EPCR Challenge Cup Round of 16 v Scarlets Sun 6th April at 5.30.

What's the latest on Moriarty and the Aussie Ryan Smith?

I assume we will hear news soon if it exists.

Maybe Toby had reached his ceiling and Mark was seen as having a higher one. I doubt Mark was up to remaining an assistant for any length of time.

I think that energy factor was big. They picked the virtually same side three weeks in a row and could not match the physicality or energy. It shows you have to rotate and that can only be done with quality. There is a chasm between Walsh and Nagy at 15 and between Kasende and Morgan at 14.

Intersting that Boycie was critical of our second half performance. The drop off between Botha and Warren at set piece was also noticeable.

However Rhys Davies was something else. He and Dewi just made yards through contact on their carries. Boshoff controlled their potential dangerous attack in the wide channels and Kasende terrrorised Elliot Mee who looked more shaky than I have seen before.

This week there were no phantom penalty tries and yellow cards in the first half and no game killing mistakes at 15 in the second half. That and the increased energy and physicality made for a very easy on the blood pressure final 20 minutes as they looked out on their feet.

Neither could they match the cohesion and teamwork which is becoming what picks out our core squad. I think it comes from having (I think) 16 of that 23 being Homegrown and played with each other for years. Those Pathway guys form the cultural heritage of the club and give a strong unity which you can actually see players like Walsh, Kasende, Boshoff and Botha all buy into.

Looks pretty beefed up 💪

Tips and Beard replacements a tight head centre and full back should be on the list.

I would hope we'd smash the bank for a tight head.

Picked my ticket up earlier(safe standingarea), very excited 😊

Good young back line, hopefully we'll starve them of possession. Their bench ain't great.

Good to see Rhys Davies starting, looks bulked up 💪 Is Hardy injured?

Hardy went off with a HIA so I assume he is still going through the protocols.

Pity.

I'm hoping for 50, I'm being conservative 😉

Wasn't too far off...well done Ospreys.

Can you hear the angushed tears over the Loughor Bridge? We started with an amazing intensity that they just could not match and we fully deserved the win.

Hopefully, with 'payday' on the horizon people will buy their tickets

Scarlets claim 9,000 already for their home game.

Awful time for a game!! I'm coming up from Cornwall to watch, so its a pain with working the next day!!

Under the new Sky contract they could play earlier on Saturday and still be on Sky?

I think it will stay at the .com stadium on the Sunday as is currently planned.

Why would the game be moved if the Swans are playing the day before?

Are you suggesting that the game will be moved?

I don't believe Aberavon is up to the requirements for European rugby?

So it is lucky we have Sunday the 6th at 17:30 at Swansea. com. Just announced.

Thankfully (for me at least) the game is at the .Com

I think it could well come down to £ as you say.

I think the Scarlets could bring a decent following with them and the TV money from a late Sunday slot could be the determining factors. We would also likely sell out the boxes and hospitality at the .Com.

Obviously my preference is the .Com but I will be there wherever the game is played.

Jason, totally agree your final line, but would we gain anything financially by selling out the boxes and hospitality? I see on Scarlet Fever that a number expect a crowd of around 9k because of the game the previous week, I can't see us making much money on that sort of crowd at the Swansea.com

I might be wrong but I think we pay a certain rate for the food etc for the hospitality and we make money on the difference between what we pay and what we charge and I think the same might apply to the boxes.

AFAIK neither St Helens (6-7k) or the Brewery Field (8k) could accommodate a crowd of around 9k so the only option would be the .Com. I know the atmosphere would be better at the BF but the crowd would be bigger at the .Com

I'm thinking back to '87 and '92, NZ and Aus respectively. Swansea end was temp, Mumbles end had the terrace...guessing numbers here, 1500 main stand, 3500 Tanner Bank, Mumbles end(temp) 1000, Swansea end(temp) 1000 = 7k, great atmosphere and a taster of what's to come 🤷

Terrace is 3k and and Main Stand is 1K

You could get the required capacity but it would cost an arm and both legs. The open Bath Rec east stand is 8,000 seats and costs them a £Million+ to erect and dismantle every year. A small 200 seat covered stand costs from £10 per seat per day's hire. But it isn't just the stands, it is what goes with them like groundworks, drainage, power, toilets, access and egress, lighting and PA and that can double hire costs and more.

This isn't just scaffolding it is a highly technical piece of structural engineering subject to the worst of dynamic loads, moving humanity. There is a brand new 3G pitch down the road at Swansea Bay Sportspark if you wanted to use TDS for which it is designed.

It could be played on the Sunday

It's now changed Perpignan have a bonus point and lead by 15, it could now be Scarlets.

I think it will be the Scarlets

Yep that's my opinion too Jason