Ospreys V Racing92 Saturday Dec 7th @17.30

Yes, he's from the West country I think, so going home.

I suppose cut in half from 8 weeks for a good disciplinary record.

Dan Evans' disciplinary hearing is scheduled for today in London. No Time mentioned.

Does anyone else think that Scott Williams might be cited for his leading forearm in the game yesterday, more so given Botha's red card yesterday for a similar offence?

@surfdragon @ogwrwayne We are fast running out of players in certain positions. We have to protect those whose who we do not have cover for is all I am saying. Those players are part of our Squad and it is nothing more than what Sarries are doing with their squad. Any ways this should be discussed in the other thread but I do take on board your comments.

I'm sorry TP, putting out that sort of team does not sit well with me, we have to IMO have to have a smattering of first choice players, yes put in some youngsters and 2nd and 3rd choice players, but not wholesale changes. Probably Watkin, Gareth Thomas and the Beast will be missing anyway.

So what team should they pick for the return match? Bearing in mind we going nowhere in the competition and the good news it's Friday 13.

Positives

McKenzie a 10 with pace makes huge difference.

Morris far better player than Cracknell.

Aled played better than I have seen him.

Hogg is a good forwards coach

Negatives

Price even for 10 minutes is a disaster. Surely Hook or even Cai Evans has to be better.

Watkin injury. Him Rhodri Parry are key injury misses.

Evans likely ban.

Our defensive system still looks easy to pierce although clearly men off the field doesn't help make a fair assessment.

Sorry, but Dan got what he deserved, he caught the ball and looked up and saw the player advancing on him, he then lifted his foot and put it straight into his face, if I had my way he wouldn't get paid for a month. Stupid,stupid decision, cost us this game, I thought some of our forward play was outstanding, they didn't deserve that result.

For the first time this season I thought put in a good performance. Loads of Hwyl, but some running rugby too. its quite possible the only difference between us and them was the red card.

@ospreysfanforum gotta disagree with you there. I think it was unintentional and therefore very unlucky. If the rules say it’s a red, then it’s a red. But it felt really harsh.

He overran the ball, was turning in the air and didn’t lift his for more than balance imho. Red was harsh but right. We were more undone by the yellows, we should’ve learned that from the first one. morgan Morris had a good game I thought, and mckenzie settled in.

in reality it was a disjointed team not singing from the same hymn sheet!

Sorry, but Dan Evans was stupid and reckless and he has cost us what little chance we had for a decent performance.

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Disgrace that Tips isn’t available. I’m sure I saw that Adams is lining up for the blues this weekend. Why the difference?

I wasn't too far off with the squad...

The Ospreys team to play Racing 92 in round three of the Heineken Champions Cup at the Liberty Stadium on Saturday 7th December, K.O 5:30pm has been named:

The Ospreys return to Heineken Cup action on Saturday evening, when they face French side Racing 92.

New signing Marty McKenzie makes his Ospreys debut and is handed the number 10 jersey. He partners up with Aled Davies to form the half-back pairing. An unchanged back three sees Dan Evans line up alongside Luke Morgan and Hanno Dirksen. Owen Watkin and Scott Williams complete the backline with Tiaan Thomas-Wheeler, Luke Price and Shaun Venter providing the cover off the bench.

Up front, Nicky Smith returns to the starting lineup alongside Scott Otten and Ma’afu Fia, with Bradley Davies and the returning Adam Beard partnering in the second row. An unchanged back row sees Dan Lydiate captain the side with Olly Cracknell and young Morgan Morris completing the pack.

Ifan Phillips, Gareth Thomas and Gheorghe Gajion provide the front row cover off the bench, with Marvin Orie and Sam Cross completing the Ospreys lineup.

Starting XV:

15. Dan Evans

14. Hanno Dirksen

13. Owen Watkin

12. Scott Williams

11. Luke Morgan

10. Marty McKenzie

9. Aled Davies

1.Nicky Smith

2. Scott Otten

3. Ma’afu Fia

4. Adam Beard

5. Bradley Davies

6. Dan Lydiate ©

7. Olly Cracknell

8. Morgan Morris

Replacements

16. Ifan Phillips

17. Gareth Thomas

18. Gheorghe Gajion

19. Marvin Orie

20. Sam Cross

21. Shaun Venter

22. Luke Price

23. Tiaan Thomas-Wheeler

The following players were unavailable for selection:

Justin Tipuric, 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

Dan Baker

Forthcoming Fixtures:

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.

Nidum, without at least 2 out of Tipuric, McKenzie and AWJ, it will not make any difference how good Ruddock is IMO, as much as how hard Cracknell, Price and Ashley try, they are not of the required standard for this level of Rugby

I have heard the WRU have said Tips cannot play for another 2 weeks.

If the PC that Sherrat has given today is true, I'm really disappointed that our captain and former captain will probably not be available until AFTER the Blues game, it's been put on the Ospreys website and Forum for years that it will take a bomb to keep both those players off the pitch if they want to play. That doesn't appear the case with todays announcement.

Him and Klim were sat near us on the opposite side from where the players ran out, he was pretty confident he would be ok, and yes I agree he would be perfect to come off the bench.