Do I take it that Matt Protheroe was our replacement "10" yesterday?? Are we that bereft that all the others are injured or was he there to cover FB in the main but 10 in an emergency
Webb needs to trust his skill set, there is no way he should be scared to take Zebre on. He should have been rubbing his hands together. If it’s Booths gameplan then that means we are in more trouble than I thought. I wonder whether letting Aled Davies go was such a good plan now?
The problem is not Webb not trusting his skillset. The problem is the players we have outside him. Myler is slow and offers no threat. How Dan Evans is still drawing a wage at pro level is a mystery. I am struggling to see how Aled Davies would be a huge improvement.
@daves disco a lot of teams now prefer to play without the ball and will kick the ball away in the hope of winning the kicking battle and being able to counter attack off their opponents' poor kicking or kicking errors. Booth wants to play that sort of game so there will always be plenty of box kicking. The decision to kick back or run back will be determined by the players in front of the player in possession of the ball. If he is faced by tight 5 forwards, he will probably take the risk of taking the forwards on and attempt to beat them, like Protheroe came on and did yesterday; but if the ball carrier is faced by back rowers or backs he will almost certainly kick the ball away.
I do agree with you that we need new blood in at 9 - someone with pace who can snipe occasionally to keep the defence honest. I hate it when our scrum half slows things down to call the forwards in to place when a) the forwards should be there any way and b) slowing things down allows the defence to regroup and reset.
What a dreadful game. We showed no creativity in the backs and had no idea on how to unlock their stubborn defence. As Daves Disco said above, our only plan of attack was for Kieron Williams to try and break through at centre. Why Mat Protheroe didn’t start or come on after 15 minutes baffles me. I’m still to be convinced about Keenan Giles as we see nothing of him in an attacking role. I’m not blaming him, in fact I feel sorry for him as I’m sure that if he was put into space he could be dangerous. Though our box kicking was too long and gave our chasers little chance of putting pressure on their catcher. Huge improvement needed across the board.
What stuck for me was the lack of fitness and intensity , but worse than this was the fact that we were playing a team that is bottom missing some Internationals, and yet we played every move defensively as if we were just trying exit safely . It was pathetic to be scared of Zebre. Other teams tear them apart especially at home. It was only when Protheroe came on that we actually thought it might be a good idea to attack them and actually test out their defence. I never realised how much we are missing North and Cuthbert, every semblance of our attack plan was to go through Kieran Williams and Michael Collins and both of them looked totally incapable of beating a man. We need to trust our width more, I feel sorry for Keelan and to a degree Luke Morgan because the only action they see is defending against giant opposition. Having said that they could go looking for work a bit more. Our game plan appears to be too rigid and we lack the ability to play what is in front of us. Their number 10 did just that and looked like a class player simply because he was free to make decisions on the pitch.
The pack is developing some depth. Even missing Gareth Thomas Lake Francis AWJ Beard Regan Tipuric and Morgan we did not have to resort to the likes of Ashley and Cross who will give the effect of playing with a 6 man pack. The depth behind is not so rosy. He clearly has no confidence in his replacement scrum half and has to keep Webb on for longer than his body can cope. His 10 and 15 combo offers no threat to the opposition and so defences know they can just wait for our midfield to try and smash it up or just pass laterally and commit nobody. There may be insufficient money to buy top class backs but at least select some youngsters who are athletes. I am starting to feel sorry for Dan Evans. He is becoming embarrassing and cannot now even run away from forwards and his attempt to defend their try was like something out of the Keystone Cops. Addition by subtraction may be one of the best recruitment tools we have available.
A few points really struck home for me today, the first was how our speedy full back was ankle tapped by their 2nd row, if that doesn't show our Coach that he's not fit for purpose nothing will imo, the 2nd was the last play of the game when our replacement scrum half threw a pass that was well in front of the intended recipient, pathetic passing not good enough for 3rd division Central in the Welsh pyramid system.
Hopefully for the rest of our League games we can put out something like the following team, Protheroe, North, Watkin, Collins, Cuthbert/ Giles, Anscombe, Webb, Smith/Thomas, Lake/Parry, Francis, Beard, AWJ, Lydiate/ Griffiths, Morgan, Roots/Morris could get us very close to European Rugby next season and play offs this season
My son didn’t come with me today as he said he couldn’t be bothered. oh boy did he make the right call. I was caught halfway between boredom and disbelief…very poor today unfortunatel.
We made hard work of that. From 17-6 up to 17-19 down in a matter of minutes was quite hard to take but fortunately our extra quality made the difference.
No idea why we did not get a penalty try when they had their yellow card? I will have to watch the game back and find out.
It was a 50/50 call they had a player coming across who could have taken into touch. did not really matter in the end as we scored sonn after but blew a bonus point by panicking and not having compsure. The substitute 9 really did not boss that final drive. We were fortunate to win. We nearly blew it.
@Fiddler Fair enough. From my view it looked like Keelan would have scored had he received the pass.
As for RMW, I felt the forwards had a touch of white line fever and took it on one too many times but he should definitely have found either Roots or Mathew with that final pass which was particularly poor for a pro player.
What on earth am I witnessing here? None of the players look fit. Kieran Williams is blowing like an old man. In fact we look like a team of veterans.. help…help…help!
Harri Morgan doing signing at club shop tomorrow. If anybody pops in andy chance they could ask him when he plans on being fit again and what his injury with Ampthill was this time around.
Ospreys: Dan Evans; Keelan Giles, Michael Collins, Keiran Williams, Luke Morgan; Stephen Myler, Rhys Webb (capt); Nicky Smith, Sam Parry, Tom Botha, Rhys Davies, Bradley Davies, Dan Lydiate, Morgan Morris, Ethan Roots.
