Ulster v Ospreys: Teams
European quarter-finalists the Ospreys have selected an under-strength side for Friday's league clash with Ulster.
Last Updated: 02/04/09 12:44pm
European quarter-finalists the Ospreys have selected an under-strength side for their league clash with Ulster on Friday.
Head coach Sean Holley is without the injured Gavin Henson, Ian Gough and Lee Byrne while Shane Williams is rested along with Ryan Jones.
However, the Welsh region have named their strongest half-back combination with James Hook and Mike Phillips combining in Ravenhill ahead of their upcoming mouth-watering Munster fixture.
Meanwhile, Ulster head coach Matt Williams has made a number of changes to the team that faced Leinster, at the RDS, in the last round of the league.
Fly-half Niall O'Connor will replace Ian Humphreys, who will sit this match out completely.
Robbie Diack is back in the starting line-up at number eight, which has moved Chris Henry to blindside flanker, and Matt McCullough to the replacements bench.
After a number change last week, Andrew Trimble is back on the left wing in the number eleven shirt, and Simon Danielli is back on the right at fourteen.
Tom Court will start the Ospreys match on the bench, while Bryan Young will start as loosehead prop in the front row, alongside Captain Roy Best and South African BJ Botha.
Ulster: 15 Clinton Schifcofske, 14 Simon Danielli, 13 Darren Cave, 12 Paddy Wallace, 11 Andrew Trimble, 10 Niall O'Connor, 9 Isaac Boss, 8 Robbie Diack, 7 David Pollock, 6 Chris Henry, 5 Ryan Caldwell, 4 Ed O'Donoghue, 3 Brendon Botha, 2 Rory Best (c), 1 Bryan Young.
Replacements: 16 Nigel Brady, 17 Tom Court, 18 Carlo Del Fava, 19 Matt McCullough, 20 Cillian Willis, 21 Ian Whitten, 22 Timoci Nagusa.
Ospreys: 15 Gareth Owen, 14 David Bishop, 13 Jonathan Spratt, 12 Andrew Bishop, 11 Jonny Vaughton, 10 James Hook, 9 Mike Phillips, 8 Filo Tiatia, 7 Steve Tandy, 6 Tom Smith, 5 Andy Lloyd, 4 Alun-Wyn Jones, 3 Cai Griffiths, 2 Huw Bennett, 1 Paul James (capt).
Replacements: 16 Richard Hibbard, 17 Ryan Bevington, 18 Filipo Levi, 19 Marty Holah, 20 Jamie Nutbrown, 21 Dan Biggar, 22 Sonny Parker.