So, after much debate the Ospreys take the URC on the road to London and the Twickenham Stoop for the Friday night visit of the Sharks. This game clashes with the Wales v Barbarians game (Saturday) so we will still be without the Team Wales boys. We are also without Tips who is playing for the Barbarians.
Therefore the Squad of 23 is likely to look like this...
G Phillips R Henry E Lewis L Lloyd T Botha B Warren R Davies H Sutton J Fender J Ratti H Deaves M Morris M Morse
RMW L Davies O Williams J Walsh M Protheroe O Watkin D Morris K Giles K Williams M Nagy (assumes everyone is fit)
i didn't even counter the idea that we would win that game with the young squad we had out. Particularly pleased for fender as I know his old man who's a top bloke...
I must be honest, I thought we were going to be in for a long tough evening after the Sharks scored their try. I thought they broke through our defence too easily. However, the performance after that set-back was outstanding. Forwards were immense and I thought that Fricker on the wing looked useful.
Echo everything said on this topic, got to add that must have been Ratti's best performance since coming back to us, the whole pack including the subs were outstanding, even the crowd when we came under pressure were very vocal.
I was not for this fixture initially but having heard the crowd and the extra money we made for this fixture, I would not mind another of these next year and I would make an extra special effort to make it if one could be arranged.
Finally special congratulations to Mark Jones and the boys for buying into his systems, the defence was outstanding
Fantastic win, buzzing after that. Lots of good performances but a hat tip to Fender and Deaves who belied their ages.
Best I have seen us at the breakdown. Fender a man mountain
Cheers for the effort on this thread, mate!
Sharks knock on again and the final whistle goes.
A cracking win for the Ospreys who deserved the BP but they just could not secure it.
Bloody good result.
I think Morgan Morris has won MOTM but he was run pretty close by Fender for me.
Morse on for Deaves. Ospreys nick the lineout but we lack a bit of composure and knock on. Ospreys clear the bench. Luke Davies on for Fricker, Lewis Jones on. Scully on as well
Sharks win the penalty at the scrum and go for it but they lose it forward.
Ospreys scrum.
Last play?
The hands are just not good enough or else Nagy would have walked in. Bit of a bad pass and an overrun.
RWM breaks and offloads to Walsh. Ospreys looking for the BP try.
Ospreys under penalty advantage for an off the ball tackle. Morris calls for the posts. Good captaincy from Morgan Morris there. However, Walsh cannot put the goal over.
Sharks are getting desperate here and are making mistake after mistake. Ospreys scrum on the Sharks 22. Can we find the 4th try that this performance deserves?
A second overthrow/not straight from Lewis Lloyd gives the Sharks a needless turnover. However, the TMO comes in for a silly high challenge from the Sharks and Walsh goes to the corner. Ospreys on the attack but another huge counter-ruck leads to a Sharks turnover.
Ospreys penalty at the scrum and Walsh clears to touch on the half way line.
Lewis Lloyd on for Lewis but his first throw is overthrown and just as the Sharks look to attack, they knock on.
Sharks maul is stopped but the Sharks retain possession and the Ospreys D holds out again.
Ospreys fail to stop the counter ruck. Sharks under penalty advantage as Rhys Davies catches the Sharks 10 high in the tackle but the ref is happy to just award the penalty.
Ospreys win the scrum battle and Nagy kicks through, the Sharks fullback whacks the ball straight into touch so the Ospreys win a lineout just outside the Sharks 22. Warren on for Botha who has done really well tonight.
Sharks change their entire front row and Ospreys prepare to send on Ben Warren.
Sharks chip through and Walsh cannot gather, knock on advantage. Ospreys D doing well so far.