Ospreys season thread 2014-15

[The Saint]

First topic message reminder :

Will Ospreys be worst team in Wales 2014-15?

Outside of some fairly decent signings (Bernardo, Matavesi, Roberts), and their inspiring captain (AWJ) the Ospreys squad looks very average and the first team could struggle to be within the top 6 of the Guinness Pro12. Squad: http://www.ospreysrugby.com/Teams/Squad/Ospreys. Do Ospreys fans believe little was done when Ryan/Adam Jones, Hibbard declared intentions to move? I think the current squad has potential, but the current coaches will neither develop them or get the best out of them when it comes to the field of play, I think Tandy is the worst pro rugby coach in Wales and quite possibly all of Europe. The departures of the senior players will do little to help either.

Dragons have a slightly better squad this term and are lead by a good coaching panel, as are the Scarlets and Blues. The Blues also have built quite a formidable squad and look the most likely to be winning silverware this season. This is why I can see Ospreys being the worst performing team in the 2014/15 season. To go from the team most likely to win silverware for a No. of years to potentially the worst is unforgivable.

[The Saint]

Why would any Ospreys fan gloat though. They pretty much at one point, had the best 23 in Europe and still couldn't win the competition. With the amount of internaitonals that's just shocking, I don't know why anyone would pay to go watch them. Dragons have been bad granted but what can you do when the WRU don't put anything in to their 50% share. I don't see dual contracts benefiting us that much either when our players don't get the recognition they deserve. I'd probably have Rees, Lewis Evans, Amos, Prydie on dual contracts. Perhaps Tovey as well in case another 10 crisis arises.

Interesting post until you said you would have Richie Rees on a dual contract. C'mon, the Dragons have better scrumhalfs than Rees, let alone Wales...!

Latest on these contracts via Gatland yesterday was that more players will be awarded as the season continues.  

Who do you think we have that is better? He's our best and he's a class above L.Williams and Knoyle.... always has been.

If Richie Rees get's a central contract I will eat my hat.

He won't. It will probably be the two Scarlets boys (deservedly so) and one of Gats children.

[Welsh Magician]

I've read and heard from Dragons fans that they will be top 4 this season, if that isn't blinkered I don't know what is.

The only person I've heard suggesting that is Will Greenwood. I haven't heard a single Dragons fan suggesting it.

I read one or two on twitter suggesting it, as I spend a lot of time in Newport I get to talk to quite a few Dragons friends who lets just say are quite the optimists.

[Welsh Magician]

Its a shame you guys don't take your hatred of the Ospreys out on some of your other league rivals, you might get somewhere further up the table.

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz maybe we would if we had your much-vaunted depth eh

You might have won some titles, I agree.

I wouldn't see this as an anti-ospreys thread tbh, it just presents a different view. Again, I don't have anything against the team, just the blinkered fans on here and on the Facebook page. Never seen such biased and moronic supporters...thought Scarlets were bad!

Every team have supporters who think their team is the best, but to be fair to Ospreys fans their team has been the best over the years? I've read and heard from Dragons fans that they will be top 4 this season, if that isn't blinkered I don't know what is. By the way, dual contracts are for international class players.

Yeah Hoobs, Cooke and Bevington (originally on the list) are absolute superstars!

Which list? Please share.

[Breadvan]

Worst regi......Sorry, Ospreys team up. Same as last week.

15 Dan Evans
14 Jeff Hassler
13 Andrew Bishop
12 Josh Matavesi
11 Eli Walker
10 Dan Biggar
9 Rhys Webb

1 Nicky Smith
2 Scott Baldwin
3 Aaron Jarvis
4 Lloyd Peers (Capt)
5 Rynier Bernardo
6 Joe Bearman
7 James King
8 Dan Baker

REPLACEMENTS

16 Sam Parry
17 Duncan Jones
18 Daniel Suter
19 Tyler Ardron
20 Morgan Allen
21 Martin Roberts
22 Sam Davies
23 Hanno Dirksen

[Stone Motif]

Worst regi......Sorry, Ospreys team up. Same as last week.

