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Keelan Giles to make first start for Ospreys in 8 months
By Ian Cameron
Welsh flyer Keelan Giles is set to make his first start for the Ospreys in 8 months after being named in Toby Booth's side for their URC derby match with Scarlets.
Giles will be playing his game since April. It's the latest comeback in a career that has been dogged by injury to date. Now 24, the former Wales U20s Grand Slammer has long been earmarked for international honours but injuries have constantly stood in between him and a first Welsh cap.
One of the fastest men in Welsh rugby, Giles will be eager to string together a run of matches even as the URC struggles with the impact of Covid-19 cancellations.
The Ospreys haven't beaten the Scarlets in Parc y Scarlets since 2015.
Head Coach Toby Booth said: “We are really excited about this game, we have had a long time without any rugby, but the opportunity to get back out there and do what we are paid to do and love to do is what we are all looking forward to.
“We talk about the opportunity to play against the Scarlets and it is a very special occasion. We have some coaches with history with this game and they have driven that message.
“Duncan Jones, Richard Fussell and Richie Pugh, for example, know the history of this fixture and the URC remind us how long it is since we have beaten them. So from that point of view there is enough motivation for us all.”
Ospreys: Dan Evans, Keelan Giles, Michael Collins, Owen Watkin, Luke Morgan, Josh Thomas, Rhys Webb(CAPT), Nicky Smith, Elvis Taione, Tomas Francis, Will Griffiths, Adam Beard, Ethan Roots, Jac Morgan, Morgan Morris
Replacements: Dewi Lake, Gareth Thomas, Tom Botha, Lloyd Ashley, Sam Cross, Matthew Aubrey, Joe Hawkins, Keiran Williams
Scarlets: Liam Williams, Johnny McNicholl, Steff Hughes, Scott Williams (CAPT), Steff Evans, Dan Jones, Gareth Davies, Rob Evans, Ryan Elias, Harri O’Connor, Sam Lousi, Tom Price, Blade Thomson, Josh Macleod, Sione Kalamafoni.
Replacements: Daf Hughes, Steff Thomas, WillGriff John, Aaron Shingler, Tomas Lezana, Kieran Hardy, Rhys Patchell, Tom Rogers.
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Latest Comments
To be fair it was nowhere bear the Leinster first team (for which, btw, Leinster copped nothing like the outrage that Jake White did for sending a rotated team to the UK). But it’s fun to watch the Stormers doing their thing. They are attracting big, diverse crowds of young fans, and deservedly so. Great to see.
Go to commentsIt might be legal but he’s sailing pretty close to the wind. Not a lot needs to go wrong for Finau to end up in the bin. Was it late? Not quite, but borderline. High? A couple of CM within the laws, no room for error with that one. Did he wrap the arms? There was a token effort to wrap one arm, the intent was clearly to hit with the shoulder. So yeah, it’s legal, just. But as we all know, a very slight change in the dynamics could easily have him seeing red. Hopefully not when it really matters.
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