The Ospreys turn to the experience of Wales international Owen Williams for the testing Heineken Champions Cup assignment against French champions Montpellier on Saturday.
Toby Booth hands the 30-year-old his first start for the region. Williams takes over at fly-half from youngster Jack Walsh in a side showing nine changes from the team that lost to Leicester Tigers in Swansea last weekend.
Booth believes Walsh has a bright future, but has placed his trust in the three-cap Williams and the Neath-born player’s know-how built-up over more than a decade in senior rugby, with much of that time spent amid the heat and pressure of the English top-flight game.
There are three other alterations behind the scrum, seeing Michael Collins and Keiran Williams come into the centre and Luke Morgan feature on the left wing.
Up front, Gareth Thomas, Sam Parry and Tom Botha make up a new front row, Rhys Davies starts at lock and Ethan Roots figures at blindside flanker.
The 6ft 6in Davies made an impression off the bench against Leicester, bringing size and physicality, although it is assumed the Ospreys have opted to leave out the likes of Alun Wyn Jones and Jac Morgan with one eye on the Boxing Day derby against the Scarlets. You can read more about Rhys Davies, Welsh rugby's new giant here.
All who start against Montpellier will know Warren Gatland will be taking notes. Good efforts from Williams and Davies could rocket them up the new Wales coach's potential list of candidates for the Six Nations.
But Montpellier will offer a searching examination. They defeated London Irish on the road last week and have in the likes of Zach Mercer, Cobus Reinach and George Bridge outstanding players.
Montpellier: Anthony Bouthier (capt); Ben Lam, Thomas Darmon, Paolo Garbisi, George Bridge; Louis Carbonel, Cobus Reinach; Enzo Forletta, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Henry Thomas, Florian Verhaeghe, Bastien Chalureau, Clement Doumenc, Alexandre Becognee, Zach Mercer.
Replacements: Curtis Langdon, Grégory Fichten, George Tuinukuafe, Marco Tauleigne, Leo Coly, Julien Tisseron, Masivesi Dakuwaqa, Paul Willemse.
Ospreys: Max Nagy; Alex Cuthbert, Mike Collins, Keiran Williams, Luke Morgan; Owen Williams, Rhys Webb; Gareth Thomas, Sam Parry, Tom Botha, Rhys Davies, Adam Beard, Ethan Roots, Justin Tipuric (capt), Morgan Morris.
Replacements: Scott Baldwin, Nicky Smith, Tom Francis, Huw Sutton, Jac Morgan, Reuben Morgan-Williams, Jack Walsh, Joe Hawkins.
READ MORE:
Wales star Dillon Lewis being targeted by host of English Premiership clubs
Welsh players to be offered conditional contracts while recruitment freeze continues
-
WRU chief Steve Phillips slams critics of community board members and calls for Welsh rugby 'alignment'
Two merged Welsh regions 'could compete with best in Europe' as WRU says country 'needs' four
