After a lovely Boxing Day victory over the Scarlets, the Ospreys have begun to prepare for the visit of Cardiff to the Brewery Field on New Year's Day. Cardiff, fresh from their hammering of the Dragons on Boxing Day will be looking to continue their impressive recent form.
I don't think Toby will make too many changes to his squad but I do hope that Nicky Smith and Morgan Morris will have recovered enough to be included in the 23.
Here is my potential squad...
G Thomas N Smith/G Phillips D Lake S Parry T Botha B Warren A Beard J Fender R Davies H Deaves M Morris M Morse T Davies
RMW L Davies O Williams D Edwards K Giles O Watkin G North M Protheroe J Walsh L Morgan
Discuss.
Coming back to this game, I have to commend one of our unsung heroes, who IMO should have totally smashed the myth that Rhys Carre is anywhere near an International or even Regional standard prop. TOM BOTHA lifted him up and shoved his head up his Arris on 2 occasions, if you cannot do your main job at this level you shouldn't be anywhere near this level.
I have to say the scrum half was a lot quicker around the breakdown than RMW in that weather it made a difference on a dry track it could be more than useful.
To answer a few posters, I've not seen any postings for many years if at all that the BF should be used instead of SH or the Swansea .Com Stadium.
Yes the ground cut up really badly but if you were actually there you would have understood why it was happening, and if you lived in that area for the last week or so and seen the amount of rain that's fallen it was surprising that the game was played at all, let me just say that there was a pitch inspection there last Saturday and there was a lot of talk in the area that the game would have been called off then, for somebody that went to Rodney Parade 5 or 6 years ago when we won by a couple of points, that was actually worse. They had the money to put in a plastic pitch, (wasn't it the WRU that paid for RP's upgrade)unfortunately we don't have that sort of money for the BF.
As 2 of the more knowledgeable posters have already said those conditions on that sort of pitch suited us much more than them, I would go as far as to say that if that ground was in perfect condition or it was played at SH or our main stadium we would have lost that game.
Let me also say I've been travelling down to Swansea since we went to the Liberty except for 2 seasons through health problems, and the atmosphere there yesterday was fantastic, actually better than 95% of the games held at any of the other stadiums, the banter with Cardiff supporters and their replacements was great.
Anyway rant over, the actual game considering the conditions was really good, no quarter asked for or given by both teams, it's funny that new youngsters are putting themselves forward in continual games, Fender, Morse, Luke Davies, DanEdwards his kick through for Keelan's try was just what was needed, Ratti was really good yesterday and before he was injured, Deaves'ys, the list goes on and on.
Just to finally add I'm from one of the mining valleys to the north of Bridgend so I will back my area especially against unwarranted criticism.
Well done Ospreys. We would have lost that game a year ago, but because of the young guys with something to prove, we have real hope. Also with all of the young talent coming through at all regions , if half of what the WRU execs are saying about rescuing Welsh Rugby , finding solutions, than allied to the talent coming on, we actually might have a future for the game in Wales.
That was all about heart and desire. We only used three of our bench while they used seven. Very noticeable in first half we kicked from 10 and Owen was clearly kicking poorly and they won the kicking battle easily. I wonder if his hamstring/groin was playing up. Second half Edwards looked better but we kicked far more from 9 and Luke Davies did that pretty well.
Given we have a small back three we will always struggle with the aerial game but we won the collisions hands down and that and our set piece was enough for an unexpected but welcome bonus point win from where we were at half time.
Excellent result. Boys dug deep in the 2nd half and played the conditions very well. Morgan Morse, what a prospect. Fantastic foot work and control to score that try.
Negatives - Viaplay sports - shocking coverage. They should refund everyone's subscription. BBC obviously bought the rights to show the game from them and they should also demand a refund.
Brewery field pitch - dreadful. Not up to required standard.
FULL TIME 27-21. A superb comeback victory for the Ospreys gets 2024 off to the best possible start.
Giles has scored another try 27-21 with the conversion to come.
Yellow card for Turnbull on 65 minutes. I am now following the URC match centre.
