So after a pre-season that saw us lose narrowly to the Dragons before then narrowly beating Cardiff, the URC gets underway in earnest with a difficult away trip to Galway where we face Connacht. The pre-season games didn't really point to a likely starting XV for this game and hopefully the illness in the camp, that saw Botha, Watkin and Protheroe miss the Cardiff game, will have passed so we should have most of the squad available for selection.
I think that the matchday 23 will look something like this....
R Henry G Phillips S Parry E Lewis T Botha B Warren R Davies H Sutton W Griffiths J Tipuric J Ratti M Morris H Deaves (Morse if Ratti is out and Lloyd if Parry is out)
RMW L Davies O Williams D Edwards K Giles O Watkin K Williams D Morris L Morgan J Walsh (Maybe Nagy gets a spot because of his versatility, same for Protheroe and possibly Fricker).
DIscuss...
Well that was an interesting one. First half we were truly shocking getting no go forward in attack falling of tackles and struggling with our defensive spacing. The front five defended like statues around the breakdown. Second half a big improvement. We were always going to struggle to win after that start but could have got a second bonus point but for a seriously brain dead piece of play from Luke Morgan. What on earth was he thinking putting his hand in when he was so clearly off the floor when there was nothing on if they won the ball.
The starting front five were woeful with the notable exception of Rhys Davies and their replacement were far more dynamic and with help from Deaves really slowed down ball for their attack and got us over the gain line. Owen Williams had a game he will want to forget and Jack Walsh was excellent. Mark Davies was far quicker to the breakdown than RMW and I think our starting scrum half played a big part in our phase ball being so slow. All that said we showed a lot of heart to come back from that start and a lot of young replacements put their hands up, Connacht are a decent side with few international calls that benefit from continuity. Their 12 was the best player on the pitch by some considerable distance.
The swear jar in the Pantygwydr Express household received a sizeable donation in the first half, but (thankfully) a much improved performance in the second half. Good impact off the bench, Jack Walsh in particular. Still frustrates me that we struggle to clear attacking rucks.
I wonder if a few players need to have some time out to practice some basics? I think Ethan lewis and Owen Williams were costly in that game.
Big Rhys Davies goes over for the BP try that Walsh converts. The bench has had the desired impact and with just 4 minutes to go it is 34-26 which did not look likely after the first 25 minutes.
If we can forget the opening 38 minutes, we are currently leading 7-19...
And just like that, the Connacht 12 ghosts his way through our defence to score a try. He has been very good.
Good pressure from the Ospreys leads to another penalty advantage and a surge from Ratti sees him power over the line for our third try. 27-19. Game on?
Nice break from sub Jack Walsh as he puts RMW in for our second try.
A whole raft of changes from the Ospreys.
Hope Will Griffiths is okay and it is just a stinger.
That is so much better from the Ospreys. Luke Morgan, who has stuggled defensively, makes a little break that gets us in behind the defence where we win a penalty. That goes to touch and we get a penalty advantage. We go wide and a rather superb finish from Keelan Giles gets us on the board. Unfortunately, O Williams cannot add the extras and at half time it is 27-5 to the home team.
A huge teamtalk needed and a massive effort required in the second half to keep the score respectful.
Gonna be a long long day
Terrible start from the Ospreys.
We concede two penalties and then a break leads to a try before some dismal tackling leads to another simple try. 20-0 after 25 minutes.
The Connacht 12 is having a field day.
Got most of the Squad correct with the exceptions of Sam Parry and Dan Edwards.
Really looking forward to this game.
Honestly? I'm just excited to see them play properly again. It's been a very long time and I really love this Ospreys team, I love the identity of the team under Booth, I'm a big fan of the spirit of this squad, and whilst the World Cup has been a great distraction, right now I care more about the Wales women & the O's as teams I just enjoy supporting, and seeing both back this weekend is really exciting, win lose or draw.
Rather than start a new thread, I thought it could be applicable for this match but definitely relevant to the Sharks game, there are 13 players in the Wales squad that are not available for the Barbarian game in early November as it's outside of the World Rugby window when they cannot be forced to join up with Wales. I'm not going to name them as it should be obvious to anybody that follows Welsh Rugby diligently, just to say that 2 of the 3 outside halves are among them so probably Owen Williams will be called up, 2 of the 3 specialist 2nd rows and Tschunza (sp) are not available so probably Rhys Davies called in as well, with the 3 tight heads all not available there is the possibility that Tom Botha could be called in although I expect Assiratti, Leon Brown and one of the Scarlets to be ahead of him, there is even the possibility of Kieran Williams being called up, but seriously doubt that will happen unless there are injuries.
A person on a different Forum (606) has been running a thread for a few weeks now, giving his thoughts on where the Welsh Regions will be situated after the first 7 URC games with Zebre being bottom, Dragons next, I think Scarlets above them then us with Cardiff a few places above us as he thinks they have an easier start.
Apparently the Scarlets are starting with 2 games in SA, and out of their players that were at the WC, they've called out Sam Lousi and Kieran Hardy, none of the Welsh players in the normal squad have been called out.
If all that happens and the talk of none of the Welsh squad being allowed back until 4 weeks after the Barbarian game, our season will be set in stone before it's even started. I know from past experience that blooding youngsters now will be good for the future, yet it could hurt them badly as well in the short term and us.
I sincerely hope none of this happens and it shows the WRU has something of a heart and allows some of the players to stay with us and the other Regions.
I notice in yesterdays Rugby Paper that Finn Russell played for Bath on Saturday coming off the bench, I wonder if Nicky Smith will be available for us for this weekend? I seriously doubt it even though hes played very little at the WC.
Also the 3 tightheads Francis, Thomas and Dillon Lewis will not be available for Wales versus the Barbarians in a few weeks, who will Gatland take from the Regions for this worthless match thereby depleting the Regions in a very important full weekend of URC matches.
Are Iestyn Hopkins and Jack Regan injured? Haven't featured at all during pre-season.
OFF, do you think Cuthbert is still injured? He surely will start if fit.