North on bench for Ospreys Champions Cup return

George North has played 109 internationals for Wales

Wales three-quarter George North is back from injury on the bench for Ospreys' Heineken Champions Cup match against Montpellier.

Internationals Alex Cuthbert, Owen Williams, Rhys Webb, Alex Cuthbert, Adam Beard, and Jac Morgan all start after sitting out the United Rugby Championship defeat by Leinster.

Ospreys are seeking to repeat a shock 21-10 win in France in Decemeber.

The Welsh side and Montpellier are among six mid-table teams locked on five points at halfway in their 12-club group, with eight teams progressing in the Champions Cup and two dropping into the Challenge Cup.

North has started the past seven matches for Wales at outside centre.

"It's good to get him back," said Booth.

"The greater the standing of the player, the more authority they command, and George is one of those.

"He's been there and done it as a 100-cap international player, so when he talks people listen.

"He knows his performance has to stand up but it's good for these young players to be around people like that, because it makes a difference."

Booth has swapped his starting front row and replacements as part of a rotation policy, while in-form Wales squad candidate Kieran Williams misses out with a minor knock, once-capped Joe Hawkins coming in.

Wing Mat Protheroe has been ruled out with a broken arm, while flanker Ethan Roots is injured and Rhys Davies, usually a lock, starts at blind-side with Jac Morgan at eight.

Ospreys' resurgence in Montpellier was followed by two Christmas derby wins and a narrow loss to URC front-runners Leinster.

"it was a massive win [in France] which kick-started our momentum with a run of wins and the boys have gained a lot of confidence from that, after everyone wrote us off out there," said wing Keelan Giles.

"We're expecting a big battle again against a top quality side, the French champions last year."

Montpellier, captained by France lock Paul Willemse, field 11 of the starting team which beat Racing 92 in their most recent Top 14 game.

Ospreys: C Evans; Cuthbert, Collins, Hawkins, Giles; O Williams, Webb: G Thomas, Baldwin, Botha, Beard, AW Jones, R Davies, Tipuric (capt), J Morgan.

Replacements: Lake, Smith, Francis, B Davies, Sutton, Morris, Morgan-Williams, North.

Montpellier: Bouthier; Tisseron, Darmon, Doumayrou, Rattez; Carbonel, Coly; Forletta, Paenga-Amosa, Lamositile, Chalureau, Willemse (capt), Van Rensburg, Becognee, Mercer.

Replacements: Langdon, Tui'nukuafe, Haouas, Stooke, Reinach, Lucas, Lam, Camara.

Referee: Karl Dickson (England)

Assistant referees: Craig Maxwell-Keys (England), Phil Watters (England)

TMO: Ian Tempest (England)

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