We get to put the troubles of Team Wales aside for a moment, as attention turns back to the URC and the visit of Benetton to Swansea on Saturday, March 4th.
There is very little chance that we get any of the Team Wales boys released back to us, (quite why Gatland picked the likes of Rhys and Kieran and hasn't used them, is anybody's guess) so the squad will likely be very similar to the one that travelled to Munster. Sam Parry could/should be available. One small crumb of comfort is that Benetton, like Ospreys, lose a large number of their first team to the national team so that should level the field somewhat.
Squad
N Smith G Phillips S Parry E Taione T Botha R Henry BBBD H Sutton R Davies J Reagan E Roots M Morris H Deaves
RMW M Aubrey S Myler J Walsh L Morgan O Watkin M Collins K Giles M Nagy K Williams
*Edited to show that Rhys Davies and Kieran Williams have been released from Wales and will likely bolster the squad.
Likely starting team
N Smith S Parry T Botha BBBD H Sutton J Reagan E Roots M Morris
RMW S Myler L Morgan O Watkin M Collins K Giles M Nagy
In a way I was more disappointed by that performance than the Munster game, because the skill levels on show was abysmal, as Toby said the error count was unacceptable, the one up runners which is a continuation of numerous Coaches for us is also awful. The number of times Keiron was asked to take it into contact when 2 and 3 players were waiting for him, we all know the Einstein quote about doing the same things and expecting different outcomes, well that epitomises Keiron for me yesterday.
Let me just add the meeting prior to the game was very heartening from the TOT, we can see where we are going and it's not where Steffan Thomas would like us to go, and Mike Ruddock showed a clear plan on what's happening locally and in the Exile programme.
Sadly I think we will have to go through more games like last night, hopefully with less errors, but at least the energy improved when the youngsters came on, so it's not all doom and gloom.
Whoever posted the match report on the Osprey web page and his employers need to wake up and drink the coffee
Whoever took over as captain when Nicky went off should be consigned to making the tea and sweeping the dressing rooms.
Last minute of the game, a penalty on their 5M line and a ref reaching for a yellow for their lock and nobody thought to go for a penalty try after bossing all 8 of them in the scrum all night long?
It was a no brainer which suggests that nobody out there has enough brain to be a leader.
Glad to hear TOT went well and disappointed to miss it. Be interested to read a write-up on the presentations.
The most inept , hapless ,turgid performance by the team in my time watching the Ospreys , i have taken issue with the likes of Disco Dave with his down beat posts but as a supporter from inception and through the periods of Jones and Holly bad coaching let alone Clark, i have never seen such as tonight
do we even have a backs coach
how Jason and the Trust felt tonight , hoping to encourage members
or how the commercial team are expected to encourage sponsorship with this fare ! Entertainment it was not
did Booth field a team of players already told their contracts were not being renewed, no one seemed to be playing for a contract
the best player on the field was young debutant Hopkins
😱
What an utter shambles. Just abysmal.
Seems that the Scarlets know how to put up a good fight against Munster. They have turned their season around a bit, hope we can show some pride this time and we are not humiliated again.
Here is the team
I’m glad the youngster is having a run at fullback , he seemed to have a bit about him against Munster and he has paaace which is always good.
So Benetton have 4 released from Team Italy including their starting 10 from their last match Garbisi, this will not be easy, but if we have any hopes for the Welsh Shield or getting into the playoffs we have to win this game and preferably with a BP. If we win by more than 15 and Benetton get nothing from this game we go above them.
Come on you O's.
Is there anyone here who is going to the match on Saturday?
From @paul.rogers83 in the News thread
smith
parry
botha
davies
sutton
lydiard
roots
morris
rmw
myler
giles
Keiron
Watkin
morgan
hopkins
Please don’t ever give us another result like the last one !
Jason, they have 17 in the Italian squad with 3 players having played no time whatsoever Fauretto in the pack and Da Re and Minozzi in the backs, probably they'll be released, Zani, Pettinelli and Zuliani have made appearances off the bench, wouldn't be surprised if they showed up as well.
Do you think Lydiate could be available, could Cai Evans be around, and do you think Dewi Lake might make it to the bench for this one, as you say both Keiron and Rhys should be made available to us, even Jac Morgan could be released, as I don't see him making it into the 23 for Italy.