Ospreys vs Gloucester LV=

Ospreys vs Gloucester

Friday 9th November, KO 19.45 @ the Liberty Stadium


Ospreys Team:
15 Ross Jones, 14 Tom Grabham, 13 Ben John, 12 Jonathan Spratt, 11 Will Price, 10 Matthew Morgan, 9 Rhys Webb, 1 Marc Thomas, 2 Matthew Dwyer, 3 Joe Rees, 4 Lloyd Peers, 5 James King, 6 George Stowers, 7 Sam Lewis (Capt), 8 Morgan Allen

Replacements:
16 Scott Otten, 17 Nicky Smith, 18 Nicky Thomas, 19 Rhodri Hughes, 20 Arthur Ellis, 21 Tom Habberfield, 22 Sam Davies, 23 Nathan Edwards


Gloucester Team:
Martyn Thomas; Shane Monahan, Drew Locke, Tim Molenaar, Ian Clark; Tim Taylor, Dan Robson; Yann Thomas, Tommaso d'Apice, Dario Chistolini; Elliott Stooke, Will Graulich; Ross Moriarty, Matt Cox, Peter Buxton (capt)

Replacements:
Koree Britton, Dan Murphy, Tom Heard, Ed King, Ben Sparks, Dave Lewis, Billy Burns, Steph Reynolds

From the Gloucester website

For their opening LV= Cup fixture of the 2012-13 season, away at Ospreys on Friday evening, Gloucester Rugby are giving youth a chance with their team selection.The LV= Cup has developed into a competition which, given that matches take place during international periods, provides a great opportunity for up and coming players to show what they can do.
Accordingly, it's a youthful looking line up that will take the field at the Liberty Stadium on Friday evening, with the club relying heavily on its Academy, which has produced so many quality players in recent times.

For all that, there is a more than decent amount of first team experience named in the starting line up.

In the backs, the likes of Martyn Thomas, Shane Monahan, Tim Molenaar, Tim Taylor and Dan Robson are no strangers to first team action, while there is a welcome debut for centre Drew Locke.

Similarly, in the pack, the experience of Tommaso d'Apice, Dario Chistolini, Matt Cox and skipper Peter Buxton is backed up by a number of promising young forwards, including current England U20 squad members Elliott Stooke and Ross Moriarty.

Meanwhile, the relationships that Gloucester have built in recent times with players dual registered with the likes of Cinderford and Hartpury, pays dividends.

Second row Ed King and back row Ben Sparks, both from Cinderford, have both been registered to take their place amongst the replacements.

Discussing the game with the local media this week, Forwards Coach Carl Hogg stressed that Friday's game is a real opportunity for those selected:

"The LV= Cup has traditionally been an avenue for us to blood young players and that's exactly what we're doing on Friday night.

"It's a great opportunity for us to have a look at everybody. A lot of the guys have contributed in a big way to our success so far in the Aviva Premiership.

"They've been fully committed and now they have the chance to put their hands up and put themselves forward for selection.

"It's a difficult away match to start but this group is similar to the one that went to Mont de Marsan and performed well in difficult conditions.

"It'll be a similar challenge, the Ospreys are very physical but we've every faith in this group."

From the Ospreys Website


Head Coach, Steve Tandy, said "this is a really positive time for everybody here. We have young players coming in to the group who really want to take their opportunity to show what they can do and it brings a real freshness around the place that excites everyone including us coaches.

"We've really seen the benefits of the LV= Cup as a development competition over the last couple of seasons, with lots of players being introduced to the team in the LV and going on to establish themselves not just with the Ospreys but for people like Tipuric, Beck and Bevington, with Wales as well. It's a fantastic opportunity while the internationals are away now for the next group of boys to step up and I personally am really looking forward to it.

"Gloucester are maybe more unfamiliar opposition for us, coming from the Premiership, but they are a good team and are well coached by someone we know very well in Nigel Davies. Whatever the team selection, he will have them organised, tough to beat and solid up front as you expect with English clubs, with a bit of flair, and no doubt coming back to this part of the world he'll be desperate for the win.

"It's going to be a really good test for this young group, not just in terms of stepping up a level to play, but also, coming to the Liberty in front of a bigger crowd. We want to see how they respond to the different pressures, and I'm sure our supporters are keen to maybe get a first look at some players who will go on and become familiar to them as key Ospreys in coming seasons."

Marc Thomas and Will Price make their first Ospreys start. Scott Otten, Nicky Smith, Nicky Thomas, Rhodri Hughes, Arthur Ellis, Sam Davies and Nathan Edwards will all make their Ospreys debuts if they come off the bench

George stowers looks a touch out of place in that lineup.

Yes I think we would rather have Paul Moriaty's son Ross playing blindside for us but he seems to have become English all of a sudden...?

Maes, you a 'spreys man ?
I cannot make it tomorrow night, despite the attractive hospitality offers from the host club, but well, pob lwc to both sides (if that is possible)

maestegmafia wrote:Yes I think we would rather have Paul Moriaty's son Ross playing blindside for us but he seems to have become English all of a sudden...?

He's been English for a while, but we'll call it evens seeing as Wales have stolen one of Gloucester's sons Alex Cuthbert

Moriarty has been in England most of life I think. Very inexperienced Ospreys lineup. What has Sam Davies done to even get near the squad...

