Ospreys v Glasgow Friday 13th Oct 7.15KO

Ospreys v Glasgow

I’ve noticed Glasgow’s improvement over their last 3 games and you can be sure they will be coming down to the Liberty Stadium looking to get something out of the game. Glasgow are also keeping the exact same 22 who stuffed Borders last weekend with just one change to the starting 15.

The Ospreys are a bit of an enigma at the moment – getting completely humped over in Ulster two weeks ago and then turning in great performances against the English teams in the EDF Cup. The Ospreys side look delicious (on paper) and Gavin Henson is being played at 10 which leaves room for the impressive looking Hook to play inside centre again. This Ospreys team hasn’t clicked at all in the Celtic League but you certainly got to think that’s got to change sometime. In all honestly Ospreys should be looking to secure a 4 try bonus point win tonight if they are going to continue being up amoungst the challengers for the league title. Both teams will be looking to take some momentum into their respective HEC games next weekend.

Form: The Ospreys tripped up last time out in the Magners League: 7-43 at Ulster on 22 September. However at Liberty Stadium the Welshmen have won ten of their last eleven encounters in all competitions. The Ospreys have not lost to a Scottish opponent since Edinburgh beat them at Murrayfield in September 2005. Glasgow Warriors beat Border Reivers 25-0 at Hughenden last Friday – only the second time they have ever blanked an opponent in a league game after winning 35-0 against Connacht at the same venue in December 2004. Glasgow’s only victory in their last 11 matches against Welsh opponents was 17-10 at Stradey Park on 12 May. The Ospreys have lost just once in six previous encounters against Glasgow: 31-34 at Hughenden in May 2004.

Ospreys: 15 Lee Byrne, 14 Nikki Walker, 13 Sonny Parker, 12 James Hook, 11 Shane Williams, 10 Gavin Henson, 9 Justin Marshall, 8 Ryan Jones, 7 Steve Tandy, 6 Jonathan Thomas, 5 Ian Evans, 4 Brent Cockbain, 3 Adam Jones, 2 Huw Bennett, 1 Duncan Jones (c).Replacements: 16 Barry Williams, 17 Paul James, 18 Alun Wyn Jones, 19 Filo Tiatia, 20 Jason Spice, 21 Shaun Connor, 22 Andrew Bishop.

Glasgow: 15 Rory Lamont, 14 Hefin O'Hare, 13 Graeme Morrison, 12 Scott Barrow, 11 Thom Evans, 10 Colin Gregor, 9 Graeme Beveridge, 8 John Beattie, 7 John Barclay, 6 Andrew Wilson, 5 Alastair Kellock, 4 Andy Newman, 3 Euan Murray, 2 Fergus Thomson, 1 Justin Va'a.Replacements: 16 Scott Lawson, 17 Kevin Tkachuk, 18 Dan Turner, 19 Donnie Macfadyen, 20 Sam Pinder, 21 Dan Parks, 22 Andrew Henderson.

Recommendation: I’ve got to go with that Opsrey’s team, it looks the part. I’m a little worried about Glasgows current resurgence but you can get Osprey’s –11 10/11 at BlueSquare.com