15 Dan Evans
14 Jeff Hassler
13 Andrew Bishop
12 Josh Matavesi
11 Eli Walker
10 Dan Biggar
9 Rhys Webb

1 Nicky Smith
2 Scott Baldwin
3 Aaron Jarvis
4 Lloyd Peers (Capt)
5 Rynier Bernardo
6 Joe Bearman
7 James King
8 Dan Baker

REPLACEMENTS

16 Sam Parry
17 Duncan Jones
18 Daniel Suter
19 Tyler Ardron
20 Morgan Allen
21 Martin Roberts
22 Sam Davies
23 Hanno Dirksen

Strength in depth there alright

[Guest]

I've read and heard from Dragons fans that they will be top 4 this season, if that isn't blinkered I don't know what is.

The only person I've heard suggesting that is Will Greenwood. I haven't heard a single Dragons fan suggesting it.

I read one or two on twitter suggesting it, as I spend a lot of time in Newport I get to talk to quite a few Dragons friends who lets just say are quite the optimists.

That old chestnut

[Breadvan]

It's biggars 150th appearance so I want the hazel to treat him nice ok?

[Guest]

Great achievement. Biggar isn't bothered by stick now anyway. It's only Ross Jones that got a bit flustered by it last.

[The Saint]

Its a shame you guys don't take your hatred of the Ospreys out on some of your other league rivals, you might get somewhere further up the table.

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz maybe we would if we had your much-vaunted depth eh

You might have won some titles, I agree.

I wouldn't see this as an anti-ospreys thread tbh, it just presents a different view. Again, I don't have anything against the team, just the blinkered fans on here and on the Facebook page. Never seen such biased and moronic supporters...thought Scarlets were bad!

Every team have supporters who think their team is the best, but to be fair to Ospreys fans their team has been the best over the years? I've read and heard from Dragons fans that they will be top 4 this season, if that isn't blinkered I don't know what is. By the way, dual contracts are for international class players.

Yeah Hoobs, Cooke and Bevington (originally on the list) are absolute superstars!

Which list? Please share.

It's here if you follow: https://www.606v2.com/t55077-gatland-wants-central-contracts-for-27-welsh-players
Bevington isn't on there actually. Looks like they've seen the light (on that one at least).

[The Saint]

Btw, best team in the world for Friday's fixture has just been announced: Byrne (c), Amos, Morgan, Dixon, Brew, Tovey, Evans - Stankovich, Dee, Fairbrother, Gough, Landman, Evans, Cudd, Faletau. Reps: TRT, Evans, Way, Coombs, Powell, Rees, O'Brien, Prydie.

[maestegmafia]

Looks like it will be a good game.

How's the food and beer at the parade so far this year?

[Welsh Magician]

Btw, best team in the world for Friday's fixture has just been announced: Byrne (c), Amos, Morgan, Dixon, Brew, Tovey, Evans - Stankovich, Dee, Fairbrother, Gough, Landman, Evans, Cudd, Faletau. Reps: TRT, Evans, Way, Coombs, Powell, Rees, O'Brien, Prydie.

For what its worth, I think you should win tomorrow night with home advantage. I can see all the regions winning their home games against each other this year, with maybe one or two exceptions.

[Welsh Magician]

Its a shame you guys don't take your hatred of the Ospreys out on some of your other league rivals, you might get somewhere further up the table.

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz maybe we would if we had your much-vaunted depth eh

You might have won some titles, I agree.

I wouldn't see this as an anti-ospreys thread tbh, it just presents a different view. Again, I don't have anything against the team, just the blinkered fans on here and on the Facebook page. Never seen such biased and moronic supporters...thought Scarlets were bad!

