Ospreys season thread 2014-15

by The Saint Tue 26 Aug 2014, 3:44 pm

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.

by The Saint Sun 21 Dec 2014, 7:32 pm

Interesting reports, they say Tips has already turned down Toulouse. Ospreys also state that Tips is one of the core players that they'd like to build a squad around. Who would the others be Wayne? I'm guessing AWJ, Webb, Biggar are certainly another three.

by wayne Sun 21 Dec 2014, 7:50 pm

The Saint wrote:Interesting reports, they say Tips has already turned down Toulouse. Ospreys also state that Tips is one of the core players that they'd like to build a squad around. Who would the others be Wayne? I'm guessing AWJ, Webb, Biggar are certainly another three.

Tips is integral to the way we are playing at the moment and as good as Sam Lewis is for us, he is not as quick to get to the wide channels, I don't know if you read it, but by all accounts we had the youngest either squad or 23 in the RCC as quoted by our coaches, so basically we are filling where we think needs it.
IMO we definetly need cover at 15, 9 and 3 urgently and possibly 13 and 4/5. The ethos of our team is already well ingrained, that can be seen by the way we fight for every yard, we are basically looking for some experienced players to fetch through the very promising youngsters on our books.

by maestegmafia Mon 22 Dec 2014, 9:10 am

Great to see Tipuric become another top Ospreys player to re-sign.

by Welly Mon 22 Dec 2014, 9:43 am

Appears that Leicester didn't want him in the first place. Wink

I'm hoping that Mauger will bring with him Todd when he comes back to Leicester.

by The Saint Mon 22 Dec 2014, 12:52 pm

He's not on a dual contract either, sounds like a big win for Ospreys. I reckon AWJ will be in France after RWC though (or whenever his current contract expires).

by LordDowlais Mon 22 Dec 2014, 1:15 pm

The Saint wrote:He's not on a dual contract either, sounds like a big win for Ospreys. I reckon AWJ will be in France after RWC though (or whenever his current contract expires).

AWJ has only this season just signed a very big contract with the Ospreys.

by maestegmafia Mon 22 Dec 2014, 2:37 pm

LordDowlais wrote:
The Saint wrote:He's not on a dual contract either, sounds like a big win for Ospreys. I reckon AWJ will be in France after RWC though (or whenever his current contract expires).

AWJ has only this season just signed a very big contract with the Ospreys.

Pretty sure AWJ plans to play out his days in Wales not move abroad.

by wayne Mon 22 Dec 2014, 3:00 pm

This is fantastic news for us, a number of posters on our site said they would willingly prefer to lose twice to the Scarlets if we could retain Tips. Things are slotting into place wonderfully, just a couple more strategic signings and full fitness for the couple of long term injured will do us a power of good
As for AWJ he has no reason to leave us, he is a qualified Solicitor and it is part of his families concerns, you can see how much he wants to play for us, I wouldn't mind betting he has played more high level rugby than anybody else within Wales since the start of this season.

by LordDowlais Mon 22 Dec 2014, 4:48 pm

wayne wrote:I wouldn't mind betting he has played more high level rugby than anybody else within Wales since the start of this season.

Didn't he get annoyed at the start of the season because the WRU requested that the Ospreys rest him, but he wanted to play, apparently he just wants to play every week, and when he is injured he just does all he can to get back to full fitness and play rugby, didn't Shane Williams call him a freak because of the way he can come back from serious injury and still be as fit as ever ?

by wayne Mon 22 Dec 2014, 5:08 pm

LordDowlais wrote:
wayne wrote:I wouldn't mind betting he has played more high level rugby than anybody else within Wales since the start of this season.

Didn't he get annoyed at the start of the season because the WRU requested that the Ospreys rest him, but he wanted to play, apparently he just wants to play every week, and when he is injured he just does all he can to get back to full fitness and play rugby, didn't Shane Williams call him a freak because of the way he can come back from serious injury and still be as fit as ever ?

Lord it is not definite it was just the WRU, Tandy in one of the press conferences said AW needed to be rested for his own good as he had a long hard season ahead of him, yet thankfully because of our injuries he has played in numerous matches with very little break, a true Osprey.

by maestegmafia Mon 22 Dec 2014, 6:11 pm

wayne wrote: a true Osprey.

I think you could say he is the first true osprey. All the regions have struggled to form an identity that we can relate to, one that we know what it stands for.

The clubs we all supported had a century of history, stories and passion. They had an individual Character. The regions had tried to prosaically engineer that character into a new union.

