Dragons V Ospreys Jan 4th @Dave Parade 3pm

I am genuinely confused by some things....why after taking so long to sign him and eventually get him here to seemingly replace the inept Luke Price, why on earth did we keep the inept Price on the pitch and leave MacKenzie on the bench? We could have gone with Price and 12 even and played the two pivot system or just swapped one for the other?

The other thing that has confused me is why has it taken until around 11pm for a match report of the game today to appear on the Ospreys website? Unless I am wrong but the time says it was posted 25 minutes ago.

I have to agree that Luke Price is out of his depth and try as he might he doesn't have the skills or thinking to do anything other than go through the motions. He is better than the average club player but surely even he would have to admit that he is struggling to compete at Pro14 level. In the end the responsibility does rest on Sherritt's shoulders his game plan was only as effective while the Dragons struggled to keep their width. But it was basically shown up when we were forced to make changes putting North in the centre I hope was because Scott Williams was injured and looked like George was as well because we instinctively played the same tactic of box kicking to the wing when Hanno came on who was even less effective than North or Morgan. We missed our chance to consolidate the lead and with the substitutions we lost our shape especially after Tip's went off.

I have agree that we would be better off letting Sherritt go now because he has a one dimensional attack plan and does not comprehend how to use 15 players.

Once again our back line is toothless, we create very little and give the wings little option.The box kick is it seems our only option and we continually give the ball away. Our lack of urgency and speed combined with poor game management cost us a win.

I think Luke Price is never going to win any game and his mistakes will continually lose them. I really hope we can find an attack coach now and let Sheratt go early. Why we carried on with the same half backs I do not know

That was better from the Ospreys but still not good enough. I hate Sean Holley's commentary and the man himself if I am being honest. Brace is a joke as he really did his best to allow them to gain territory and ball to win the game. There was a ruck seconds before the charged down kick, why Luke why???? and there was clearly hands in the ruck that Brace saw but he did not give a penalty and the rest is history. MacKenzie should have come on for Price.

North wonders off injured and Price cannot even kick the ball 10 metres at the restart. Scrum to Dragons and they win a free kick that Sam Davies kicks off the park.

Well done Brace, well done.

Ospreys are penalised at the scrum and Moriarty pushes for the line, the Ospreys defence holds a few charges but Davies kicks across a narrow (heard that before somewhere) and Dragons score a try. Sam Davies missed the conversion and it is 18-18. Holley orgasmed when they scored. Tips limps off at 77 minutes, for Sam Cross. Venter on as well in the forwards.

Somehow the Dragons kick the ball down the field after Price is charged down and they score, Davies converts and it is 25-18 with a minute to go. Brace gleefully awards the try even though he should have given the Ospreys a penalty seconds earlier....

Dragons win another penalty that is kicked to touch and Morgan keeps the ball in but knocks it on. Dragons with a scrum some 18 metres out from the Ospreys line.

Ospreys have changed both props, Dragons win another joke penalty that should really have been reversed and Ospreys defence holds firm so far, resulting in a lineout to Ospreys. Final 10 minutes.

Dragons win a joke penalty and Davies misses to touch allowing Aled Davies to clear. Beard pinches another lineout and A Davies smacks it deep into the Dragons half but Ospreys are pinged after the lineout and S Davies kicks to touch.

A decent passage of play from the Dragons as they make a belated insurgence into the Ospreys half but it comes to nothing with a knock on. Big last 15 minutes needed by the Ospreys.

Ospreys win a penalty as Tips is grabbed in the air at a lineout, the tee comes on and Price kicks for goal. This is an important kick and Price misses it. 13-18 still.

Dragons defence holds out as the Ospreys seem to run out of ideas rather quickly and knock the ball on. Dragons scrum 5 metres out. Scott Williams off for Dirksen - North to centre. Dragons win a free kick and Davies clears to touch for an Ospreys lineout.

Another strong passage of play as Morris breaks and the Ospreys finally move the ball through the hands, the ball comes back infield and Morris crashes over but he is held up over the line. Attacking scrum to the Ospreys, 5 metres out.

Ospreys are on the Dragons line and eventually score a try through Thomas-Wheeler. Major props to Adam Beard for pinching the lineout ball that started this passage of play. Price converts and Ospreys lead 13-18 after 50 minutes.

Great break from Scott Otten as he strides down the pitch, Ospreys move the ball wide but a mix up between Crackenll and Thomas-Wheeler ends up with the pass in touch. Should have been a try.

Brace remembers that his other arm works and gives the Ospreys a kickable penalty, Luke Price steps up and splits the posts. 13-11 after 46 minutes. Tips is everywhere for the Ospreys.

Brace just loves giving the Dragons penalties and they get two in quick succession, while missing a pass almost identical to our one he called forwards just on half time. Sam Davies steps up to kick and with 44 minutes gone, extends the Dragons' lead to 13-8.

A poor, nothing kick from Price somehow ends up in a penalty to Ospreys and the Ospreys decide to go for the corner. Ospreys move the ball but are called for a forward pass??? and at half time Dragons lead 10-8.

A kicking battle ends with a territory gain for Ospreys but Scott Williams has to do more than kick the ball, surely?

