Ospreys keep Europe dream alive with Newcastle win

European Challenge Cup: Ospreys v Newcastle Falcons

Venue: Swansea.com Stadium, Swansea Date: Saturday, 11 January Kick off: 17:30 GMT

Coverage: Live on BBC Radio Wales, commentary and live text updates on the BBC Sport website and app

Jac Morgan leads an Ospreys side showing four changes for their European Challenge Cup tie at home to Newcastle Falcons on Saturday.

Jack Walsh replaces unavailable Max Nagy at full-back, with wing Dan Kasende the only other change in the back division from the United Rugby Championship (URC) draw at Cardiff.

Lock James Fender, sent off at the Arms Park on New Year's Day, was eligible to play, but is not in the Ospreys' 23.

Instead Will Griffiths and Will Spencer form an all-fresh second row, while prop Rhys Henry was a late withdrawal with a calf problem with Tom Botha starting.

Visitors Newcastle arrive with a much-changed and youthful line-up with centre Connor Doherty the only survivor from the team that started against Harlequins in their last game.

Ospreys - who reached the knockout stages last season - are fifth in Pool 2, the lowest of three sides on five points after the opening two rounds of this season's competition.

Their campaign began with a 31-14 win at home to Lions before a record 59-15 European defeat at Montpellier, swiftly followed by Mark Jones replacing Toby Booth as head coach.

Under Jones they have beaten Scarlets by a point and drawn 13-13 with 14 men at Cardiff in their URC festive derbies.

Newcastle, the bottom side in England's Premiership, have lost heavily to Bath, Northampton and Harlequins in recent weeks.

They also prop up Challenge Cup Pool 2 without a point after losing at Pau before falling at home to Dragons.

Ospreys head coach, Mark Jones, said: "Newcastle are a dangerous side and despite results so far, they will still be looking at this competition with a view to qualifying.

"We've gone well in EPCR competitions in recent years, and we're aiming to continue that by picking up a win this week and putting ourselves in the best position possible to qualify for the knockout stages."

Newcastle Falcons consultant director of rugby Steve Diamond, said: "We've got to rotate with the amount of minutes that a lot of our guys have played, common sense tells me.

"It's a good opportunity for a lot of our young lads to come in and I don't think they'll be afraid of going there and playing."

Ospreys: Jack Walsh; Dan Kasende, Owen Watkin, Keiran Williams, Keelan Giles; Dan Edwards, Reuben Morgan-Williams; Gareth Thomas, Sam Parry, Tom Botha, Will Spencer, Will Griffiths, Jac Morgan (capt), Justin Tipuric, Morgan Morris.

Replacements: Lewis Lloyd, Garyn Phillips, Ben Warren, James Ratti, Morgan Morse, Kieran Hardy, Evardi Boshoff, Harri Houston.

Newcastle Falcons: Louis Brown; Max Pepper, Oli Spencer, Connor Doherty, Nathan Greenwood; Kieran Wilkinson, James Elliott; Micky Rewcastle, Ollie Fletcher, Callum Hancock, John Hawkins, Adam Scott, Philip van der Walt (capt), Josh Bainbridge, Ollie Leatherbarrow.

Replacements: Bryan Byrne, Connor Hancock, Murray McCallum, Finn Baker, Reuben Parsons, Hugh O'Sullivan, Jack Metcalf, Rhys Beeckmans.

Referee: Kevin Bralley (FFR)

Assistant referees: Flavien Hourquet (Fra) & Benoit Albert (FFR)

TMO: Denis Grenouillet (FFR)