Heineken Cup: Treviso v Ospreys (Sat)
Page last updated at 11:39 GMT, Friday, 18 November 2011
Heineken Cup Pool Five
- Venue: Stadio di Monigo
- Date: Saturday, 19 November
- Kick-off: 1330 GMT
- Coverage: Live commentary on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru & online, score updates on the BBC Sport website. Live on Sky Sports 2, highlights on S4C
Ospreys captain Alun Wyn Jones is out of their Heineken Cup clash in Treviso on Saturday after dislocating a toe in training.
The injury also rules the lock out of Wales' clash against Australia in Cardiff on 3 December.
Jones has surgery at the weekend and Ryan Jones takes over against Treviso.
Hooker Huw Bennett (neck) while also misses the trip to Italy while Justin Tipuric (ankle) and Jonathan Thomas (thigh) will undergo fitness.
If Tipuric is fit, he will lead the Ospreys. If not, veteran wing Shane Williams will do so and Chauncey O'Toole will start at flanker.
If Thomas is ruled unfit, Joe Bearman will start.
Openside Tipuric came off at half-time during the region's 28-21 victory over Biarritz last weekend.
Wales hooker Bennett suffered a neck spasm after the same game and has not recovered.
Opsreys physiotherapist Chris Towers said: "Alun Wyn suffered a foot injury in training this week.
"As a result he is going to require surgery to repair soft tissue damage, which will be carried out over the weekend.
"Once he starts his post-op rehab work we will be in a better position to predict recovery timelines.
"Huw, unfortunately, didn't recover in time from a neck spasm that developed after last weekend's game."
However, prop Adam Jones has recovered from a calf injury sustained against Biarritz to face Treviso.
Ospreys put their 100% record against Italian teams on the line against Treviso, who have lost their last for 12 games in Europe.
But the Pro12 leaders have only won once away in Europe, thrashing Viadana 62-7 in December 2009, since the Welsh region beat Treviso in December 2008.
Ospreys will are without Wales prop Paul James (thumb), back Gareth Owen and Scottish wing Nikki Walker (both knee).
Ospreys hope to keep up the pressure on Pool Five pace-setters Saracens.
Scott Johnson's side beat Biarritz in their Heineken Cup opener and the French side will host English Premiership high-fliers Saracens in round two on Saturday.
Team newsTreviso: L Nitoglia; B de Jager, T Benvenuti, A Sgarbi, B Williams; K Burton, T Botes; M Rizzo, E Ceccato, L Cittadini, A Pavanello [capt], C van Zyl, B Vermaak , A Zanni, R Barbieri
Replacements: F Sbaraglini, I Fernandez Rouyet, P di Santo, V Bernabo, G PadrĂ², M Vosawai, W de Waal, F Semenzato
Ospreys: Richard Fussell; Tommy Bowe, Andrew Bishop, Ashley Beck, Shane Williams; Dan Biggar, Kahn Fotuali'i; Duncan Jones, Richard Hibbard, Adam Jones, Ryan Jones, Ian Evans, George Stowers, Justin Tipuric/Chauncey O'Toole, Jonathan Thomas/Joe Bearman.
Replacements: Mefin Davies, Ryan Bevington, Aaron Jarvis, Ian Gough, Joe Bearman/Tom Smith, Rhys Webb, Matthew Morgan, Tom Isaacs.
Referee: Mr Pascal Gauzere (France)
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See also
-
Wales 'do not appreciate Biggar'
16 November 11Rugby Union
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Saracens 42-17 Treviso
11 November 11Rugby Union
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Ospreys 28-21 Biarritz
12 November 11Rugby Union
-
Heineken Cup 2011/12
07 June 11Rugby Union
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BBC Sport Wales coverage
03 October 11Wales