The Ospreys have radically reshaped their team for the testing BKT United Rugby Championship clash with Ulster at the Kingspan Stadium on Saturday (7.35pm), with the selectors making nine personnel changes.
Toby Booth’s side came up with their best display of the season when beating Glasgow Warriors 32-17 last time out.
But Booth takes Wales players George North, Tomas Francis, Adam Beard and Alun Wyn Jones off the front line for the mission in Belfast, presumably to manage their game time.
They are replaced by Luke Morgan, Tom Botha, Rhys Davies and Huw Sutton, who makes his first start.
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Further alterations see Stephen Myler and Reuben Morgan-Williams — who impressed off the bench against Glasgow — feature behind, with Gareth Thomas, Dewi Lake and Will Griffiths starting up front.
Sutton is seen as a highly promising lock. He grew up in Plumstead in England and was part of the Welsh Exiles programme, arriving at the Ospreys after a spell in New Zealand and also taking in stints with Swansea University and Swansea RFC.
There won’t be many more challenging tests he’ll face over his whole career than an evening at the Kingspan.
Dan Lydiate leads the side from No. 8, with Jac Morgan packing down alongside him.
Booth said: “You know what to expect at Kingspan and you know exactly what you need to be when you go there. They are a very hostile crowd in a good way and very supportive for their team. We’ve talked about creating our own energy and our own vibe to go there and like certain places if you don’t turn up with the right attitude and the right mental constitution you end up losing before you’ve even got off the bus. That’s the first challenge.
“The second challenge is we want to impose ourselves and carry on the performance momentum we’ve shown so far this season. We have a lot to be positive about and we’re respectful about what we’re walking in to.”
Ospreys: Max Nagy; Luke Morgan, Owen Watkins, Michael Collins, Keelan Giles; Stephen Myler, Reuben Morgan-Williams; Gareth Thomas, Dewi Lake, Tom Botha, Rhys Davies, Huw Sutton, Will Griffiths, Jac Morgan, Dan Lydiate (capt).
Replacements: Scott Baldwin, Nicky Smith, Rhys Henry, Jack Regan, Morgan Morris, Rhys Webb, Jack Walsh, Joe Hawkins.
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