URC Preview: Osprey's vs The Sharks

URC Preview: Osprey's vs The Sharks

Number eight Morgan Morris will lead Ospreys against the Sharks in the first United Rugby Championship game on England soil. Joining him in the back-row are flanks Harri Deaves and James Ratti.

In the tight five James Fender and Rhys Davies partner in the second-row whilst props Tom Botha and Garyn Phillip are joined by hooker Ethan Lewis in the front-row.

Full-back Jack Walsh starts with wingers Luke Morgan and Toby Fricker completing the back-three. Owen Watkin and Kieran Williams are named in the middle of the park with Owen Williams and Reuben Morgan-Williams as the half-back pairing.

On the pine Lewis Lloyd, Rhys Henry and Ben Warren are the front-row replacements with Lewis Jones and Morgan Morse the other forward options.

Scrum-half Luke Davies is named alongside Max Nagy and Luke Scully as backline substitutions.


For the Sharks, Aphiwe Dyantyi makes his first start for the side after recently returning from a four-year doping ban. He is joined by Springbok Aphelele Fassi and Werner Kok in an exciting back-three.

Francois Venter captains the side in the centres next to the robust running Rohan Janse van Rensburg while Curwin Bosch and Cameron Wright are the half-backs.


Dynamic number eight Sikhumbuzo Notshe starts with Phepsi Buthelezi and James Venter in a strong back-row. Emile van Heerden is joined by Corne Rahl in the locks with Coenie Oosthuizen and Ntuthuko Mchunu joined by versatile hooker Dylan Richardson in the front-row.

Hooker Kerron van Vuuren is named on the bench alongside Dian Bleuler and Hanro Jacobs as front-row options. Towering lock Hyron Andrews starts from the bench as well with George Cronje as the last forward substitution.

Scrum-half Zee Mkhabela is named alongside Boeta Chamberlain and the exciting Murray Koster as backline options.

The teams:

Ospreys: 15 Jack Walsh, 14 Luke Morgan, 13 Keiran Williams, 12 Owen Watkin, 11 Toby Fricker, 10 Owen Williams, 9 Reuben Morgan-Williams, 8 Morgan Morris (c), 7 Harri Deaves, 6 James Ratti, 5 James Fender, 4 Rhys Davies, 3 Tom Botha, 2 Ethan Lewis, 1 Garyn Phillip
Replacements: 16 Lewis Lloyd, 17 Rhys Henry, 18 Ben Warren, 19 Lewis Jones, 20 Morgan Morse, 21 Luke Davies, 22 Max Nagy, 23 Luke Scully

Sharks: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Werner Kok, 13 Francois Venter (C), 12 Rohan Janse van Rensburg, 11 Aphiwe Dyantyi, 10 Curwin Bosch, 9 Cameron Wright, 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 7 Phepsi Buthelezi, 6 James Venter, 5 Emile van Heerden, 4 Corne’ Rahl, 3 Coenie Oosthuizen, 2 Dylan Richardson, 1 Ntuthuko Mchunu
Replacements: 16 Kerron van Vuuren, 17 Dian Bleuler, 18 Hanro Jacobs, 19 Hyron Andrews, 20 George Cronje, 21 Zee Mkhabela, 22 Boeta Chamberlain, 23 Murray Koster

Venue: Twickenham Stoop
Kick-off: 19:35 GMT
Referee: Mike Adamson (Scotland)
Assistant Referees: Dewi Phillips (Wales), Mark Butcher (Wales)
TMO: Matteo Liperini (Italy)

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