Head coach Steve Tandy has called on Ospreys to relish the challenge they face at Newport Gwent Dragons on Friday as the two clubs meet in the first Welsh derby of the GUINNESS PRO12 season. Ospreys have won just once at Rodney Parade since 2007 – a 14-3 reverse in the PRO12 on New Year’s Eve in 2012 – but further statistics make for interesting reading. Of their last 14 PRO12 fixtures against their fellow Welsh regions, Ospreys have won them all and they opened the new campaign with a 44-13 victory at home to Treviso. Head coach Tandy was satisfied with that performance at the Liberty Stadium but wants more against the Dragons – and is expecting his team to stand up to the challenge. “Going to Rodney Parade is always a real test of character and that will be even more so this week with the young group of players that we have,” he said. “The Dragons have recruited heavily over the summer and brought in some real quality in the shape of Lions and Wales internationals and off the back of a good pre-season will be expecting to make a real impact this season. “That’s the challenge for us as a group, to step up against an older and more experienced squad of players. It’s not going to be easy but we have to go there and front up. It’s a good test, one that we are looking forward to, underdogs or not. “It was a pretty pleasing start to the season with the Treviso win, but that’s all it was, pretty pleasing. It’s great to score a few tries and to pick up a bonus point win but we’re under no illusions about where we are.” Tandy has stuck with the same starting XV that beat Treviso for the trip to Rodney Parade with fly-half Dan Biggar set to make his 150th appearance for Ospreys. Their list of replacements is the same too while Dmitri Arhip, Ashley Beck, Ryan Bevington, Sam Lewis, Tom Smith and Justin Tipuric are all out injured. Meanwhile the Dragons welcome Hallam Amos and Taulupe Faletau – the former returning from shoulder surgery while the latter was rested for their opening 16-11 defeat to Connacht. Amos joins skipper Lee Byrne and Aled Brew in the back three while the second row has one change as Ian Gough steps in to take on his old teammates alongside Rynard Landman. Both flankers, Lewis Evans and Nic Cudd get the nod and are joined in the back row by No.8 Faletau and Gough wants the whole team to stand up against Ospreys. “The youngsters coming through have been superb,” he said. “The likes of Elliot Dee, Tyler Morgan, Hallam Amos sprinkled through the side, they are local guys coming through showing the way. “Elliot, a young 20-year-old, put Rhys Thomas, a 27-cap Wales international, on the bench at Connacht last weekend. “That’s what we are asking these youngsters to do, put in performances and train well to make internationals fear for their places. That’s the environment we want.” At Rodney Parade, 7.35pm Live on BBC Wales Referee: Nigel Owens (WRU, 113th competition game) Assistant Referees: Gwynn Morris, Dan Jones (both WRU) Citing Commissioner: John Charles (WRU) TMO: Derek Bevan (WRU)
