THE Ospreys insist they can accommodate Justin Tipuric and Sam Lewis — and have flagged up the prospect of the two opensides playing together at some point.
Tipuric is in the frame to tour with the Lions this summer, having had a hugely successful Six Nations with Wales.
He is set to feature in the region's final three scheduled games of the season, starting against Treviso in Swansea tomorrow evening, but the Ospreys haven't forgotten about Lewis, who excelled while the internationals were away during the Six Nations. "We can accommodate Justin and Sam," said forwards coach Jonathan Humphreys.
"To be competitive in any tournament, you need two top-drawer players in each position and that is what these boys are.
"The way it is, Justin will be a Welsh international for many years to come, and for large chunks of each season we will be playing without him.
"So we are very fortunate we have someone like Sam, who wants to play in the big games and pushes him all the way.
"He provides something different and we may play both of them in the same side at some point.
"We just count ourselves lucky to have them."
In many ways, Tipuric is a force of nature, the Trebanos man having banged in two 80-minute performances on successive weekends after the Six Nations and performed at full tilt on each occasion.
Where former Swansea man Lewis stands out is with his defensive work, which is close to being as good as anything in Wales.
Meantime, the Ospreys are hoping their fans will turn out in force for the final home game of the season, against Treviso.
"We love playing at home," said Humphreys.
"Over the past year the atmosphere in the stadium has been great and it would mean a lot if we had a decent turnout for the game with Treviso.
"They are a strong side, who forced a draw in Ulster not so long ago, so we are expecting a big challenge.
"Hopefully, the fans will be there in numbers. The boys respond to good support."
MARK ORDERS
