With the international boys still away, and fresh from their victory against Glasgow Warriors, the Ospreys will travel to Parma to face Zebre on the Monday Night Rugby. We may or may not have the likes of Nicky Smith and George North released back to us from Picacamp but I suspect we will go with the same starting team, injuries aside, that faced the Warriors.
Discuss....
What we would gain in dynamism we lose in height at the tail of the line out which limits our options. But given our dismal throwing in it might not be a bad thing. We never seem to use a short line out anymore or alter positions on the opposition throw such as putting Beard at the front of the line to make the hookers throw more difficult. Just try something different we never see anything new from our coaches just same boring plays
Agree on the lack of dynamism into contact. Lake has the ability to drive his legs through contact but he can’t play because of his throwing. Nobody else can drive their legs through contact.
The balance and quality isnt‘t good enough.
Things you cannot do:
play both Morgan and Protheroe
play both Cracknell and Lydiate
play both Davies and Beard
play Fia from the start against a powerful loosehead
play Lake away from home
play a lightweight 8 and not park him down the front of the lineout
We had some legitimately bad players playing today but we compounded it with bad combinations.
If we have to play Lake at hooker why not let someone else throw in to the line out possibly the number 6 and put Lake in his position at the tail. Another thing that we see every game is how hard we make it for ourselves close to the opposition line we make it so easy for the ref to penalise us. A man of Beards size on the charge from 5m out should be unstoppable but we just persist in same old tactics. There’s no variety in our play and therefore easy to defend against.
An alternative view of last night's game - https://www.ospreyssupporterstrust.co.uk/post/monday-morning-quarterback-view-1
How long are we going to continue carry players, especially at forward.
The likes of Rhodri Jones (a massive diappointment), FIA and Bradley Davies ( his boat has sailed).
They were all lead footed and were just blown away by a poor Zebre font five.
if the lad Phillips hd played at hooker it my have been we would have won.
Dewi needs to go back to Swansea to learn his trade as he has massive potential but is still very much a first year apprentice.
I think Toby now realises the squad needs a clear out with proper professionals replacing them
We lacked the enthusiasm and energy of the Italians who were prepared to run poor kicks back at us. Our young and inexperienced back line had no leadership and our inability to change things at the line out proved more than costly. We don’t possess agile 2nd rows or a ball carrying back row so everything we do is so slow and pedestria.
It seemed like our players were trying to move 1 ton weights when trying to clear players off the ball. the penalties we gave away in that area as well as the inability to win our own line out ball was a real shame. Good experience though for Thomas, Hawkins and Carson...felt really sorry for Harri Morgan. His injury didn’t look good at all and he only lasted about 2 mins.
There wasn’t much to be positive about tonight but I thought the young 10 had a bit about him .
Match report from tonight's game -
https://www.ospreyssupporterstrust.co.uk/post/zebre-v-ospreys-match-report
Just too many slow players and too many under powered players. The clear out has to start with the back row who outside of Lydiate in defence offer nothing. We cannot play Bradley Davies and Beard together. we cannot play Cracknell and Lydiate together.
If the playing budget is £6 million there is a huge waste of money going on. There are better players in club rugby in places like Nz/Sa and even Ireland. We have to stop this crazy idea that being a true Osprey qualifies you for a pro rugby contract.
Massive clearout needed. Massive.
Well that was fun. That reminded me of any number of games from last season. Zebre deserved winners, lake needs time to practice throwing, ref made some bewildering decisions and why warn players if youre not h go king to follow it up with cards? Anyway on a positive note, we looked to have lost a few prayers to injury tonight and we’ve got Leinster next LOL!
Have I missed a new law that states that running with the ball is now illegal ? Very disappointing game again line outs a major problem.
What a shambles so far, we are leaderless and lack any shape or enthusiasm. Zebre are playing with gusto and worthy winners so far.
How much are we paying Scott Williams to kick every ball away
Finally we get some points 17-3
WOW, just wow
Fantastic from Zebre, plain awful from Ospreys....
Have we even started yet?