Ospreys v Dragons: Teams
The Ospreys hope to move a step closer to securing a home play-off game when they take on the Dragons at Liberty Stadium.
Last Updated: 19/04/12 5:50pm
The Ospreys hope to move a step closer to securing a home RaboDirect PRO12 play-off game when they take on the Dragons at Liberty Stadium.
Head coach Steve Tandy has made three changes to the starting XV that secured a convincing 33-12 win against Cardiff Blues in another all-Welsh clash last time out.
Ross Jones replaces Richard Fussell at full-back, while Rhys Webb comes in for Kahn Fotuali'i at scrum-half and Ryan Bevington is preferred to Paul James at prop.
Ashley Beck will win make his 50th appearance for the Ospreys if he comes off the bench, while the fixture will also serve as a farewell game to Ospreys and Wales great Shane Williams.
"We're expecting the Dragons to come down really fired up for this, as they always are when they play against us," Ospreys forwards coach Jonathan Humphreys said.
"They always provide a big challenge and it'll be up to us to stand up to them, something we've not always been capable of doing when we've played them, at home or away.
Good place
"Thanks to some good results and decent performances lately we're in a fairly good place.
"We're second in the league with two to play so the home semi is in our own hands but I think there's a lot more to come from this team and we have to find the right level if we are going to achieve the aim."
The Dragons have made four changes to the side which were beaten by Treviso at home last Friday.
Hallam Amos will make his first PRO12 start at full-back at just 17 years of age, being named in the starting XV for a second time after playing in the LV= Cup against Wasps earlier in the season.
The other change in the backs comes at scrum-half where Wayne Evans is given the nod in place of Joe Bedford.
There are two changes in the pack, as Steve Jones replaces Sam Parry at hooker and Jevon Groves starts at lock ahead of Rob Sidoli.
Luke Charteris will make his 100th appearance in the RaboDirect PRO12 , while Pat Leach is named on the bench and could be in line to make his first appearance since January after recovering from a broken hand.
Ospreys: 15 Ross Jones, 14 Hanno Dirksen, 13 Tom Isaacs, 12 Andrew Bishop, 11 Shane Williams, 10 Dan Biggar, 9 Rhys Webb, 8 Joe Bearman, 7 Justin Tipuric, 6 Ryan Jones, 5 Ian Evans, 4 Alun Wyn Jones (c), 3 Adam Jones, 2 Richard Hibbard, 1 Ryan Bevington.
Replacements: 16 Scott Baldwin, 17 Paul James, 18 Joe Rees, 19 James King, 20 Tom Smith, 21 Kahn Fotuali'i, 22 Matthew Morgan, 23 Ashley Beck.
Dragons: 15 Hallam Amos, 14 Tonderai Chavhanga, 13 Adam Hughes, 12 Ashley Smith, 11 Aled Brew, 10 Lewis Robling, 9 Wayne Evans, 8 Toby Faletau, 7 Lewis Evans, 6 Danny Lydiate, 5 Jevon Groves, 4 Luke Charteris (c), 3 Nathan Buck, 2 Steve Jones, 1 Nathan Williams.
Replacements: 16 Sam Parry, 17 Phil Price, 18 Dan Way, 19 Rob Sidoli, 20 Tom Brown, 21 Joe Bedford, 22 Martyn Thomas, 23 Pat Leach.