But what we the fans need is players to form the identity.

To me Alun Wynn Jones typifies the Ospreys, he is what they stand for. Soon I imagine Dan Biggar and Justin Tipuric will be iconic enough to enriched the regions character too.

by wayne Mon 22 Dec 2014, 6:48 pm

maestegmafia wrote:
wayne wrote: a true Osprey.

I think you could say he is the first true osprey. All the regions have struggled to form an identity that we can relate to, one that we know what it stands for.

The clubs we all supported had a century of history, stories and passion. They had an individual Character. The regions had tried to prosaically engineer that character into a new union.

But what we the fans need is players to form the identity.

To me Alun Wynn Jones typifies the Ospreys, he is what they stand for. Soon I imagine Dan Biggar and Justin Tipuric will be iconic enough to enriched the regions character too.

By your first paragraph, you could say yes he is the first, within our forum we class players as legends, and by that general consensus there are 3 who most on that forum would class as legends, they are Filo Tiatia, Shane, and Alun Wynn and as you say Dan and Justin will soon be there plus Duncan and Andrew Bishop up close behind.

by maestegmafia Mon 22 Dec 2014, 7:09 pm

wayne wrote:
maestegmafia wrote:
wayne wrote: a true Osprey.

I think you could say he is the first true osprey. All the regions have struggled to form an identity that we can relate to, one that we know what it stands for.

The clubs we all supported had a century of history, stories and passion. They had an individual Character. The regions had tried to prosaically engineer that character into a new union.

But what we the fans need is players to form the identity.

To me Alun Wynn Jones typifies the Ospreys, he is what they stand for. Soon I imagine Dan Biggar and Justin Tipuric will be iconic enough to enriched the regions character too.
By your first paragraph, you could say yes he is the first, within our forum we class players as legends, and by that general consensus there are 3 who most on that forum would class as legends, they are Filo Tiatia, Shane, and Alun Wynn and as you say Dan and Justin will soon be there plus Duncan and Andrew Bishop up close behind.

Duncan Jones has been a massive servant to Wales and the Ospreys, injury gave others opportunities that he missed.

Rhys Webb is heading in the right direction too.

by wayne Mon 22 Dec 2014, 7:36 pm

maestegmafia wrote:
wayne wrote:
maestegmafia wrote:
wayne wrote: a true Osprey.

I think you could say he is the first true osprey. All the regions have struggled to form an identity that we can relate to, one that we know what it stands for.

The clubs we all supported had a century of history, stories and passion. They had an individual Character. The regions had tried to prosaically engineer that character into a new union.

But what we the fans need is players to form the identity.

To me Alun Wynn Jones typifies the Ospreys, he is what they stand for. Soon I imagine Dan Biggar and Justin Tipuric will be iconic enough to enriched the regions character too.
By your first paragraph, you could say yes he is the first, within our forum we class players as legends, and by that general consensus there are 3 who most on that forum would class as legends, they are Filo Tiatia, Shane, and Alun Wynn and as you say Dan and Justin will soon be there plus Duncan and Andrew Bishop up close behind.

Duncan Jones has been a massive servant to Wales and the Ospreys, injury gave others opportunities that he missed.

Rhys Webb is heading in the right direction too.

Rhys will have to perform at the level he is now at for a few years to be classed a legend, the person I really like and I think is already one is Bishop, one of our coaches said is like the piece of glue that holds our team together a few years ago, not great going forward, but a rock in defence and your right about Duncan, although we haven't had a bad deputy (Gethin).

by maestegmafia Mon 22 Dec 2014, 8:04 pm

I agree on Webb Wayne, it will take few seasons of, hopefully, ever improving form, but he is a hell of a player at the moment. One of the form scrum halfs in the world at the moment.

by wayne Mon 22 Dec 2014, 8:17 pm

maestegmafia wrote:I agree on Webb Wayne, it will take few seasons of, hopefully, ever improving form, but he is a hell of a player at the moment. One of the form scrum halfs in the world at the moment.

