After a great couple of weeks action in Europe, the Ospreys revert back to Pro14 action when they face local rivals, Scarlets at Parc Y Scarlets. The game was due to be played at the Liberty Stadium but the recent pitch renewal has put paid to that, so the game is now in Llanelli. It is not sure yet if the fixture has been reversed.
I imagine that the Ospreys will go as full strength as they can for this fixture with fan bragging points, important points, personal pride and potential to be selected for Wales on offer.
I think the team will look something like this....
N Smith
S Otten (Parry is definitely out) or I Phillips
M Fia
A Beard (AWJ is definitely out)
R Davies
D Lydiate
J Tipuric
M Morris
R Morgan- Williams or S Venter
S Myler
G North
K Williams
O Watkin or T Thomas-Wheeler if Watkin not fit??
M Protheroe
D Evans
Subs
R Jones (if fit) or G Thomas
D Lake
T Botha
W Griffiths
O Cracknell
S Venter
S Williams or TTW if Watkin is fit
J Thomas
Discuss...
An alternative view of the match
https://www.ospreyssupporterstrust.co.uk/post/monday-morning-quarterback-view-7
Today's match report - https://www.ospreyssupporterstrust.co.uk/post/ospreys-v-scarlets-boxing-day-at-the-pys
Damn I thought we had them tonight.
I may be wrong but I don’t think the TMO can come in for a forward pass unless asked by the ref. The assistant ref’s (touch judges) could have come in if they saw it. I thought there were possibly two forward passes in the build up to the try. Unfortunately, we didn’t have the know how to win the match and Scarlets probably just about deserved their victor. I’m not yet convinced about Reuben M-W. He’s a good scrum half but I feel that he needs to improve his box kicking. Usually they are too long which meNs that our chasers have little chance to compete for them.
Such a shame to lose at the end like that. Shocking that the forward pass wasn’t reviewed...it’s a short offload but when watched in slow mo it was a mile forward. I thought it when first saw it so poor from the ref and TMO there, but you get some of these and others go against u. Maybe the scarlets fans will stop whinging about an alleged forward pass from 10 years of so ago involving Fussell...but I doubt they will. not sure what the plan was to start Scott Williams? Not sure what he offers now and would seem a back up choice for us So a bit confused by that one. We made some errors which gave the momentum to the scarlets, but I think we can still count ourselves unlucky, even considering the continued problems at the line out. Conditions must have made it so difficult for the players, but the green shoots of recovery continue to grow.
Our midfield is so slow and predictable , when we have our other wings available let’s play North alongside Watkins in the centre to give us some momentum in attack.
Absolutely threw that away, despite the clearly forward last pass.
Scott Williams, Webb and especially Dan Evans killed us with massive errors as well. Dan Evans does this in any big away game.
Line out a shambles again. We are making so many mistakes and putting pressure on ourselves and now our scrum is under pressure. Let’s hope for more urgency in the second half.
Here is the Ospreys team...
That is a disaster of a side - realistically, we‘re going to get thrashed.
Reckon there’s a fair chance we get tanked due to injuries.
I’d play Botha to fend off Wyn Jones as Fia has always struggled with him. Would have Griffiths at 6 for the lineout with Lydiate on the bench.
Any news on watkin?
i thought i read somewhere that Webb's ankle injury should have cleared so he would be ok for this game?
Assuming Protheroe and Griffiths who went off last week are fit and Webb and Harri Morgan are not, then the only real questions over that selection are whether Griffiths stays at 6 and forces Lydiate or Morris to the bench, or whether Griffiths reverts to lock and sends Davies to the bench. Booth has also shown that he does not like to have Rhodri Jones and Botha on the field together as a pair and that tends to determine which props start and which are on the bench.