Every team have supporters who think their team is the best, but to be fair to Ospreys fans their team has been the best over the years? I've read and heard from Dragons fans that they will be top 4 this season, if that isn't blinkered I don't know what is. By the way, dual contracts are for international class players.

Yeah Hoobs, Cooke and Bevington (originally on the list) are absolute superstars!

Which list? Please share.

It's here if you follow: https://www.606v2.com/t55077-gatland-wants-central-contracts-for-27-welsh-players
Bevington isn't on there actually. Looks like they've seen the light (on that one at least).

I think that list was made up wasn't it? As far as I know there are only 10-15 names on the list.

[The Saint]

There were 10 names at first... Then those 27 names were added. Rumours are today that it's at 50+.

[Guest]

Btw, best team in the world for Friday's fixture has just been announced: Byrne (c), Amos, Morgan, Dixon, Brew, Tovey, Evans - Stankovich, Dee, Fairbrother, Gough, Landman, Evans, Cudd, Faletau. Reps: TRT, Evans, Way, Coombs, Powell, Rees, O'Brien, Prydie.

For what its worth, I think you should win tomorrow night with home advantage. I can see all the regions winning their home games against each other this year, with maybe one or two exceptions.

I'm not sure. I'm glad Goughy starts for a bit of ballast in the scrums. I'm pretty happy with that squad really. It's going to be a real slog though. My nerves are shot already

[LordDowlais]

OOOOoooooooooohhhhhh, this game is going to be quite the juicy one, and all because of this thread.

I was going to go to the cardiff Blues V Glasgow game this weekend, but I might just change my mind now.

[Stone Motif]

The big battles are Smith v Fairbrother, and who gets the best of the aerial stuff between ex-Dragon Dan Evans and ex-Osprey Lee Byrne.

Dragons looking to boss the breakdown by the looks of selection in the back row.

[bedfordwelsh]

I would have been tempted to put Powell at No6 but he will have big impact off bench.

[maestegmafia]

Likewise Arden does well off the bench for the Ospreys

[Cardiff Dave]

Why is AWJ being rested, again?

[Luckless Pedestrian]

Expect more of this once dual contracts kick in. Team Wales will come first.

[Cardiff Dave]

Expect more of this once dual contracts kick in. Team Wales will come first.

That's what I was thinking.

[wayne]

Expect more of this once dual contracts kick in. Team Wales will come first.

That's what I was thinking.

I've said this elsewhere AWJ apart from 1 season since he has been made captain he has started the season IIRC, the 3rd, 4th and 8th game, if team Wales have such a strong influence why is Toby playing tomorrow

[Cardiff Dave]

Expect more of this once dual contracts kick in. Team Wales will come first.

That's what I was thinking.

I've said this elsewhere AWJ apart from 1 season since he has been made captain he has started the season IIRC, the 3rd, 4th and 8th game, if team Wales have such a strong influence why is Toby playing tomorrow  

Dunno. Injured or maybe the Os got it wrong previously by resting him.
The fact is he's fit to play, but again he aint playing.

[Cardiff Dave]

OOOOoooooooooohhhhhh, this game is going to be quite the juicy one, and all because of this thread.

Always tremendous fun watching the other Welsh sides beat the crap out of each other;

"Scarlets demolish sorry Swansea
Friday, 4 October, 2002

Celtic League - Pool A
Llanelli 62-6 Swansea

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/celtic/2296429.stm

[GavinDragon]

Really looking forward to Fairbrother VS Smith. The former held up pretty well against Alex Corbisiero against Northampton (just about - although he was turning in every time)

I am very excited by our midfield partnership Morgan has great potential,

Tovey needs a big game for me. Showed great potential when first burst onto the scene but waned in the last two seasons. Would like to see him push himself into Welsh reckoning but he needs to cut out errors and be more consistent.