What impresses me most about this moment in time Maes, is the faith Tandy and Co had in first of all changing the way we played to allow Rhys to play to his strengths and allow Dan and buying in primarily Matavesi and Dan Evans to assist with the kicking game, which at the moment are reaping rich dividends, we really are playing to our strengths.
He is still prone to brain farts, did you see the one where we had a penalty on Saturday and he took a quick tap to himself and then kicked across field straight into the arms of an Ulster player who then proceeded to kick it out on the full, when nobody was left in the back line, we were lucky to get away with that, he should have given it straight to Dan.

by The Saint Mon 22 Dec 2014, 9:23 pm

No doubt AWJ is by far the most loyal player in Wales. Hibbard and Jones weren't far behind until they left. I just see him having 2-3 years in France at the tail end of his career, playing in France is something most players would like to experience. I'm sure Alun wouldn't mind, maybe get him some money to help open up that surgery!

by maestegmafia Tue 23 Dec 2014, 1:41 am

The Saint wrote:No doubt AWJ is by far the most loyal player in Wales. Hibbard and Jones weren't far behind until they left. I just see him having 2-3 years in France at the tail end of his career, playing in France is something most players would like to experience. I'm sure Alun wouldn't mind, maybe get him some money to help open up that surgery!

I believe the legal professions work at a practice, not a surgery.

I don't think many of the Welsh players are enjoying France that much. The t14 is quite a boring league this year.

by wayne Wed 24 Dec 2014, 10:26 am

Signed a Fijian International 2nd row Tevita Cavubati until the end of the season 2 metre
tall and 20 stone aprox, supposed to be very abrasive, we really needed some influx there with both Peers and Steenkamp probably out till the end of the season, and AWJ away with Wales, that would leave only Bernardo and some youngsters to cover a very important time of the season, hopefully a good signing for us

by dragon4life Wed 24 Dec 2014, 10:54 am

If he is anything like Nakawara at Glasgow he will be a fantastic signing

by The Saint Wed 24 Dec 2014, 11:13 am

Christ, if he shows to be any good it's probably worth keeping him for longer. Producing locks in Wales is a problem IMO, the locks in our last four U20 teams have been gash.

by wayne Wed 24 Dec 2014, 11:25 am

The 6 Nations runs from Feb 6 to late March, in that period we play Glasgow and Edinburgh away and Leinster and Munster at home in the Guinness as well as a couple of LV games, we played a few of our U20s in a few of our LV and Guinness matches earlier in the season and were found wanting, although Thornton did show some promise, it will do him good.

by maestegmafia Wed 24 Dec 2014, 12:53 pm

He played well for Fuji in that dyer Autumn International. Let's see what he can do in the pro12

by wayne Wed 24 Dec 2014, 4:14 pm

maestegmafia wrote:He played well for Fuji in that dyer Autumn International. Let's see what he can do in the pro12

Maes, have you been on the sherberts, you pick up Saint for mixing up surgery and practice, then you come up with Fuji and dyer, it is Fiji and dire Very Happy

by VinceWLB Wed 24 Dec 2014, 5:57 pm

Son of Big Bill, known to be the heaviest player ever to play the game:

Ospreys season thread 2014-15 - Page 11 034_sale%20and%20bill

Didn't know Peers was injured, i think Cavubati should do well and about time Ospreys signed some much needed cover for 2nd row.
But he seems to be a different player than Nakarawa. He looks to be more of an enforcer type lock.

by wayne Wed 24 Dec 2014, 6:08 pm

VinceWLB wrote:Son of Big Bill, known to be the heaviest player ever to play the game:

Didn't know Peers was injured, i think Cavubati should do well and about time Ospreys signed some much needed cover for 2nd row.
But he seems to be a different player than Nakarawa. He looks to be more of an enforcer type lock.

Vince, Peers had surgery about a week ago and will be out for about 4 months according to our medical team

by maestegmafia Fri 26 Dec 2014, 9:31 am

wayne wrote:
maestegmafia wrote:He played well for Fuji in that dyer Autumn International. Let's see what he can do in the pro12
Maes, have you been on the sherberts, you pick up Saint for mixing up surgery and practice, then you come up with Fuji and dyer, it is Fiji and dire

Certainly the bloke at apple who does spell checking has...!!!

by maestegmafia Fri 26 Dec 2014, 9:22 pm

The Ospreys team to face the Scarlets at the Liberty Stadium on Saturday 27th December 2014, KO 5.15pm (UK), is as follows:

15 Dan Evans
14 Hanno Dirksen
13 Ashley Beck
12 Josh Matavesi
11 Eli Walker
10 Dan Biggar
9 Rhys Webb

1 Marc Thomas
2 Scott Baldwin
3 Dmitri Arhip
4 James King
5 Alun Wyn Jones (Capt)
6 Dan Lydiate
7 Justin Tipuric
8 Tyler Ardron

