Owen Watkin: Wales centre back for Ospreys after 11 hard months

Watkin was injured playing his 43rd international for Wales and hopes to return to the highest level.

“I’m still only 29, still pretty young but think I’ve got a lot of experience now,” said Watkin.

“I just want to get back playing, find a bit of form and see what happens.

“I’d love to get back in the red jersey one day and don’t want that game in France to be my last one.

“I’m still massively motivated to do that but the main point is get back playing, enjoy it and stay fit.”

Watkin is also involved in an Ospreys side battling for its survival with question marks over the future of many of its top players.

The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) is determined to cut one of the professional teams with the governing body stating they propose to grant three licences for men’s clubs.

There will be one in Cardiff, one in the east and one in the west, which is expected to result in a straight survival fight between Ospreys and Scarlets in Llanelli.

Another option that has now emerged is Ospreys owners, Y11 Sport & Media, taking over WRU-owned Cardiff, which could produce the WRU’s desired number of three professional sides.

“There’s a lot of tough things going on in Welsh rugby at the minute, but to be an Ospreys player, the tightness of the group is one thing that doesn’t change,” said Watkin.

“We are a team that is always going to look after each other in the highs and the lows, we are always there for each other.”

Watkin is joined on the replacements bench by number eight Morgan Morris who has been sidelined since April.

Ospreys are missing rested Wales stars Dewi Lake, Gareth Thomas, Dan Edwards, Reuben Morgan-Williams, Rhys Davies, James Ratti and Harri Deaves, with fly-half Jac Walsh leading the side.

Montauban include former Scarlets back rower Vaea Fifita in the starting side.