Ospreys Facing 'Horrific' Roster Situation For Match Against Ulster Rugby
Ospreys Facing 'Horrific' Roster Situation For Match Against Ulster Rugby
Due to Wales Rugby's national players and injured players not playing, the Ospreys head to Belfast for their big match with Ulster with 18 players missing.
Ospreys coach Toby Booth has been faced with the challenging task of piecing together a team amid what he has described as a “horrific” unavailability list.
He is without no fewer than 18 players for the trip to Belfast through injuries and Wales internationals being rested. It has resulted in him selecting a pretty unfamiliar looking matchday 23.
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Hooker Lewis Lloyd is pressed into service as an emergency blindside flanker, with the back five of the scrum being the hardest hit area, as demonstrated by Will Greatbanks and Lewis Jones both making their first starts at lock.
South African backs Evardi Boshoff and Dan Kasende take their season bows, with fly-half Owen Williams slotting into the injury-hit center as he returns to action.
Then, on the bench, you’ve got two forwards stepping up from the second-tier Super Rygbi Cymru competition, with teenage Swansea lock Dan Gemine and Aberavon backrow Rhys Thomas in line to make their regional debuts.
"We've got a lot of people out in similar positions, which makes it challenging," Booth said. “We'll do our best to find a way, like we always do, and we won't be lacking in effort, that's for sure.”
As for Ulster, its efforts will be boosted by the return from injury of Ireland center Stuart McCloskey. The team is looking to build on last weekend’s victory over Connacht.
How To Watch Ulster Rugby Vs. Ospreys At 2:35 p.m. EDT On Oct. 18
The match is streaming live on FloRugby and the FloSports app. Match replays, highlights and breaking news will be on both platforms.
URC Standings Table After Round 4
Rank | Team | Played | Won | Lost | Drawn | For | Against | Pts Diff | Bonus | Points |
1 | Leinster Rugby | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 128 | 54 | 74 | 4 | 20 |
2 | Glasgow Warriors | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 146 | 69 | 77 | 4 | 16 |
3 | Emirates Lions | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 113 | 62 | 51 | 2 | 14 |
4 | Vodacom Bulls | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 98 | 56 | 42 | 2 | 14 |
5 | Connacht Rugby | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 120 | 120 | 0 | 5 | 13 |
6 | Cardiff Rugby | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 101 | 109 | -8 | 4 | 12 |
7 | Munster Rugby | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 103 | 101 | 2 | 3 | 11 |
8 | Ulster Rugby | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 95 | 128 | -33 | 2 | 10 |
9 | Edinburgh Rugby | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 106 | 117 | -11 | 4 | 8 |
10 | Scarlets | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 83 | 87 | -4 | 1 | 7 |
11 | Dragons RFC | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 78 | 111 | -33 | 3 | 7 |
12 | Benetton Rugby | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 73 | 107 | -34 | 1 | 7 |
13 | Ospreys | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 77 | 99 | -22 | 2 | 6 |
14 | Hollywoodbets Sharks | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 73 | 104 | -31 | 2 | 6 |
15 | Zebre Parma | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 67 | 124 | -57 | 2 | 6 |
16 | DHL Stormers | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 67 | 80 | -13 | 1 | 5 |
URC Rugby Schedule For Round 5 Fixtures
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URC Rugby Fixtures Friday, Oct. 18
URC Rugby Fixtures Saturday, Oct. 19
- 7:30 a.m. ET - Zebre Parma vs Lions
- 9:45 a.m. ET - Sharks vs Glasgow Warriors
- Noon ET - DHL Stormers vs Munster
- 12:15 p.m. ET - Edinburgh vs Cardiff
- 2:35 p.m. ET - Dragons vs Benetton
- 2:35 p.m. ET - Connacht vs Leinster
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