain, is a challenge, but one that I’m excited about and proud to be undertaking."
The Ospreys were defeated at home by Northampton last weekend, ending their hopes of reaching the quarter-finals, while winless Treviso conceded over 50 points for the second successive game in their loss at Racing Metro.
The Italians have made seven changes for the visit of the PRO12 leaders. Sam Christie replaces Joe Carlisle at fly-half, with Jayden Hayward and Luca Morisi named at full-back and inside centre respectively.
Cornelius van Zyl partners Marco Fuser in the second row, with Marco Barbini and Matt Luamanu named alongside skipper Alessandro Zanni in the back row.
Benetton Treviso: 15 Jayden Hayward, 14 Angelo Esposito, 13 Michele Campagnaro, 12 Luca Morisi, 11 Andrea Pratichetti, 10 Sam Christie, 9 Edoardo Gori; 1 Matteo Zanusso, 2 Albert Alfred Anae, 3 Salesi Manu, 4 Marco Fuser, 5 Cornelius van Zyl, 6 Marco Barbini, 7 Alessandro Zanni (c), 8 Matt Luamanu.
Replacements: 16 Davide Giazzon, 17 Jose Francisco Novak, 18 Rupert Harden, 19 Antonio Pavanello, 20 Francesco Minto, 21 Enrico Bacchin, 22 Simone Ragusi, 23 James Ambrosini.
Ospreys: 15 Richard Fussell, 14 Tom Grabham, 13 Hanno Dirksen, 12 Josh Matavesi, 11 Eli Walker, 10 Sam Davies, 9 Martin Roberts; 1 Marc Thomas, 2 Scott Baldwin, 3 Aaron Jarvis, 4 Rynier Bernardo, 5 James King, 6 Sam Lewis, 7 Justin Tipuric, 8 Tyler Ardron (c).
Replacements: 16 Sam Parry, 17 Gareth Thomas, 18 Dmitri Arhip, 19 Morgan Allen, 20 Olly Cracknell, 21 Tom Habberfield, 22 Aisea Natoga, 23 Dan Evans.
Watch Treviso v Ospreys live on Sky Sports 1 on Saturday from 3pm