REPLACEMENTS

16 Sam Parry
17 Gareth Thomas
18 Daniel Suter
19 Rynier Bernardo
20 Sam Lewis
21 Martin Roberts
22 Sam Davies
23 Aisea Natoga

Dan Lydiate makes his first Ospreys start

The following players were unavailable for selection through injury:

Morgan Allen – Ankle
Dan Baker – Shoulder
Joe Bearman - Groin
Ryan Bevington – Groin
Jeff Hassler – Ligaments
Aaron Jarvis – Pectoral muscle
Lloyd Peers - Ligaments
Nicky Smith – Pectoral muscle
Jonathan Spratt - Knee
De Kock Steenkamp – Achilles

by maestegmafia Fri 26 Dec 2014, 9:27 pm

Scarlets are
L Williams; H Robinson, R King, H Parkes, K Phillips; R Priestland, A Davies; R Evans, E Phillips, S Lee, J Ball, G Earle, A Shingler, J Barclay (capt), R Pitman.

Reps: K Myhill, W Jones, R Jones, L Rawlins, W Boyde, R Williams, S Shingler, S Hughes.

by maestegmafia Fri 02 Jan 2015, 10:29 am

Anyone seen the team for the Scarlets match?

by Breadvan Fri 02 Jan 2015, 4:42 pm

Same as the last game but Natoga replaces Eli on the left wing...

by wayne Fri 02 Jan 2015, 5:48 pm

Not expecting a lot out of the team selected, hope to get a bonus point and that is about it, the bench is slightly stronger for scrum purposes but, not enough ballast behind it and it could be a long night.

by maestegmafia Fri 02 Jan 2015, 5:51 pm

Good to see Duncan Jones back on the bench

by maestegmafia Fri 02 Jan 2015, 5:53 pm

15 Dan Evans
14 Hanno Dirksen
13 Ashley Beck
12 Josh Matavesi
11 Aisea Natoga
10 Dan Biggar
9 Rhys Webb

1 Marc Thomas
2 Scott Baldwin
3 Dmitri Arhip
4 James King
5 Alun Wyn Jones (Capt)
6 Dan Lydiate
7 Justin Tipuric
8 Tyler Ardron

REPLACEMENTS

16 Sam Parry
17 Duncan Jones
18 Aaron Jarvis
19 Rynier Bernardo
20 Sam Lewis
21 Martin Roberts
22 Sam Davies
23 Tom Grabham

James King makes his 100th appearance for the Ospreys

The following players were unavailable for selection through injury:

Dan Baker – Shoulder
Joe Bearman - Groin
Ryan Bevington – Groin
Andrew Bishop - Neck
Jeff Hassler – Ligaments
Lloyd Peers - Ligaments
Nicky Smith – Pectoral muscle
Jonathan Spratt - Knee
De Kock Steenkamp – Achilles
Eli Walker -Hamstring

Head Coach, Steve Tandy, commented:

“It was pretty much mixed emotions last weekend. Obviously we were pleased to win the big derby match in front of our own fans at the Liberty, and to end the year at the top of the table, but there was a huge feeling of disappointment at the performance. We didn’t do ourselves justice, we didn’t perform at the level we expect of an Ospreys team, and we almost paid the price for it. The dressing room was fairly downbeat after the game as there was a realisation that we didn’t reach the desired standard.

“The focus this week in training has been about getting back to basics and doing the small things correctly. We know that it’s going to be tough down there on Saturday, there’ll be a big crowd and Scarlets tails will be up given our poor performance in the second half.

“It’s important that we prepare the right way for this game and treat it exactly like we would any other fixture, ignoring the hype and everything that goes with a derby match. We have worked hard to put ourselves in the position we are in the PRO12 table and it’s important that we keep striving for excellence, pushing ourselves to be better each week so that the hard work doesn’t go to waste.”

by maestegmafia Fri 02 Jan 2015, 6:00 pm

And out hosts team...!

Scarlets: Liam Williams, Hadleigh Parkes, Regan King, 12 Scott Williams (captain), Michael Tagicakibau, Rhys Priestland, Aled Davies, Rob Evans, Kirby Myhill, Samson Lee, Jake Ball, Joe Snyman, Aaron Shingler, John Barclay, Rob McCusker
Replacements: Ryan Elias, Wyn Jones, Rhodri Jones, George Earle, Will Boyde, Gareth Davies, Steven Shingler, Jordan Williams

by glamorganalun Fri 02 Jan 2015, 9:56 pm

Ospreys must be worried with the scrum power of the Scarlets which is a bit of a turn around but losing I Evans, R Jones, Hibbard, A Jones, P James it is hardly surprising. Scarlets must keep the ball in hand as must the Ospreys and not kick the dam ball away.

