Ospreys vs Bath RFC

First topic message reminder :

The Ospreys team to play Bath at the Liberty Stadium on Saturday 18th August, KO 3.00pm, is as follows:


15 Richard Fussell

14 Hanno Dirksen

13 Andrew Bishop

12 Jonathan Spratt

11 Tom Isaacs

10 Dan Biggar

9 Rhys Webb

1 Duncan Jones

2 Richard Hibbard

3 Aaron Jarvis

4 Ian Gough

5 Ian Evans

6 James King

7 Justin Tipuric (capt)

8 Joe Bearman

REPLACEMENTS

Scott Baldwin, Scott Otten, Ryan Bevington, Joe Rees, Lloyd Peers, Alun Wyn Jones, George Stowers, Sam Lewis, Jonathan Thomas, Kahn Fotuali'i, Matthew Morgan, Ashley Beck, Tom Grabham, Luke Morgan, Ross Jones.

Head Coach Steve Tandy said:

"This is a big step-up in our preparations for the new season. The trip to France was really beneficial for us, allowing the players to work hard in training without any distractions before a tough game against Clermont on the Friday night.

"We know that Bath will be difficult opponents, like all Premiership teams they'll be physical and will look to gain dominance up front so pre-season game or not we're expecting a battle and a game that will keep supporters entertained.

"The team has a bit more of a familiar look this week. There are a number of internationals coming back into the mix, some starting and some on the bench, and we'll be looking to integrate them into the group ahead of the start of the season.

"It's great to be back home at the Liberty Stadium for the first time since the PRO12 semi-final and I know that the players are looking forward to running out in front of our fans again. We're hoping for a big crowd, a great atmosphere and a good performance to get them excited and whet the appetite for the new season."

TEAM vs Ospreys

15. Nick Abendanon

14. Tom Biggs

13. Dan Hipkiss

12. Matt Banahan

11. Olly Woodburn

10. Sam Vesty

9. Michael Claassens (c)

1. Nathan Catt

2. Lee Mears

3. Anthony Perenise

4. Dave Attwood

5. Will Spencer

6. Will Skuse

7. Guy Mercer

8. Carl Fearns

Replacements

16. Ross Batty

17. Paul James

18. Kane Palma-Newport

19. Stuart Hooper

20. Dominic Day

21. Joe Buckle

22. Francois Louw

23. Ben Skirving

24. Chris Cook

25. Olly Barkley

26. Jack Cuthbert

27. Charlie Beech

28. Mark McMillan

29. Ollie Devoto

30. Ben Mosses

Bollix! Iechyd da

From a Bath perspective (having not seen the game), best thing I've heard is that we appear to have sorted our leaky defence. Is Mike Ford already having an impact?
Let's hope our other curse of not getting either winning or losing bonus points also sorts itself out......

Anyone who was there - how did our pack perform? Particularly interested in the front row, Attwood, front 5 in general, Mercer, and Fearns.

The pack was solid enough Bathmad, Catt, James, Mears, Perenise & KPN all looked in good nick and scrummaged well, James, Mears, Perenise would be my first choice front row, when they were together they looked a very strong unit.

Attwood, Skirving, Fearns, Hooper also had solid games with Fearns and Skirving being the pick of the bunch, Hooper was particularly impressive in the lineout though, Mercer went about his business with his usual workmanlike efficiency and the breakdown was one area where Bath looked far sharper than the O's, committing in numbers and forcing the O's to resort to naughtiness to slow down Bath ball.

Out of the backs, Banahan and Hipkiss both looked on message and impressed with their lines and workrate, Banahan was particularly impressive, his handling was great and he looked very fit and strong in the tackle consistently punching holes and sucking in extra defenders - I predict a big season from him. Bendy kept coming into the line looking for work and Biggs and Woodburn both looked quick, sharp and hungry, Woodburn was also impressive defensively. Vesty was clean and clinical and Claasens was very busy, sniping round the fringes and distributing good ball through the midfield.

On the whole, everyone performed well enough - but, as I mentioned in an earlier post, the O's were their own worst enemy in so much as, first 10 minutes aside, they didn't really string enough possession together to put any real pressure on the Bath defence.

http://www.ospreysrugby.com/matchdaytv/?play=media&id=12576

Ospreys coach Steve Tandy demands Ospreys improvement

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/19316008

What else can he say, hardly confidence building against one of the lower English teams last year.

Must surely spell doom this season for the 'one true region' eh Al?

Have the Ospreys ever won a preseason match...?

you fellas do make me laugh. It was a preseason friendly with about 24 players being involved from both sides, apart from the breakdown the one area that made the difference was handling. Bath were sharper, particularly their offloading game, and the O's kept coughing up in midfield.