Replacements: Scott Baldwin, Rhodri Jones, Rhys Henry, Will Griffiths, Harri Deaves, Reuben Morgan-Williams, Tiaan Thomas-Wheeler, Mat Protheroe
@Brynhyfryd I can only presume JT is injured and even then what about Dan Edwards? What about Nagy. A tub of lard would be as much use as Dan Evans at 15.
@Fiddler Lets hope we get cover for next season so we can let him run down the last year of his contract with the Whites. On the plus side, Beard away with Wales, AWJ/Regan crocked and no sign of Gashley
Wow I would love it if wE signed him.
Have to say, when Jonah Holmes didn’t play for the Drags on the weekend I was hoping that we would have announced his signing today. Ah well.
Do I take it that Matt Protheroe was our replacement "10" yesterday?? Are we that bereft that all the others are injured or was he there to cover FB in the main but 10 in an emergency
Webb needs to trust his skill set, there is no way he should be scared to take Zebre on. He should have been rubbing his hands together. If it’s Booths gameplan then that means we are in more trouble than I thought. I wonder whether letting Aled Davies go was such a good plan now?
Starting with a quality scrum half. I loved Webb before but now it’s all negative box kicking and long delay to get forwards into place.
What a dreadful game. We showed no creativity in the backs and had no idea on how to unlock their stubborn defence. As Daves Disco said above, our only plan of attack was for Kieron Williams to try and break through at centre. Why Mat Protheroe didn’t start or come on after 15 minutes baffles me. I’m still to be convinced about Keenan Giles as we see nothing of him in an attacking role. I’m not blaming him, in fact I feel sorry for him as I’m sure that if he was put into space he could be dangerous. Though our box kicking was too long and gave our chasers little chance of putting pressure on their catcher. Huge improvement needed across the board.
https://www.theospreyliantrust.co.uk/post/monday-morning-quarterback-view-36
What stuck for me was the lack of fitness and intensity , but worse than this was the fact that we were playing a team that is bottom missing some Internationals, and yet we played every move defensively as if we were just trying exit safely . It was pathetic to be scared of Zebre. Other teams tear them apart especially at home. It was only when Protheroe came on that we actually thought it might be a good idea to attack them and actually test out their defence. I never realised how much we are missing North and Cuthbert, every semblance of our attack plan was to go through Kieran Williams and Michael Collins and both of them looked totally incapable of beating a man. We need to trust our width more, I feel sorry for Keelan and to a degree Luke Morgan because the only action they see is defending against giant opposition. Having said that they could go looking for work a bit more. Our game plan appears to be too rigid and we lack the ability to play what is in front of us. Their number 10 did just that and looked like a class player simply because he was free to make decisions on the pitch.
I think Ethan Roots is playing better every game, he is turning into a very good under the radar signing.
A few points really struck home for me today, the first was how our speedy full back was ankle tapped by their 2nd row, if that doesn't show our Coach that he's not fit for purpose nothing will imo, the 2nd was the last play of the game when our replacement scrum half threw a pass that was well in front of the intended recipient, pathetic passing not good enough for 3rd division Central in the Welsh pyramid system.
Hopefully for the rest of our League games we can put out something like the following team, Protheroe, North, Watkin, Collins, Cuthbert/ Giles, Anscombe, Webb, Smith/Thomas, Lake/Parry, Francis, Beard, AWJ, Lydiate/ Griffiths, Morgan, Roots/Morris could get us very close to European Rugby next season and play offs this season
That was dreadful.
We didn't seem to be at the races.
Morris is a 30min player, not picking up their 8 off the scrum at the end of the half was poor.
Don't like criticising Booth but Deeves should have been on at half time.
Webb was so so so slow.
Worst set of backs I've ever seen with the O's, absolutely clueless and abject.
Myler very solid but unfortunately no imagination whatsoever.
A very disappointing performance up front and certainly behind!
We’ve got some incredible flaws and issues. Booth needs to address them ASAP but these wins aren’t sustainable.
My son didn’t come with me today as he said he couldn’t be bothered. oh boy did he make the right call. I was caught halfway between boredom and disbelief…very poor today unfortunatel.
We made hard work of that. From 17-6 up to 17-19 down in a matter of minutes was quite hard to take but fortunately our extra quality made the difference.
No idea why we did not get a penalty try when they had their yellow card? I will have to watch the game back and find out.
What on earth am I witnessing here? None of the players look fit. Kieran Williams is blowing like an old man. In fact we look like a team of veterans.. help…help…help!
Thanks Fansforum
What time is kick off please, I can never find it on WOL, or here.
Harri Morgan doing signing at club shop tomorrow. If anybody pops in andy chance they could ask him when he plans on being fit again and what his injury with Ampthill was this time around.
Ospreys: Dan Evans; Keelan Giles, Michael Collins, Keiran Williams, Luke Morgan; Stephen Myler, Rhys Webb (capt); Nicky Smith, Sam Parry, Tom Botha, Rhys Davies, Bradley Davies, Dan Lydiate, Morgan Morris, Ethan Roots.
Replacements: Scott Baldwin, Rhodri Jones, Rhys Henry, Will Griffiths, Harri Deaves, Reuben Morgan-Williams, Tiaan Thomas-Wheeler, Mat Protheroe
I think we will see a starting team of
N Smith S Parry T Botha BBBD R Davies (if fit W Griffiths or Sutton otherwise) D Lydiate M Morris E Roots
R Webb S Myler L Morgan/K Giles K Williams M Collins M Protheroe M Nagy
R Jones E Taione R Henry H Sutton W Griffiths (if big Rhys is fit)
RMW J Thomas TTW
Obviously there are a few assumptions that people are fit but that is not too bad a team.