Ospreys v Cheetahs at the Gnoll 30 November

So any news on Marty McFly making an appearance?

The sad thing for me is the fact we could have so easily won this game, if instead of going for the corner and getting turned over is if the fact that we had a reliable kicker and gone for the 3 points we would have an extra 3 points in the table.

The Cheetahs were better in just about every department.Where we have been strong so far is in our driving maul close to the line and we usually defend them well. I lost count of the number five metre line-outs we had and couldn't convert one , they had only a few and scored from one. Virtually every high ball we kicked they swallowed up, so what did we keep doing? You've guessed it. They were running onto the ball with pace, good offloading and support whilst we looked like carthorses. Set Pieces were about even but they were better than us at everything else. Having said that our defence was pretty good most of the time otherwise it could have been even more embarrassing. We brought on Kieran Williams who immediately straightened the line and looked a threat. Hook may be past his best but the game was screaming out for someone to take some sort of control. Scott Williams doesn't look as if he wants to be there. If this is the best these coaches can do with this squad then they should all be shown the door. Something radicle needs to be done. I have followed games at the Gnoll since I was a schoolboy but I don't think moving from the LS was really successful. I think the attendance was announced as being around 2,500. Says it all really. We are in a very dark place.

There was plenty of effort, can't fault the players there, but there is something missing in our back play - a spark of some kind.

The seconds tick away as the scrum is reset and we waste a minute. However, Ospreys win a penalty, this has to go to the corner. 5 metres out - all or nothing......

Ospreys have a penalty and have to go to the corner, can we finally maul our way to the try line? Otten in control but the ball is spun out to the backs and the ball goes forward, Scrum to Cheetahs as time slips inexorably away....two minutes left and Cheetahs have a scrum. Can the Ospreys disrupt?

This time the Cheetahs win a penalty, and the kick is going to the corner, and they maul their way with ease over the try line managing to do what the Ospreys could not at least four times, and score a try. 10-13 with the conversion to come - 10-15 with just 12 and a half minutes to play. Ospreys need a try that doesn't look like it is coming any time soon. Sam Cross is on and Otten is back from his HIA. Cracknell off for the Ospreys.

Ospreys on the attack and building the phases, advantage is on offer - a free play but it comes to nothing and Ospreys get the penalty. Meanwhile Otten is off for a HIA and Phillips is on. The Ospreys kick to touch and have the lineout. Our driving maul has not been great tonight and again it goes to pot and it is a turnover again.

It is half time at the Gnoll. The crowd on 3 sides does look quite sparse to be honest. Will be interesting to see what the attendance is. Still Ospreys 10 Cheetahs 8. Big second half coming up.

Not the best start from the Ospreys conceding a cheap unconverted try but they have slowly worked their way into the game and now lead 10-8. Should have been 13-8 but Price just missed a penalty that was pretty much in front. Cheetahs look dangerous whenever they get ball in hand. Otten, Morris & Dan Evans prominent so far, Fia with the try.

Great to see Dan Evans back...feeling a bit better about Saturday now, but any team with Pienaar in is difficult.

Well the team is up on the website for Sat

https://www.ospreysrugby.com/news/ospreys-team-face-cheetahs

Price still @ 10 with Hook on the bench? Thought the new guy would be available by now.

No mention of Dan Baker, is he getting a phased return after such a long lay off ???

Wonder who picked it..............................?

Starting XV:

15. Dan Evans

14. Hanno Dirksen

13. Tiaan Thomas-Wheeler

12. Scott Williams

11. Luke Morgan

10. Luke Price

9. Shaun Venter

1.Rhodri Jones

2. Scott Otten

3. Ma’afu Fia

4. Bradley Davies

5. Lloyd Ashley

6. Dan Lydiate ©

7. Olly Cracknell

8. Morgan Morris

Replacements

16. Ifan Phillips

17. Nicky Smith

18. Gheorghe Gajion

19. Guido Volpi

20. Sam Cross

21. Matthew Aubrey

22. James Hook

23. Kieran Williams

The following players were unavailable for selection due to International duty:

Justin Tipuric, Adam Beard, Owen Watkin, Aled Davies, and Dewi Lake.

The following players were unavailable for selection:

George North & Alun Wyn Jones

The following players were unavailable for selection due to injury:

Gareth Anscombe

Harri Morgan

Cory Allen

James King

Rhys Henry

Ben Glynn

Keelan Giles

Sam Parry

Gareth Evans

Tom Botha

Marvin Orie

Forthcoming Fixtures:

Saturday 7th December – 5:30pm – Ospreys v Racing 92, The Liberty Stadium.

Friday 13th December – 8:45pm (Local time) Racing 92 v Ospreys, Paris La Défense Arena.

Saturday 21st December – 7:35pm – Ospreys v Cardiff Blues, The Liberty Stadium.

Scott Williams was called up into the Wales Squad for the Baa-Baas game but he has not been picked. Therefore, unless we rest him, I expect him to be on the bench at least for the Cheetahs. Owen Watkin, Adam Beard and Tips are the three Ospreys selected for Wales with Tips the captain.

Just seen a picture of Tom Botha with his foot in a boot so he will not be available for the game, so Fia would start and Ghaijon would be on the bench. Likely out for 3 weeks so probably misses the Racing games...

I've just received an e-mail from the Ospreys offering an upgrade for £30.00. This includes:

Free parking opposite the ground (supplied anyway)

Delicious pre-match buffet style meal

Half time teas, coffee and welsh cakes

Private fully stacked pay on the day bar (enough bars around the club and outside)

Live entertainment before and after the match (free to everyone anyway)

Match day programme

Post match presentation to MOM.

Meet and greet with players.

Score prediction game to win prize (usually available anyway)

Nothing about Allen Clarke!

Ok know the social media has been poor of late re communication but there are always match day guides put out and no doubt there will be one this week which will highlight the parking as they have done for past games at the liberty 👍🏻

I have received and email from the Ospreys regarding the match which includes information about hospitality packages but, as expected, nothing about NPTCBC providing close on five and a half hours of free parking within easy walking distance of the ground. To their credit the OSC has posted this information on their website. I would suggest that this sort of basic information is what supporters want and not thirty five pounds a head packages. This is symptomatic of how out of touch the present management are.

TP, one of the things that really stood out for me yesterday was the size of the difference between the 2 replacement hookers, Phillips in my eyes is nowhere near big enough for this level, Dewi Lake is one of the youngsters going into the TW camp, if he can go there he can play for us, if he's available this is an ideal opportunity to blood him

I wonder if Wayne Pivac will be true to his word when in conversation with myself and BIL at the Scarlet game at the end of last season, when he said that any players not in the 23 and 2 reserves would be allowed back to their Regions. Apparently there were 35 selected for the Barbarian game and also a number of youngsters brought in this week. If we don't get anyone back this could be a 7 from 8 defeats to start this season.