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Mark Orders

Ospreys v Edinburgh team news as internationals return and 'awesome' youngster starts

The Ospreys welcome back Wales hooker Sam Parry and fly-half Stephen Myler as they aim to stop a five-game losing run when they host leaders Edinburgh in the United Rugby Championship on Saturday (5.15pm kick-off).

Rhys Webb also returns to the side as captain.

Gareth Anscombe has been released from Wales camp to feature among the replacements, with the Wales international looking for game minutes as he continues to move up the gears after his return from long-term injury.

Sidelined by injury since the home European game with Sale on December 12, Parry has slipped out of favour with Wales and the 30-year-old has not started a Test in 15 months. Orthopaedic issues haven’t helped him, but one of the Ospreys’ most powerful players is mobile, strong and turns over opposition ball.

Myler has been on the casualty list a week longer. The Ospreys value his ability to run matches and he and Webb will be crucial if they are to ambush the high-flying Scots.

The priority for Webb will be to lead by example and focus on the team, but he will also want to remind Wayne Pivac he still has much to offer. His omission from the Wales squad for the Six Nations might be considered harsh because his form has been good this season. Tomos Williams has upped his game over the past six weeks, but no other Welsh scrum-half aside from the Cardiff man has been playing as well as Webb.

In all, the Ospreys make six changes and one positional switch from the side which lost 49-10 to Sale Sharks in the Heineken Champions Cup.

Keelan Giles, Myler and Webb return behind, with Mat Protheroe moving from wing to full-back.

Parry, Rhys Davies Will Griffiths are all welcomed back up front, Harri Deaves continues on the openside flank and the promising Huw Sutton is on the bench.

Keiran Williams features in the centre alongside Michael Collins, who described the relentlessly direct youngster this week as "awesome and bloody good at what he does".

Ospreys head coach Toby Booth said: “We are looking forward to challenging ourselves against the very best, as we always do, and the exciting thing is that we are back home and we have people coming in to watch the game.

“Having the fans back is massive, everybody likes watching live sport and players love performing in front of live audiences. In those difficult moments, a home crowd can make the difference.

“We need as much support as we can get to support our young players and to drive us over the line.”

Darcy Graham, Jamie Hodgson, Ben Vellacott and Mark Bennett are all selected in the Edinburgh matchday 23 after being released from Scotland’s Six Nations training camp to take a place on the bench.

Ospreys' last win came against Ulster on December 4, with their efforts since hampered by a savage injury list.

For this weekend, Booth reckons his side are without 21 players when Wales calls are factored in.

Ospreys: M. Protheroe; K. Giles, M. Collins, K. Williams, L. Morgan; S. Myler, R. Webb (capt); Nicky Smith, Sam Parry, Tom Botha, Rhys Davies, Lloyd Ashley, Will Griffiths, Harri Deaves, Ethan Roots.

Replacements: Elvis Taione, Rhodri Jones, Rhys Henry, Huw Sutton, Morgan Morris, Reuben Morgan-Williams, Gareth Anscombe, Tiaan Thomas Wheeler.

Edinburgh : H. Immelman; D. Graham, M. Currie, C. Hutchison, E. Boffelli; J. van der Walt; H. Pyrgos (capt);B. Venter, D. Cherry, A. Williams, M. Sykes, G. Young, M. Bradbury, C. Boyle M. Kunavula.

Replacements: Adam McBurney, Harrison Courtney, Lee Roy Atalifo, Jamie Hodgson, Ben Muncaster, Ben Vellacott, Charlie Savala, Mark Bennett.

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