For immediate release: Thursday 1st December 2005
Issued on behalf of Powergen Cup and  Bristol Rugby

It's all change for Bristol Rugby this weekend as Richard Hill retains only Vaughan Going from the starting XV that beat Sale last week for the Powergen Cup tie against the Ospreys.

With virtually the same team having been in action for the past four weeks, particularly in the pack, Richard Hill takes the opportunity to give some players a well earned weekend off.

It's also a massive opportunity for some others to work their way back into Richard's thinking, for example, the likes of Tommy Hayes and Craig Short who have not featured much due to injury.

In the backs, Vaughan Going moves from left wing to full back with Lee Robinson and Marko Stanojevic lining up on the wings.

There's real experience in the centre with Mark Denney lining up alongside Jon Pritchard and also at half back where Tommy Hayes partners Jake Rauluni.

Alex Clarke, Saul Nelson and Wayne Thompson line up in the front row and there is a first team debut for New Zealand Lock Jay Williams who packs down alongside Ollie Hodge.

Plenty of experience in the back row as well with Chris Morgan and Craig Short named as the flankers and Dan Ward-Smith captaining the side for the first time from number eight.

Notable amongst the replacements are Argentinian prop Martin Rospide and 18 year old flanker Ian Grieve.

Richard Hill explained the need to rest some of his players this afternoon but is also happy with the competition for places in the squad.

"It's a good chance to have a look at a few others and see which players can begin to challenge for places in the next round of league games."

"The competition for places is one of the strengths of the squad. At other clubs certain players are almost guaranteed a place. But our players are performing because they've got someone breathing down their neck."

"We don't want to be like Leeds last season who had a good start and then had a dreadful run of games and then had to win about six games towards the end of the season just to survive on the last day."

"We've got to keep the squad fresh and mix up the preparation so that we're fresh and well prepared for every game."

"It should be a good game. The coaches at Ospreys have a good attitude to the game with good vision and good ideas."

"Their philosophy is to play with ball in hand like ourselves so it should be a good contest - there shouldn't be too much kicking!"

Bristol have never played the Ospreys but, the last time they played Swansea, was in the Heineken Cup at the Memorial Stadium in December 2002. Daryl Gibson opened the scoring after 26 seconds on the way to a 41-23 win.

Bristol Rugby:

Vaughan Going, Lee Robinson, Jon Pritchard, Mark Denney, Marko Stanojevic, Tommy Hayes, Jake Rauluni, Alex Clarke, Saul Nelson, Wayne Thompson, Jay Williams, Ollie Hodge, Craig Short, Chris Morgan, Dan Ward-Smith

Replacements:

Mark Irish, Neil Clark, Martin Rospide, Ian Grieve, Greg Nicholls, Rory Teague, Sean Marsden