Ospreys have announced their team for the United Rugby Championship quarter-final match with Munster on Friday.

Toby Booth has made one change from the team that achieved qualification to the play-off stages with a 29-33 victory over Cardiff Rugby last weekend, with Owen Williams coming in for Dan Edwards at flyhalf.

Justin Tipuric captains the side and forms part of a formidable back row with Wales captain Jac Morgan and Morgan Morris at number eight.

The front five is unchanged and includes another Wales captain in Dewi Lake, who is joined by Nicky Smith and Tom Botha in the front row, and James Ratti and Huw Sutton in the second row.

Ospreys head coach Toby Booth has spoken of his ‘excitement’ at leading his team into the playoffs.

“We’ve got ourselves to the window of opportunity, and we’re excited about it,” said Booth.

“Dealing with the occasion is a challenge and how we get to show our best. We understand against the best like Munster that’s not always possible. We need to understand it’s not always about getting it your own way, sometimes you’re going to have to suffer and hang in there.

“We’re in knockout rugby, there are no second chances.”

Ospreys’ unlikely qualification has been met with widespread praise across Welsh rugby, such has been the struggles for Welsh regions in recent years.

“If Welsh teams are successful everybody wins,” said Booth.

“This is what we’re in it for, you’ve got to dare to dream. We set out at the start to get here, our goals were to get into the play-offs, get into the knockout stages of Europe, and win the Welsh shield.

“We’ve achieved all three of those and now everything is a stretched target. It is a credit to everyone in the group, the overriding emotion after last weekend was pride. We’re here now, let’s see how we do.”

Ospreys Team: Max Nagy; Luke Morgan, Owen Watkin, Keiran Williams, Keelan Giles; Owen Williams, Reuben Morgan-Williams; Nicky Smith, Dewi Lake, Tom Botha; James Ratti, Huw Sutton; Jac Morgan, Justin Tipuric (c), Morgan Morris.

Subs: Sam Parry, Gareth Thomas, Rhys Henry, Victor Sekekete, Morgan Morse, Luke Davies, Luke Scully, Harri Houston.

Munster Team: Simon Zebo; Calvin Nash, Antoine Frisch, Seán O’Brien, Shane Daly; Jack Crowley, Craig Casey; Jeremy Loughman, Niall Scannell, Stephen Archer; RG Snyman, Tadhg Beirne (c); Peter O’Mahony, John Hodnett, Gavin Coombes.

Subs: Diarmuid Barron, John Ryan, Oli Jager, Jack O’Donoghue, Alex Kendellen, Conor Murray, Tony Butler, Mike Haley.

Analysis: Ospreys’ formidable team with only six tourists

For many in Welsh rugby, this Ospreys team contains few surprises. Booth’s team have been the most successful region in Wales this season by some distance and his consistency in selection in recent weeks has contributed to their late charge to the URC playoffs.

What is surprising is that only six of the 23 – 18 of which are eligible to be called up by Gatland – are going to be representing Wales this summer.

While Keelan Giles and Sam Parry were rewarded for their domestic form this season, the continued exclusion of the likes of James Ratti, Morgan Morris, Nicky Smith, Keiran Williams, and Owen Williams has been something of a head scratcher for fans.

Never one to shy away from bold selection calls Gatland was asked specifically about Nicky Smith and Morgan Morris after the squad was announced.

“Nicky [Smith] has done alright,” Gatland said.

“It’s about continuity in selection. We know what Nicky can do and with some of those players we want to keep them in the squad and develop them.

“The best example of that is Evan Lloyd. We brought him in, saw the potential which was identified by Cardiff, saw how he improved and now he’s starting for Cardiff last weekend.”

Gatland also explained that Morris needed to work on some parts of his game before being ready for international selection.

“It’s not just the attack stuff,” the Wales coach added.

“It’s both sides of the ball. When we got through the videos with players, it’s stuff off the ball. He’s had some really good games for the Ospreys.

“We’ve got a load of good players in that position. For him, it’s working on those things.”

Eddie James gets the call

Warren Gatland has added Scarlets centre Eddie James to his squad for Wales’ summer internationals.

James brings the tally of uncapped players in the 37-player strong squad to five, with Keelan Giles, Josh Hathaway, Jacob Beetham, and Ellis Bevan also bidding to win their first caps against South Africa, Australia, and Queensland Reds.

With Mason Grady and Ben Thomas set to play outside of their usual centre positions, on the wing and at flyhalf, respectively, Gatland initially only had Owen Watkin and Nick Tompkins as out-and-out centres in the squad.

Gatland’s side face the Springboks at Twickenham on 22 June, when several players based outside Wales are unavailable for a match outside the official Test window, including Tompkins.

This means that James may be in line for a first test cap at the first opportunity. The 21-year-old was excellent against Dragons at Judgement Day and has been rewarded for a fine season.