Wales wing Adams released for Cardiff at Ospreys

Published3 hours ago

Wales wing Josh Adams has been released from international camp to start for Cardiff against Ospreys at St Helen's on Saturday in the United Rugby Championship (URC).

The 31-year-old is the only Welsh region-based member of Steve Tandy's squad to be sent out for game time prior to the Nations Championship.

Adams returned from a hamstring injury off the bench at Northampton a fortnight ago and started the defeat by Sharks at Cardiff Arms Park last weekend.

Cardiff head coach Corniel van Zyl said: "Josh has only played close to 100 minutes and if you are to look at Test match preparation you probably need almost double that, so it makes sense."

The Blue and Blacks are without their six other members of the Wales squad and Ospreys are missing four players.

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Cardiff are without loose-head prop Rhys Barratt, hooker Liam Belcher, lock Teddy Williams and back-row forwards Alex Mann, James Botham and Taine Basham.

"I would say that you want to see derbies with full squads and both teams being able to select whoever they want," said Van Zyl.

"It's in the schedule, and unfortunately there are priorities with Wales. We lose a few and they lose a few, which will test the squads and lead to opportunities."

Full-back Tom Rogers, fly-half Dan Edwards, scrum-half Reuben Morgan-Williams and loose-head prop Gareth Thomas sit out the derby for Ospreys, who enjoyed a winning return to St Helen's against Dragons last weekend.

"It is disappointing for the supporters in general," said head coach Mark Jones.

"We are trying to grow the game in Wales, make it front and centre and have as many people in the ground as possible watching.

"That creates a better atmosphere but, from a financial perspective, people spending money want to watch the best players, and that is the challenge.

"That is out of my control and the agreement the regions have with the WRU.

"We have to get on with the cards we have been dealt, and the boys who have been with us have great and get an opportunity.

"But I would have loved to have everybody available and it would be a much better spectacle for the Welsh public."

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Lock Josh McNally is the sole survivor in Cardiff's starting pack from the Sharks game and captains the side in the absence of hooker Belcher.

Without Wales back-rowers Mann, Botham and Basham, number eight Alun Lawrence makes a timely return from injury for a first appearance of the season.

In addition to the six Wales internationals who are unavailable, the Blue and Blacks are without 18 injured players.

Van Zyl said: "There were fewer players available for us, but we are excited with the group of players that we have named for what will be a spicy derby."

Fly-half Harri Wilde, who is on loan at Ospreys from Cardiff, is named on the home replacements bench.

Ospreys flanker Harri Deaves has been ruled out for eight weeks following a knee injury he sustained in the 31-14 victory against Dragons.

Australia centre Lalakai Foketi misses out through illness and Wallabies wing Marika Koroibete was close to being in contention but will return from a rib injury after the November break.

How they line up

Ospreys: Hopkins; Morgan, Watkin (co-capt), K Williams, Giles; Creighton, L Davies; S Thomas, Parry (co-capt), Botha, Ratti, Smith, Wright, Moriarty, M Morris.

Replacements: Daniel, C Jones, Warren, R Davies, Morse, H Williams, Wilde, Boshoff.

Cardiff: Young; Adams, Malan, Emanuel, Bowen; J Evans, Mulder; Southworth, Hughes, Assiratti, McNally (capt), Thornton, Paea, Thomas, Lawrence.

Replacements: Howe, Sio, Sebastian, Manz, de la Rua, A Davies, Sheedy, Darwin-Lewis.

Referee: Ben Breakspear (Wales)

Assistant referees: Carwyn Sion & Marc Caudle (Wales)

TMO: Jenny Davies (Wales)

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