Ospreys Vs Zebre

15. Richard Fussell
14. Hanno Dirksen
13. Jonathan Spratt (C)
12. Ben John
11. Jeff Hassler
10. Matthew Morgan
9. Tito Tebaldi
1.Duncan Jones
2. Scott Baldwin
3. Aaron Jarvis
4. Lloyd Peers
5. James King
6. Tyler Ardron
7. Sam Lewis
8. Joe Bearman

Replacements:
16. Matthew Dwyer
17. Marc Thomas
18. Dan Suter
19. Graham Knoop
20. Arthur Ellis
21. Rhys Webb
22. Sam Davies
23. Tom Issacs

The following players were unavailable for selection through injury:
Dmitri Arhip - Achilles
Dan Baker - Shoulder
Adam Jones - Calf
Tom Smith - Knee
Andrew Bishop - Back
Eli Walker - Hamstring
Morgan Allen - Neck

Forwards Coach Chris Gibbs said on the clash:
"We've learnt a lot from the LV=Cup, it's been a good opportunity to look at the younger players and although we didn't get the results we got a chance to see them and who we have coming through as players.
Although Zebre haven't had some of the results they would have wanted they are a very competitive side. We have to control our set piece play and make sure we shut them down".

Good team considering the team Wales drain. I thought King may have been caled into the Wales squad for Tonga as Lydiate is not fully fit and Coobes has an injury.

glamorganalun wrote:Good team considering the team Wales drain. I thought King may have been caled into the Wales squad for Tonga as Lydiate is not fully fit and Coobes has an injury.

There is one fatal flaw to that team selection and also a serious error with especially last weeks game taken into consideration.

Good to see a number of Ospreys recovered from recent injuries... Hanno Dirksen, Ben John, Scott Baldwin, Matthew Dwyer, Rhys Webb have all been in the Physio room recently.

Wing Hanno Dirksen will make his first Pro12 start of the year for Ospreys' home game against Zebre.
South African-born Dirksen has not featured since undergoing knee surgery in November 2012.
Prop Aaron Jarvis is also back in action and the Ospreys are bolstered by the return of Canadian internationals Tyler Ardron and Jeff Hassler.
The Italian side have beaten the Blues and drawn with the Scarlets this season.
Zebre's 30-25 win over the Blues at the Arms Park was their first in the Pro 12, and it took a last-minute penalty by Rhys Priestland to save Scarlets from defeat in Italy.
Ospreys forwards coach Chris Gibbes is warning the Italian team pose a new threat.
"They are a very competitive side - we're expecting a hell of a lot from this team," Gibbes said.
"I think if you look at their back row, nine, 10 combination they can hurt you.
"They have improved a lot and if you let their back row and half-backs play then everything else comes off that."
Gibbes has first hand experience of Zebre's scrum-half Brendan Leonard, having coached the former All Black at Waikato.
"He's definitely a handful," said Gibbes.
"He's great, a really good bloke. He's come back from a traumatic knee injury but he's a hell of a player."
The teams have met just twice before with Ospreys gaining a bonus point victory in Parma and Zebre losing 16-15 on their only previous visit to Liberty Stadium in January.


Zebre:

Dion Berryman, David Odiete, Roberto Quartaroli, Gonzalo Garcia (c), Giulio Toniolatti, Paolo Buso, Brendon Leonard; Salvatore Perugini, Andrea Mancini, David Ryan, Augustin Cavalieri, Michael Van Vuren, Filippo Cristiano, Andries Van Schalkwyk,Samuela Vunisa

Replacements: Tommaso D'Apice, Andrea De Marchi, Luciano Leibson, Emiliano Caffini, Nicola Cattina, Guglielmo Palazzani, Alberto Chillon, Enrico Ceccato