Saturday's PRO12 team news: Wales stars boost struggling Ospreys
Saturday 24 October 2015 16:49, UK
Edinburgh travel to Zebre on Saturday seeking a fifth successive Guinness PRO12 victory, while struggling Ospreys host Connacht.
Ospreys v Connacht (1.30pm)
Ospreys include five Wales internationals in their match-day 23 for the visit of Connacht to the Liberty Stadium.
Wing Eli Walker and flanker James King are named in the starting line-up, with props Paul James and Aaron Jarvis and back row Justin Tipuric among the replacements.
Connacht make five changes to the side that registered a bonus-point victory over Zebre last week, with the fit-again Jack Carty returning at fly-half.
Darragh Leader replaces the hamstrung Danie Poolman while hooker Shane Delahunt makes just his second senior start.
Ospreys: 15 Richard Fussell, 14 Tom Grabham, 13 Ben John, 12 Josh Matavesi, 11 Eli Walker, 10 Sam Davies, 9 Brendon Leonard; 1 Ryan Bevington, 2 Sam Parry, 3 Dmitri Arhip; 4 Lloyd Ashley (c), 5 Rory Thornton, 6 James King, 7 Sam Underhill, 8 Dan Baker.
Replacements: 16 Scott Otten, 17 Paul James, 18 Aaron Jarvis, 19 Rynier Bernardo, 20 Joe Bearman, 21 Justin Tipuric, 22 Tom Habberfield, 23 Dan Evans.
Connacht: 15 Tiernan O'Halloran (c), 14 Darragh Leader, 13 Bundee Aki, 12 Craig Ronaldson, 11 Matt Healy, 10 Jack Carty, 9 Kieran Marmion; 1 Denis Buckley, 2 Shane Delahunt, 3 Rodney Ah You, 4 Quinn Roux, 5 Aly Muldowney, 6 Eoin McKeon, 7 Nepia Fox-Matamua, 8 Eoghan Masterson.
Replacements: 16 Dave Heffernan, 17 Conan O'Donnell, 18 Finlay Bealham, 19 Ultan Dillane, 20 John Muldoon, 21 Ian Porter, 22 Rory Parata, 23 Niyi Adeolokun.
Zebre v Edinburgh (1.30pm)
Edinburgh make three changes for the trip to Parma as they attempt to maintain their 100 per cent start to the season.
Jack Cuthbert and Will Helu replace the injured Greig Tonks and Chris Dean respectively, with Rory Sutherland returning to the front row.
Zebre are on a 10-game losing run but they have won their last two home fixtures against Edinburgh, including an 18-10 success last season.
Zebre: 15 Kayle Van Zyl, 14 Dion Berryman, 13 Michele Visentin, 12 Matteo Pratichetti, 11 Leonardo Sarto, 10 Carlo Canna, 9 Marcello Violi; 1 Andrea Lovotti, 2 Andrea Manici, 3 Dario Chistolini, 4 Quintin Geldenhuys, 5 George Biagi (c), 6 Jean Cook, 7 Johan Meyer, 8 Andries Van Schalkwyk.
Replacements: 16 Oliviero Fabiani, 17 Andrea De Marchi, 18 Pietro Ceccarelli, 19 Valerio Bernabo, 20 Jacopo Sarto, 21 Luke Burgess, 22 Guglielmo Palazzani, 23 Edoardo Padovani.
Edinburgh: 15 Jack Cuthbert, 14 Tom Brown, 13 Will Helu, 12 Andries Strauss, 11 Damien Hoyland, 10 Phil Burleigh, 9 Nathan Fowles; 1 Rory Sutherland, 2 Neil Cochrane, 3 John Andress, 4 Anton Bresler, 5 Fraser McKenzie, 6 Mike Coman (c), 7 Hamish Watson, 8 Nasi Manu.
Replacements: 16 George Turner, 17 Allan Dell, 18 Simon Berghan, 19 Alex Toolis, 20 Cornell Du Preez, 21 Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, 22 Dougie Fife, 23 Blair Kinghorn.