Bath have a very good squad of players now, they had a decent squad last season, they just didn't buy into Geech's gameplan. The O's will be play-off contenders this year and in the Heino their group will be decided by the team that picks up away bonus points.

Friendlies usually mean didly squat. Just surprised to see GlamAl change his tune. He was quick to kick the dragons when they lost their first game, guess that comes with being an 'anti-dragon' .

Saying that, when you look at the Ospreys team it contained a number of first teamers and some excellent prospects who are fighting for a position in that team. Against a new look Bath who aren't really a good team you would have expected a decent win for the one true region.

I think Bath will surprise you and plenty of others this season Morgan, definite play-off contenders this term with a squad capable of competing in all competitions.

Last seasons failure to qualify for the HC was an aberration which will not be repeated.

PJ, I agree with you that they probably will this season.

PJHolybloke wrote:I think Bath will surprise you and plenty of others this season Morgan, definite play-off contenders this term with a squad capable of competing in all competitions.

Last seasons failure to qualify for the HC was an aberration which will not be repeated.

While you're at it, can you give me the winning Friday's Euromillions numbers and next year's Grand National winner?

Jimpy wrote:

PJHolybloke wrote:I think Bath will surprise you and plenty of others this season Morgan, definite play-off contenders this term with a squad capable of competing in all competitions.

Last seasons failure to qualify for the HC was an aberration which will not be repeated.

While you're at it, can you give me the winning Friday's Euromillions numbers and next year's Grand National winner?

No, actually. You see one is an entirely random event and the runners for the other one haven't been announced as yet, wheras to qualify for the HC Bath only have to.be better than 6 other teams in the Jeff. I'll gladly name those for you if you're interested.though Jimmy?

Some would say Bath qualifying for the play-offs would be equally random, but no, don't bother, i don't want you to get in any more of a tizzy than you are already.

Fearns looking any fitter compared to his summer performances? He had moments of absolute barbaric brutality, followed by largely anonymous patches.

No tizzy here Jimmy, takes way more than that bud.

Bluestone, yes Fearns is looking good again, he never really had the chance to get match fit at the end of last season, only had a handful of games prior to the summer so it didn't take much for him to be breathing through his a55.

I expect him to be playing more at 8 this term, so injuries permitting, I expect to see plenty of bullocking runs off the back of a much more stable pack and a few bone jarring stoppages if anyone likes the look of the 10/12 channel.

Numbers to the breakdown, speed of play, offloading. Let's hope we're getting back to the Steve Meehan way rather than the SIM method!

It's likely to be more Meehan than McGeechan, but I'm hoping for 24carat Gold.

maestegmafia wrote:Have the Ospreys ever won a preseason match...?

Russia last year?

Oddly enough I have never seen the Ospreys win a home game against an English team but have also never seen them lose one against a team from any other nation, including Wales.

Shifty wrote:

maestegmafia wrote:Have the Ospreys ever won a preseason match...?

Russia last year?

Oddly enough I have never seen the Ospreys win a home game against an English team but have also never seen them lose one against a team from any other nation, including Wales.

There will definitely be some HEC and LV= matches that we will be asking not to attend if that's ok with you

PJHolybloke wrote:No tizzy here Jimmy, takes way more than that bud.

Bluestone, yes Fearns is looking good again, he never really had the chance to get match fit at the end of last season, only had a handful of games prior to the summer so it didn't take much for him to be breathing through his a55.

I expect him to be playing more at 8 this term, so injuries permitting, I expect to see plenty of bullocking runs off the back of a much more stable pack and a few bone jarring stoppages if anyone likes the look of the 10/12 channel.

Good to know PJ. He played superbly against the SA Barbarians in the summer, and could be an amazing impact player. His physicality could be a real asset, and hopefully we'll see him come the AIs!

Hopefully we won't see him during the AIs! That's where Bath have an advantage and an actual chance to pick up points! Hands off!

Morgannwg wrote:Friendlies usually mean didly squat. Just surprised to see GlamAl change his tune. He was quick to kick the dragons when they lost their first game, guess that comes with being an 'anti-dragon' .

Saying that, when you look at the Ospreys team it contained a number of first teamers and some excellent prospects who are fighting for a position in that team. Against a new look Bath who aren't really a good team you would have expected a decent win for the one true region.

Morg:

Not sure what you mean, I wrote in response to Tandy's statement:

"What else can he say, hardly confidence building against one of the lower English teams last year."

I did not brush off the loss, I could have said "it could be worse at least they did not lose to a Welsh prem side"