Disappointed Ospreys face optimistic Castres

Disappointed at their defeat in Limerick, which put paid to any Osprey ambitions of the quarter-finals in the Heineken Cup, the Welsh side has made several changes to the team to meet Castres at The Gnoll in Neath on Saturday. Castres on the other hand still have hopes alive.

The French side are two points behind Munster and are on 16 points and would hope for a second-place berth in the quarter-finals.

In the first encounter between these two Pool 4 sides, the Ospreys won 38-17 but it was not easy - just three tries to two and the Ospreys had a player sent off and another in the sin bin.

The Ospreys have made several changes. Stefan Terblanche moves to fullback in the place of Adrian Durston who subsides to the bench. Elvis Seveali'i comes to right-wing in Terblanche's place. David Bishops comes off the bench to outside centre with Sonny Parker moving to inside centre and big Gavin Henson to flyhalf in the place of Matthew Jones. There is another change at halfback where Richie Rees comes in for New Zealander Jason Spice.

In the pack Steve Tandy is in for Richard Pugh, Andrew Lloyd for James Bater, Andrew Newman for Australian Brent Cockbain, Adam Jones for Andrew Millward and Paul James for Duncan Jones who has broken a thumb.

Fresh on the bench is Cai Griffiths.

Teams:

Ospreys: 15 Stefan Terblanche, 14 Elvis Seveali'i, 13 David Bishop, 12 Sonny Parker, 11 Shane Williams, 10 Gavin Henson, 9 Richie Rees, 8 Ryan Jones, 7 Steve Tandy, 6 Andrew Lloyd, 5 Jonathan Thomas, 4 Andrew Newman, 3 Adam Jones, 2 Barry Williams (captain), 1 Paul James
Replacements: 16 Richard Hibbard, 17 Andrew Millward, 18 Cai Griffiths, 19 Brent Cockbain, 20 Richard Pugh, 21 Matthew Jones, 22 Adrian Durston

Castres: tbc

Date: Saturday, 15 January 2005
Kick-off: 13.00
Venue: The Gnoll
Expected weather conditions: Partly cloudy with a maximum of 8°C  dropping to 5°C
Referee: Tony Spreadbury (England)
Touch judges: Paul Huckle (England), tbc
Match commissioner: Russell Howells (Wales)