THAT was a CLEAR forward pass but Brace and the TMO allow it and after a successful conversion, Dragons now lead 10-8.

Sam Parry wins another turnover penalty that Cai Evans outs into the Dragons 22 but the Ospreys turn it over at the first breakdown....

Ospreys turn to win a kickable penalty and Luke Price set to kick, he needs this after missing the conversion and splits the posts 3-8 Ospreys after 26 minutes.

Morgan Morris lands under a Dragons player and cannot move but is pinged for not rolling away. Sam Davies lands the penalty and it is 3-5 after 24 minutes.

TRY TIME - Ospreys withstand some Dragons pressure and eventually force a turnover. The ball is kicked down the pitch and the Ospreys through Tips win another turnover. The ball goes through the hands before Scott Williams puts the kick across for George North for a walk in try, however the conversion is missed and after 20 minutes the Ospreys lead 0-5.

Decent defence from the Ospreys but Cracknell is pinged for not rolling away and the Dragons look to open the scoring....8 minutes on the clock and Davies hits the post. Dragons could have had a chance of a try but the ref pings Davies for a high tackle but we miss the kick to touch.

Reasonable start from the Ospreys.

Come on then Ospreys - nobody gives you a chance so....

Don't expect a lot out of todays game, but what I do expect is a lot more of the fight of a true Osprey team, none of the total capitulation of the last game, there's been well over a week to instill a sense of what this Region is all about to these 23 representing Ospreylia today.

I have the same feeling of intrepidation regarding Luke Price as well but who else would you use? In the recent games when he came on he showed better game management than McKenzie who after a good start has lost his way a little. This may have more to do with the constant changes in the team for each game than him personally, what he felt was possible after his first game may have left him with a confused state of mind as we played stronger opposition.

On the other hand Luke may only be fit for the lower leagues but he does manage the game for 80 minutes even if he lacks the skill to play at the standard needed; but as I say who do you replace him with? James Hook or Cai Evans both would show more but lack either speed, strength or tenacity. Cai would play a faster game but lacks experience for 80 minutes at this level and even though he has been around the squad for a while he doesn't look as if he could boss the game.

Well McKenzie hasn’t exactly set the world on fire !!!

still can’t understand why cracknell has been starting with Lydiate On the bench

Luke Price, oh..........

The Ospreys have named their team to face the Dragons in round ten of the Guinness PRO14 at Rodney Parade on Saturday 4th January, K.O 3pm.

George North returns to the starting line up on the right wing for the first time since the Rugby World Cup, with fellow international Luke Morgan on the other wing and youngster Cai Evans at fullback once more. Scott Williams, having recovered from an injury sustained on Boxing Day, reforms the midfield partnership with Tiaan Thomas-Wheeler at inside and outside centre respectively. Luke Price gets the nod at outside half with Aled Davies starting at scrumhalf.

Morgan Morris pulls on the number eight jersey, while Olly Cracknell starts again on the blindside and captain Justin Tipuric will lead the side from the openside position. There's no change in the second row either, with Adam Beard and Bradley Davies providing the power in the boiler room. Nicky Smith and Ma'afu Fia pack down at loosehead and tighthead respectively, while Sam Parry returns to the starting XV having shaken off an ankle injury sustained against Connacht back in early November.

On the bench, new signing Darryl Marfo is set to make his Ospreys debut, while Scott Otten and Simon Gardiner complete the three front row replacements. Dan Lydiate and Sam Cross provide a dynamic addition to the pack from the bench. South African Shaun Venter is named as the scrumhalf replacement, while Marty McKenzie covers the outside half position. Hanno Dirksen returns from injury to cover the back three.

Starting XV: 15. Cai Evans 14. George North 13. Tiaan Thomas-Wheeler 12. Scott Williams 11. Luke Morgan 10. Luke Price  9. Aled Davies

1.Nicky Smith 2. Sam Parry 3. Ma'afu Fia 4. Adam Beard 5. Bradley Davies 6. Olly Cracknell 7. Justin Tipuric © 8. Morgan Morris

16. Scott Otten 17. Darryl Marfo 18. Simon Gardiner 19. Dan Lydiate 20. Sam Cross 21. Shaun Venter 22. Marty McKenzie 23. Hanno Dirksen

The following players were unavailable for selection due to injury: Gareth Anscombe Harri Morgan Cory Allen   James King Rhys Henry Ben Glynn Will Griffiths Keelan Giles  Gareth Evans Tom Botha Dan Baker Owen Watkin Gareth Thomas Rhodri Jones Alun Wyn Jones Kieran Williams

Upcoming Fixtures: Saturday 11th January - 1pm - Ospreys v Saracens, Liberty Stadium. Sunday 19th January - 1pm - Munster v Ospreys, Thomond Park.

I’m normally quite optomistic, overly optimistic even...but I see our next win coming on May 9th...I hope to goodness I am wrong.

Everyone, please note that I have amended the Squad to include North, I suspect they may put him in at centre in place of the injured Scott Williams in the hope that he can break the line and give us much needed go forward ball. Then again.....

AWJ still out, North back.

Got to say, if that’s the bench, it would be the worst bench in regional rugby history.

When is Dan Evans back?

What could possibly go wrong with a back-line like that..............!