Jones urges Ospreys to build on impressive opener

2 hours ago 2

Mark Jones yelling during Ospreys training

United Rugby Championship: Stormers v Ospreys

Venue: DHL Stadium, Cape Town Date: Friday, 3 October Kick-off: 18:00 BST

Ospreys head coach Mark Jones has challenged his side to build on last weekend's impressive attacking display when they take on South African side Stormers.

Ospreys were defeated 53-40 by Bulls in Pretoria, but Jones said to score six tries at altitude against one of the best defences in the United Rugby Championship (URC) filled him with pride.

He has made four changes for Friday's game in Cape Town, with Kieran Hardy taking over from Reuben Morgan-Williams as the starting scrum-half.

Props Gareth Thomas and Rhys Henry also come into the first XV along with lock Huw Sutton, while there is a shuffle in the back-row where captain Jac Morgan's comeback has been slightly delayed with a calf injury.

James Ratti comes in at six, with Ross Moriarty switching from blind-side flanker to number eight and Morgan Morse dropping to the bench.

Stormers opened their campaign by thrashing defending champions Leinster, with the 35-0 scoreline marking the first time the province had been held scoreless in a league game since 2008.

"To zero Leinster, the highest try-scoring team in the league last year, is a pretty impressive feat," said Jones.

Ospreys have tasted success over last season's quarter-finalists in their last two meetings, the most recent a 37-24 victory at Brewery Field, which Jones said breathes confidence into his side.

"It definitely gives those who have been involved the confidence that it can be done, but to say I'm confident against a South African team on away soil would be a bit of a stretch because they've shown time and time again that they are such a difficult team to beat," said Jones.

"I know John Dobson (Stormers head coach) was particularly upset the last time we won out here (Cape Town) and we know that they'll be smarting from it.

"All we can do is make sure that we get our own game right, we've got lots to work on from the last game, but we're working on it from a positive position.

"The boys feel good, they know why we didn't get certain things right, it's not like we're searching around, we just need to deliver."

Line-ups

Stormers: Simelane; Senatla, Nel (capt), Du Plessis, Zas; Matthee, Duvenage; Matongo, Venter, Fouche, Smith, Schickerling, Theunissen, Evans, Roos.

Replacements: Kotze, Vermaak, Sandi, Van Heerden, Dixon, De Villiers, Ungerer, Swart.

Ospreys: Walsh; Kasende, P Cokanasiga, K Williams, Giles; Edwards, Hardy; G Thomas, Lake (capt), R Henry, R Davies, Sutton, Ratti, Deaves, Moriarty.

Replacements: L Lloyd, C Jones, T Botha, Fender, Morse, Morgan-Williams, Florence, Hopkins.