The away pack go for the rolling maul - such an effective tactic for them last week - but to no avail.

The home forwards were lying in wait and hold the drive up comfortably to earn a scrum.

You sense if Ospreys are going to notch a huge win here, then they can ill-afford to blow too many positions like that.

Ospreys pushing hard here and turn down three points in favour of going for the line. Hooker Efan Daniel taps and goes and although he is stopped short - more pressure and another penalty follows.

This time, Dan Edwards boots to the corner.

I mentioned early scrum problems for Ospreys - but also early lineout problems for Lions.

Just metres out, PJ Botha misses his man for the second straight throw and a chance is wasted.

More Lions pressure after a brilliant chase and aerial take from Kelly Mpeku.

That sets up a spell of pressure and another penalty but this time, Smith has gone for the corner...

Image source, Shutterstock

Ominous signs at the set piece already for the visitors. Two scrums, two penalties conceded.

From the latter, Chris Smith is going for goal from 40 metres out - and he makes no mistake as his effort fades just inside the left post.

First blood to Lions.

Nearly an opportunistic try for the visitors!

A Lions attack breaks down and Tom Rogers hoofs the ball a full 60 metres forward. Iestyn Hopkins sears after it but as the ball rolls over the try line he is just beaten to the grounding by Erich Cronje.

First real sign of the altitude having an effect there. That kick sailed forward.

The Welsh side are the first to attack but make very little inroads as Lions stand firm.

Sure enough, eventually they run out of ideas and Keelan Giles knocks on out wide.

Chris Smith hoists the ball towards the clear blue skies and we are under way...

Teams are out at what I can only politely describe as a non-full Ellis Park, and we are moments from kick-off here.

Come on then, thumbs down for a routine home win or up for an amazing Ospreys away day?

This fixture in South Africa is kick-starting a big day in the United Rugby Championship.

Following this game, all eyes in Wales turn to Rodney Parade and another derby as Dragons host Scarlets (15:00 BST).

Later on, Glasgow Warriors play Ulster and Sharks host Leinster (both 17:30 BST) and to conclude the day, Munster welcome Bulls (19:45 BST).

Elsewhere, Wales women's coach Sean Lynn will have an eye on the WXV game between Ireland and Japan (14:00 BST). His side play two away games against the Sakura Fifteen on 24 and 31 October.

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Just one point has separated these sides over their past two meetings - and both games were nail biters.

Last season, amid the height of the Y11 saga, the sides drew 24-24 in Bridgend with Dan Edwards missing a 79th penalty to win it - just seconds before while Lions wing Angelo Davids spurned a last-gasp try.

That contest followed on from the meeting in Johannesburg in the 2024/24 campaign, when it took an 82nd minute score from Lubabalo Dobela to give the hosts a pulsating 29-28 success.

Recent history suggests we may be treated to some fireworks then.

Don't let us down guys...

Image source, Getty Images

Lions defence coach Jaque Fourie said this week his side still needed to improve despite the stunning win over Leinster.

"There were still a lot we needed to work on this week after last Saturday’s match," said Fourie.

"We need to reset because we know Ospreys will bring a different challenge but we are excited for what’s to come."

The former Springbok also referenced the resilience of the visitors, adding: "Ospreys are tough side here at home and when we play them overseas.

"They have a big pack of forwards and they maul and scrum well. They never go away, they play for 80 minutes so we need to be clinical and put them under pressure with and without ball in hand."

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

In his pre-match press conference this week, Mark Jones insisted it was always the plan to give game time in South Africa to as many players as possible.

"We felt there was a good competition for places and wanted to give everyone a chance to impress," he said.

"The squad worked really hard over the summer and we've got a lot of guys at a similar level so we wanted to see who can grasp an opportunity and make their position their own for the next few games."

Jones also acknowledged the formidable home record of the hosts, and said he had selected a side capable of adapting to the conditions.

"We have picked a team that has good athletes in there but also one we feel can compete at the set piece," he continued.

"But if the game breaks up we want to play some rugby. We scored four tries last week and we want to be a team that is evolving without losing our set piece strength. We know we are going to have to dig really deep."

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

To say Ospreys head coach Mark Jones has tinkered with his team from Durban would signify an absurd understatement.

Wales fly-half Dan Edwards makes his first appearance of the season, and is one of 12 changes with flanker Liam Wright, full-back Iestyn Hopkins and wing Tom Rogers the only survivors.

Edwards, who re-signed in January amid speculation he was set for a move to Scarlets, will be partnered at half-back by Kieran Hardy while Gareth Thomas, Efan Daniel, Rhys Henry, Huw Sutton, Ryan Smith, Harri Deaves, Morgan Morse, Keiran Williams and Evardi Boshoff are also all given a starting chance.

There are no spots in the 23 for co-captains Owen Watkin and Sam Parry, meaning Wright and Keelan Giles will share the leadership duties.

Ospreys: Hopkins; Rogers, Boshoff, K Williams, Giles (co-capt); Edwards, Hardy; G Thomas, Daniel, Henry, Sutton, Smith, Wright (co-capt), Deaves, Morse. Replacements: L Lloyd, C Jones, Warren, R Davies, Moriarty, Morgan-Williams, Creighton, L Morgan.

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

The home side are boosted by the return of South African internationals Morne van den Berg and Quan Horn after both players were in involved in last week’s Mandela Challenge Plate match in Australia.

Head coach Ivan van Rooyen has opted to name both Springboks on the bench, but from the Leinster contest there are still changes to the starting XV.

Flanker Siba Qoma comes in for Batho Hlekani and also in the back row, JC Pretorius slots in at number six in place of Siba Mahashe.

Elsewhere, centre Henco van Wyk misses out after suffering a head injury last weekend, and is replaced by Ethan Adams.

Lions: Chamberlain; Mpeke, Adams, Kriel, Cronje; Smith, Steyn; Venter, Both, Lombard, Oosthuizen, Delport, Pretorius, Qoma, F Horn (capt). Replacements: Brandon, Kotze, Schoeman, Andrews, Mahashe, Sjoblom, M van der Berg, Q Horn.

Image source, Getty Images

Well good afternoon (just about) everyone and welcome to our live coverage of the Ospreys in South Africa - part two. And Mark Jones and his players will be a targeting a marked improvement on part one.

The Welsh side were well beaten 41-24 by the Sharks last weekend although did at least come away from Durban with a losing bonus point. It does not get any easier today though against a Lions team beaten just once in Johannesburg last season - and who kicked off the new campaign with the small matter of a win over champions Leinster, external.

Neutrals would no doubt settle for a similar contest to the one the teams served up last season when they played out an exciting 24-24 draw. The difference that day of course, was Ospreys went toe-to-toe with their opponents some 9,500 miles away from today's venue at the Brewery Field in Bridgend. The challenge for Jones and co now is to be just as competitive in the iconic Ellis Park stadium.

With that rallying call in mind, let's have a look at the team news...