On paper we should win this however being a Dragons fan I am never too confident

[Stone Motif]

Really looking forward to Fairbrother VS Smith. The former held up pretty well against Alex Corbisiero against Northampton (just about - although he was turning in every time)

I am very excited by our midfield partnership Morgan has great potential,

Tovey needs a big game for me. Showed great potential when first burst onto the scene but waned in the last two seasons. Would like to see him push himself into Welsh reckoning but he needs to cut out errors and be more consistent.

On paper we should win this however being a Dragons fan I am never too confident

Fairbrother could be in for a tough time against the second coming - however, if Stankovitch can't sort out Jarvis on the other side he was a waste of money. Brew needs to knock holy hell out of Dan Evans the minute he has a sniff of the ball, and hopefully Faletau/Powell and the two centres can get some joy out of Biggar's channel.

[LordDowlais]

OOOOoooooooooohhhhhh, this game is going to be quite the juicy one, and all because of this thread.

Always tremendous fun watching the other Welsh sides beat the crap out of each other;

"Scarlets demolish sorry Swansea
Friday, 4 October, 2002

Celtic League - Pool A
Llanelli 62-6 Swansea

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/celtic/2296429.stm

I was at Stradey for that game, Gavin Henson was red carded for throwing somebody into the advertising boards.

[LordDowlais]

Really looking forward to Fairbrother VS Smith. The former held up pretty well against Alex Corbisiero against Northampton (just about - although he was turning in every time)

I am very excited by our midfield partnership Morgan has great potential,

Tovey needs a big game for me. Showed great potential when first burst onto the scene but waned in the last two seasons. Would like to see him push himself into Welsh reckoning but he needs to cut out errors and be more consistent.

On paper we should win this however being a Dragons fan I am never too confident

The trouble with Tovey, is the fact that he is an injury just waiting to happen.

[bedfordwelsh]

Toveys Blues move didn't work out and that along with his injuries have set him back a bit and shunted him down the pecking order.

[jimmyinthewell68]

Im off down Newport today . i ve really no loyalty to one team tho being from gwent it should be the dragons . rather watch a Welsh team against an Irish or Scots

[Cardiff Dave]

OOOOoooooooooohhhhhh, this game is going to be quite the juicy one, and all because of this thread.

Always tremendous fun watching the other Welsh sides beat the crap out of each other;

"Scarlets demolish sorry Swansea
Friday, 4 October, 2002

Celtic League - Pool A
Llanelli 62-6 Swansea

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/celtic/2296429.stm

I was at Stradey for that game, Gavin Henson was red carded for throwing somebody into the advertising boards.

Garan Evans mun. Now Scarlets team manager.
Here you go;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PnkTwVQxaw4

[ScarletSpiderman]

Expect more of this once dual contracts kick in. Team Wales will come first.

That's what I was thinking.

Interesting to see Gareth Davies is not selected this weekend either. It is a pretty safe bet to say both him and AWJ would be central contracts (best in their position in Wales), and there is a 16 game limit on the dual contract players.

[Cardiff Dave]

Expect more of this once dual contracts kick in. Team Wales will come first.

That's what I was thinking.

Interesting to see Gareth Davies is not selected this weekend either.  It is a pretty safe bet to say both him and AWJ would be central contracts (best in their position in Wales), and there is a 16 game limit on the dual contract players.

From SF;
"16 games minimum for dual contracts, play offs extra"
What does this mean exactly?

[ScarletSpiderman]

Dai, it means that someone got minimum and maximum wrong

[Cardiff Dave]

Dai, it means that someone got minimum and maximum wrong

So a DC player can only appear in a maximum of 16 pro12 games in a season? Is that right or does it mean 16 max in all competitions?

[ScarletSpiderman]

As I understand it, they will play a maximum of 16 regional games in all competitions (EXCLUDING Knock out stages). But I have see a few people say a Min. of 16 for the regions, which makes no sense to me what so ever.

[The Saint]

Be a bit naff if it meant all competitions. There's 8 games minimum to be played in Europe right? Leaves 8 games out of how many in the league? I think they should bump that number up a bit.

