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NEWS: Lions captain Alun Wyn Jones to make Ospreys return against Sharks

Alun Wyn Jones will return to the Ospreys starting line-up for the first time this season when he takes to the field against the Sharks in the United Rugby Championship on Friday.

Alun Wyn-Jones - Sharks v Ospreys
Image Copyright - Steve Haag Sports

Alun Wyn Jones will return to the Ospreys starting line-up for the first time this season when he takes to the field against the Sharks in the United Rugby Championship on Friday.

Two women looking excitedly at cellphone

Jones will line up alongside fellow British and Irish Lion Adam Beard in the second row.

Gareth Anscombe and Rhys Webb pair up as the half-backs with Webb as captain once again.

Meanwhile, Sharks head coach Sean Everitt has made a number of changes to his starting line-up for this encounter.

Springbok prop Thomas du Toit is handed the captaincy role, but the rest of the front-row has been changed with Ntuthuko Mchunu in for Khwezi Mona and Kerron van Vuuren for Fez Mbatha (injured). Du Toit will lead the team because Phepsi Buthelezi plays off the bench this week.

Hyron Andrews and Ruben van Heerden make a return as the lock partnership, with Le Roux Roets getting a break, while James Venter comes in for Dylan Richardson with Henco Venter named at number eight.

In the midfield, Marius Louw and Jeremy Ward will partner up in place of Murray Koster and Werner Kok while Marnus Potgieter replaces Yaw Penxe, and Anthony Volmink will start at full-back in place of Curwin Bosch.

Potgieter, Volmink and Dan Jooste (on the replacements bench) will be making their United Rugby Championship debuts in this match.

Ospreys: 15 Dan Evans, 14 Mat Protheroe, 13 Tiaan Thomas Wheeler, 12 Owen Watkin, 11 Luke Morgan, 10 Gareth Anscombe, 9 Rhys Webb (c), 8 Morgan Morris, 7 Jac Morgan, 6 Will Griffiths, 5 Alun Wyn Jones, 4 Adam Beard, 3 Tomas Francis, 2 Sam Parry, 1 Nicky Smith
Replacements: 16 Elvis Taione, 17 Gareth Thomas, 18 Tom Botha, 19 Rhys Davies, 20 Ethan Roots, 21 Reuben Morgan-Williams, 22 Stephen Myler, 23 Joe Hawkins

Sharks: 15 Anthony Volmink, 14 Marnus Potgieter, 13 Jeremy Ward, 12 Marius Louw, 11 Thaakir Abrahams, 10 Boeta Chamberlain, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Henco Venter, 7 Gerbrandt Grobler, 6 James Venter, 5 Hyron Andrews, 4 Ruben van Heerden, 3 Thomas du Toit (c), 2 Kerron van Vuuren, 1 Ntuthuko Mchunu
Replacements: 16 Dan Jooste, 17 Khwezi Mona, 18 Lourens Adriaanse, 19 Le Roux Roets, 20 Phepsi Buthelezi, 21 Dylan Richardson, 22 Sanele Nohamba, 23 Werner Kok

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