Ospreys make six starting changes and Cardiff nine for St Helen’s derby

Ospreys have named Sam Parry and Owen Watkin as co-captains for Saturday’s United Rugby Championship derby against Cardiff at St Helen’s, kick-off 7.45pm. Cardiff, captained by Josh McNally, have made nine changes.

Six new faces in the Ospreys XV

Comparing the club’s two confirmed selections, Ospreys have brought six players into the starting XV from the side named for the Dragons game on 24 October: Steffan Thomas at loosehead, James Ratti in the second row, Ross Moriarty on the openside, Luke Davies at scrum-half, Lawson Creighton at fly-half and Luke Morgan on the wing. Iestyn Hopkins moves from the wing to full-back. Gareth Thomas, Rhys Davies, Harri Deaves, Reuben Morgan-Williams, Dan Edwards and Tom Rogers are not in the starting side. Liam Wright and Morgan Morris keep their places in the back row. The announcement does not give a reason for each change, so the selection alone should not be read as evidence of injury.

Cardiff change seven forwards

Cardiff’s club announcement says the nine changes from their previous match, against the Sharks, are seven in the pack and two in the back three. McNally is the only forward retained. Danny Southworth, Daf Hughes and Keiron Assiratti form a new front row, with Rory Thornton, Semisi Paea, Dan Thomas and Alun Lawrence also in. Johan Mulder starts at scrum-half with Jarrod Evans at fly-half. Tom Bowen and Matty Young come into the back three, and Josh Adams is on the other wing. Callum Sheedy is among the replacements.

Who is where

Ospreys’ side is Thomas, Parry, Botha, Ratti, Smith, Wright, Moriarty and Morris up front, with Davies, Creighton, Giles, Williams, Watkin, Morgan and Hopkins behind. The full sides and benches are listed below.