[maestegmafia]

Why would any Ospreys fan gloat though. They pretty much at one point, had the best 23 in Europe and still couldn't win the competition. With the amount of internaitonals that's just shocking, I don't know why anyone would pay to go watch them. Dragons have been bad granted but what can you do when the WRU don't put anything in to their 50% share. I don't see dual contracts benefiting us that much either when our players don't get the recognition they deserve. I'd probably have Rees, Lewis Evans, Amos, Prydie on dual contracts. Perhaps Tovey as well in case another 10 crisis arises.

Interesting post until you said you would have Richie Rees on a dual contract. C'mon, the Dragons have better scrumhalfs than Rees, let alone Wales...!

Latest on these contracts via Gatland yesterday was that more players will be awarded as the season continues.  

Who do you think we have that is better? He's our best and he's a class above L.Williams and Knoyle.... always has been.

If Richie Rees get's a central contract I will eat my hat.

He won't. It will probably be the two Scarlets boys (deservedly so) and one of Gats children.

I thought Evans was your best scrum half??? Lyn Jones seems to agree too...!

[The Saint]

Nah it isn't Jon Evans, I've always thought he was average. Has Lyn openly stated that he thinks Evans is best? Judging by the Rees' No. of start since he joined I would say he is in the driving seat.

[Cardiff Dave]

Be a bit naff if it meant all competitions. There's 8 games minimum to be played in Europe right? Leaves 8 games out of how many in the league? I think they should bump that number up a bit.

6 games minimum ie pool matches, so let's do math;

6 Euro pool matches + 16 Pro12 + 13 international matches = 35 matches.
Sounds about right and I believe the England squad players are limited to 32 matches per season or they were a few years ago. Also I remember Quins resting a few for a HEC game at Cardiff City's stadium.

[ScarletSpiderman]

6 HEC games, and 10 pro12 makes sense IMO. That's all home games bar 1, and 3 HEC away games. Seeing as they miss the LV= and 3-6 Pro12 games due to the 4th AI, training camps etc too, that means realistically they need to 'sit out' 6-9 Pro12 games more than usual. Call those games Connacht, Treviso and Zebre (home and away) providing fixtures suit, its not too bad.

[maestegmafia]

Nah it isn't Jon Evans, I've always thought he was average. Has Lyn openly stated that he thinks Evans is best? Judging by the Rees' No. of start since he joined I would say he is in the driving seat.

First two games of the season Rees is on the bench Jon Evans starts..!

[Breadvan]

Ospreys will probably get a gubbing. Hope not but...

[The Saint]

Nah it isn't Jon Evans, I've always thought he was average. Has Lyn openly stated that he thinks Evans is best? Judging by the Rees' No. of start since he joined I would say he is in the driving seat.

First two games of the season Rees is on the bench Jon Evans starts..!

Okay maes you don't like Rees, I think WE GET IT by now.

[wayne]

Ospreys will probably get a gubbing. Hope not but...

I would not be surprised if we lose Breadvan, yet hoping for a losing BP, we have a youngish pack with an experienced backline, they have the opposite, and what do they say Forwards win you games, and backs by how much.

[maestegmafia]

AWJ is in as Lloyd failed a late fitness test

[maestegmafia]

Nah it isn't Jon Evans, I've always thought he was average. Has Lyn openly stated that he thinks Evans is best? Judging by the Rees' No. of start since he joined I would say he is in the driving seat.

First two games of the season Rees is on the bench Jon Evans starts..!

Okay maes you don't like Rees, I think WE GET IT by now.

Didn't say that.

I said Jon Evans is the better player and backed that up with the fact that the coach keeps picking him ahead of Rees

[Welsh Magician]

Well that was close.

[wayne]

Perhaps we should change the headline removing Ospreys, installing Newport Gwent Dragons Again and removing the Question Mark.

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