HongKongCherry wrote:

maestegmafia wrote:Yes I think we would rather have Paul Moriaty's son Ross playing blindside for us but he seems to have become English all of a sudden...?

He's been English for a while, but we'll call it evens seeing as Wales have stolen one of Gloucester's sons Alex Cuthbert

cuthbert is half welsh and spent most of his life in Wales, plus we gave ou back Ben Morgan...!

Ha ha ha...! Tough being a boarder town eh...! Those marauding raids and lack of protection from it.

If young Ross is even half the player his dad or uncle were for Wales you have found a gem.

Looking forward to seeing Ian Clarke again, he was electric in the 7s.

I take it Billy is related to Freddie Burns?

I Think 'Billy' Burns may be a typo for Freddie.
They possibly mean Freddie Burns who is back from England camp... if so looks like Freddie is being 'rested' on bench to come on later if Taylor has a bad one.
HKC - you know all the players, do we have a 'Billy' ?

We do indeed. Billy is Freddie's younger brother - I think he's 18. I've seen him play a few A games and also from what I've read is that he is more of a traditional FH than Freddie, less trickery and more about control, but certainly looks a decent prospect (he can play at full back too). I've seen him do some excellent kicks and his passing looks of a decent standard too. He is relatively slight in frame, but I've not noticed him miss any glaring tackles, however, he'll have a test fronting up to Stowers!

I've heard that Tim Taylor has failed a medical following a recent concussion, so it may well be that Billy is starting today!

HKC

Billy Burns is class, in the England U18s at the mo. There could be some fun battles between him and Freddie in a couple of years.

Hope he gets on tonight!

This for me is what this cup is all about. Both these sides have put out very young sides with the view that this is a development competition. It's a great opportunity for these kids and for the management to assess their progress in a really competitive environment. Good stuff.

gregortree wrote:Maes, you a 'spreys man ?
I cannot make it tomorrow night, despite the attractive hospitality offers from the host club, but well, pob lwc to both sides (if that is possible)

Cheers Gregor

Hopefully will get you down for some good welsh hospitality another time. I can't go myself either this weekend as my wife is not well and I'm at the MS on saturday.

Have a good weekend and as you say Good Luck to both young teams, I'm sure it will be an exciting game. Weather permitting.

I'm hearing on Shedweb that Taylor might not be fit to play, so could be a start for Billy Burns who has looked great in the Gloucester United games.

How's Matthew Morgan coming along Maes? I thought he looked a real prospect in the pre-season(?) against Saints not long ago.

Maesteg, enjoy your weekend's rugby.
Wish your wife well too, hope she gets better.

Looks like Billy is starting at 10.

Is it me or is Scott Quinell a slightly bit over enthusiastic in his punditry tonight.

This game on/streamed anywhere LD or are you listening to it via the radio?

It's on Sky Sports 3.

Let's hope Rose has a good game.

Morgannwg wrote:This game on/streamed anywhere LD or are you listening to it via the radio?

I am watching it it on sky sports 3.

two early pens for the Ospreys. Mathew Morgan going for the posts as I type, and wait a minute, wide.

I'm watching a stream from Sky Sports 3.

Shame Morgs missed that. Weather is crap again though (if it's the same in Swansea as Cardiff).

Pen for Gloucester straight in front of the posts, only one outcome, 3pts for Gloucester.

0-3. Easy penalty.

3 all after 10 mins. pen Ospreys.

Nice duvet in the crowd there!

I'm liking the charidee O's shirt too. Niiice!

Cari, I will let you carry on with the updates.

God this ref is whistle happy isnt he.

No probs Dowlais. Great kick by Morgs gets the O's deep into Glaws 22....and then they give away a free kick.

The ref is having a big influence on this game.

Another easy penalty for Glaws. 3-6 after 17 minutes.

God how many pens has it been so far ?

Yay! Great drop goal by Morgs. 6-6 after 21 minutes. The flyhalves are bossing this at the moment.

Jeez...the O's scrum is wrecked again by Glaws. Their bench won't fair much better - the front three are all littlies (18 year olds!).

The ref is losing his patience with both sides. They both get a row off him. Straight after, James King's sent to the bin following another infringement.

Thomas scores for Glaws. Upsetting the locals.

6-13 after 27 minutes. King's still in the bin too...

Wooop! Great phases of play by the O's, and Morgs safely kicks another drop goal...little steps lads...

9-13 after 30 minutes.

To be fair, Morgs is playing a stormer. "Sidestepping people in a phonebox" says the commentator. Third drop goal attempt unlucky though, but fairdo's he's going for them.

Penalty to the Ospreys, kicked without incident by Morgs.

12-13 after 35 minutes.

King back on, and O's just given a free kick. They did well not to get to one point behind with a man in the bin.

Penalty Ospreys gives them the edge..

HT 15 - 13

Not a bad game. Good to see both sides trying to play in some rugby pretty poor conditions.

Yes, and the youngsters are having a great run out. Some impressive stuff from both sides.

Morgs misses another penalty fortunately for Glaws. 43 minutes gone.

Burns picking up an injury, but he's playing on.

Webb continues to go backwards. Habberfield MUST get the opportunity, the same amount as he Webb has from now on.