Byrne back for Ospreys
British and Irish Lions star Lee Byrne will make his return for the Ospreys against Leinster in Friday’s Magners League clash at the Liberty Stadium.
It will be the Welsh fullback’s first outing since getting injured in tour to South Africa, while fellow Lions Tommy Bowe and Alun-Wyn Jones are also included in the Ospreys’ squad.
Bowe, who starred on the wing for against the Springboks, makes his first start after coming off the bench last Saturday, while Wyn-Jones is named among the replacements.
Leinster also have a returning Lion in Nathan Hines, who will make his first start for the province along with Ireland scrumhalf Eoin Reddan.
Scotland international Hines partners Malcolm O’Kelly in the second row, while Reddan partners Jonathan Sexton in a backline which also sees Gordon D’Arcy come in for his first start of the season.
The European Champions’ back three of David Kearney, Shane Horgan and Isa Nacewa remains the same from the one that started last weekend’s 23-14 victory over the Dragons.
Former Auckland Blues fullback Nacewa will be Byrne’s opposite number, and he is relishing the opportunity of testing himself away to a strong Ospreys side.
“The Ospreys will prove to be a stiff test for us coming, as it does, after having lost their last game at home to Ulster,” the former Super 14 star said.
“Like us they have a proud record at home and I’m sure that they’ll be determined to get back to winning ways so we’ll need to be focused and wary of them.”
Nacewa is especially keen to have a crack against some of his old Southern Hemipshere counterparts who have made the move up north.
“Friday’s game will have a Super 14 feel to it with Jerry Collins, Filo Tiatia and Marty Holah,” he said.
“They’re three top class performers and I’ve played against them back in New Zealand. It will be a real battle up front to match them, but we know that the Ospreys have a lot of other threats.”
The Ospreys will be looking to avoid another defeat by an Irish province after losing to Ulster last weekend and will hope to give centre Andrew Bishop a memorable game in his hundredth appearance for the region.
Teams:
Ospreys: 15 Lee Byrne, 14 Tommy Bowe, 13 Jonathan Spratt, 12 Andrew Bishop, 11 Nikki Walker, 10 James Hook, 9 Jamie Nutbrown, 8 Tom Smith, 7 Marty Holah (captain), 6 Jerry Collins, 5 Jonathan Thomas, 4 Ian Gough, 3 Craig Mitchell, 2 Huw Bennett, 1 Duncan Jones
Replacements: 16 Richard Hibbard, 17 Paul James, 18 Alun-Wyn Jones, 19 Filo Tiatia, 20 Mike Phillips, 21 Dan Biggar, 22 Gareth Owen
Leinster: 15 Isa Nacewa, 14 Shane Horgan, 13 Gordon D’Arcy, 12 Shaun Berne, 11 David Kearney, 10 Jonathan Sexton, 9 Eoin Reddan, 8 Sean O’Brien, 7 Shane Jennings (captain), 6 Kevin McLaughlin, 5 Malcolm O’Kelly, 4 Nathan Hines, 3 Stan Wright, 2 John Fogarty, 1 Cian Healy
Replacements: (from) Bernard Jackman, Mike Ross, Leo Cullen, Devin Toner, Stephen Keogh, Chris Keane, Fergus McFadden, Simon Keogh
Date: Friday, September 18
Venue: Liberty Stadium, Swansea
Kick-off: 19:05 (18:05 GMT)
Referee: Peter Allan (Scotland)
Assistant referees: tba (Wales), tba (Wales)