Ospreys penalty and Edwards goes to touch again. We maul but win another penalty as the pictures cut out again. Not sure if there was a Cardiff yellow card?
22-21
We get the penalty after the maul stalls. This time we go for the posts even though Sam Parry was on his way to the corner.
We look to have the slight advantage at the scrum but then the pictures cut out. Looks like we win the penalty. Edwards puts the ball into the Cardiff 22.
Cardiff try a grubber drop kick at the restart and the ball goes about 5 metres. Ospreys scrum on half way. Cardiff seem a bit rattled.
TOT's sponsored player Dan Edwards adds the conversion. 19-21.
He picks up the goal line drop out and runs 50 metres beating several Cardiff players along the way before sliding in for the score.
The ref says short but then says held up. Goal line drop out.
GREAT SCRUM from the Ospreys.
We go to the corner.
Ref misses a knock on but luckily the AR calls it and we get the scrum.
12-21 as the kick splits the posts.
Gar Thom collapses the maul and is penalised. Cardiff go for the points. We have to exit better.
We make a mistake from the restart as Luke Davies kicks out on the full. Cardiff on the attack now.
Was just about to type that they have negated our maul but we get one going and win a penalty try and they also get a yellow card - Botham. 12-18.
Game on?
We win a penalty for offside. We go to the corner and need to score.
A Cardiff knock on gives us our first scrum of the second half. We need to score first and second and even third.
We force a turnover and try to attack but we get nowhere. Half time. 5-18
We mess about at the scrum and Cardiff win the penalty. They go on the attack - one final chance.
Need a massive rocket up the backside from Toby at the half time break. We have not played the conditions particularly well since the opening 10 minutes.
We go through the phases but get penalised. Cardiff clear to touch and the chance is gone.
Our maul stalls but we gain a penalty. We call for a scrum. I would love to see us take a tap every now and then when we are 5 metres out.
Pause while Morse receives treatment. Looks like Deaves has failed his HIA.
The ref remembers that there are two teams playing and awards a penalty to the Ospreys. We go to the corner.
We should win a penalty but the ref sees it otherwise and they get the penalty. They go for goal. We have been poor for the last 20 minutes. 5-18.
Free kick Ospreys and Williams clears to touch - Cardiff with the attacking lineout.
We are clearly second best at the kicking game but fortunately our defence forces a knock on just as Cardiff look to score again. Scrum Ospreys.
The kick is good and Cardiff lead 5-15.
Parry pinged again for being offside and they go for the posts. A poor 5 minutes from the Ospreys hooker.
We lose the ball in attack even though there were clearly hands on the floor before the turnover and Parry loses his cool as he hits the Cardiff fullback late. Cardiff get a penalty and clear their lines and now attack.
Cardiff put up an up and under but their prop is clearly offside and we get a penalty that Williams kicks to touch in the Cardiff 22.
Conversion is good from in front and Cardiff lead 5-12.
They launch an up and under that Walsh cannot take and Grady is in for a simple try 5-10
The restart is too long and we now have a scrum on the half way line. Deaves is off for T Davies (HIA I think?)
We lose the ball and Cardiff end with a try but the ref doesn't allow two decent jackal attempts from Deaves.
5-5.
Poor restart from us as we allow Cardiff to regain the ball but as they move inside Deaves is over the ball and wins the penalty.
TRY - GILES. All Ospreys as we force a goal line drop out and from that we go through the hands and Giles finishes in the corner. 5-0
Just wide. 0-0. Gonna be a long heavy afternoon on a very heavy pitch.
First scrum results in a penalty to the Ospreys just inside the Cardiff half. We go for the posts.
And we are off...
Few surprises in this Squad
I thought Morse had a good day, but agree that we need Morris on the field as well as Nicky. Don't know if it's just me but I've never really seen us play well at the brewery field. Hope we buck that perceived trend on NYD, but Xardiff sure do look in ominous form. We're going to need a completely dominant pack for this game I think. I can see Rhys Davies continuing at 6 if fender and beard remain fit. Seems like we follow the SA approach of having 3 2nd rows on the pitch at all times.