I suspect the Ospreys have a slight edge as long as they play running rugby and not play like they did at the Liberty. Looking forward to an open flowing game with a decent ref.

by bedfordwelsh Sat 03 Jan 2015, 6:38 am

Good to see Gareth davies back on the bench lets hope he can pick his form up quickly and challenge Webb for the Welsh shirt.

by VinceWLB Sat 03 Jan 2015, 12:02 pm

wayne wrote:Not expecting a lot out of the team selected, hope to get a bonus point and that is about it, the bench is slightly stronger for scrum purposes but, not enough ballast behind it and it could be a long night.

What's the point of signing that big Fijian 2nd row if they aren't even playing him?

by wayne Sat 03 Jan 2015, 12:19 pm

I'm a superstitious sort of guy, the vast majority of away games that I've been to supporting teams for the first time, we've lost, I haven't been to watch the Ospreys play away (except Judgement Day matches which are not really away as the team their playing are not at home) since we lost to Saracens in the HC about 6 or 7 years ago, what I'm getting to is I hope Treviso beat Zebre today and break the sequence of the double headers over Christmas, where each team has won and lost, Blues v Dragons and the Scottish derby, has started this sequence if Treviso can break it great, yet if Zebre win, it'll make me even more nervous than usual

by wayne Sat 03 Jan 2015, 12:29 pm

VinceWLB wrote:
wayne wrote:Not expecting a lot out of the team selected, hope to get a bonus point and that is about it, the bench is slightly stronger for scrum purposes but, not enough ballast behind it and it could be a long night.

What's the point of signing that big Fijian 2nd row if they aren't even playing him?

Vince, I and many on our forum agree with you, I know he was primarily bought to cover for AWJ at the time of the 6N, we NEED ballast in our second row NOW, Bernardo is carrying rib ligament damage and has for a few weeks, why not totally rest him for the RCC and give this guy a chance, even if off the bench, King has been told he has to bulk up as his preferred option of selection in the future is to be 2nd row, unless we have eradicated some of the problems we encountered in the 2nd half last week in training this week or we intend using the bench earlier it could be a very long evening.

by wayne Sat 03 Jan 2015, 4:11 pm

wayne wrote:I'm a superstitious sort of guy, the vast majority of away games that I've been to supporting teams for the first time, we've lost, I haven't been to watch the Ospreys play away (except Judgement Day matches which are not really away as the team their playing are not at home) since we lost to Saracens in the HC about 6 or 7 years ago, what I'm getting to is I hope Treviso beat Zebre today and break the sequence of the double headers over Christmas, where each team has won and lost, Blues v Dragons and the Scottish derby, has started this sequence if Treviso can break it great, yet if Zebre win, it'll make me even more nervous than usual

Treviso 17 Zebre 15, I hope that is the start of another sequence. Come on you Os

by Guest Sat 03 Jan 2015, 5:10 pm

Big blow for Ospreys losing Rhys Webb

by No9 Sat 03 Jan 2015, 5:22 pm

Risca Rev wrote:Big blow for Ospreys losing Rhys Webb

Rev, missed the build up to the game, just tuned in as they kicked off. Have checked the posted line ups and Webb still listed, but can clearly see he's not at 9. So what's the gen... Why has Webb not started. Hope nothing serious with 6 Nations coming soon.

by glamorganalun Sat 03 Jan 2015, 6:18 pm

Just what the game needed to wake up the Ospreys to chase the game. Scarlets must be odds on.

by glamorganalun Sat 03 Jan 2015, 6:20 pm

Hope Lee is OK

by VinceWLB Sat 03 Jan 2015, 6:30 pm

Crossing from the Ref haha

by glamorganalun Sat 03 Jan 2015, 6:33 pm

Game over well played Scsrlets, no R Jones to the rescue this time.

by glamorganalun Sat 03 Jan 2015, 6:38 pm

Props are dropping like flies

by glamorganalun Sat 03 Jan 2015, 6:40 pm

Why can t we have a decent ref for these games

by Guest Sat 03 Jan 2015, 6:44 pm

No9 wrote:
Risca Rev wrote:Big blow for Ospreys losing Rhys Webb

Rev, missed the build up to the game, just tuned in as they kicked off. Have checked the posted line ups and Webb still listed, but can clearly see he's not at 9. So what's the gen... Why has Webb not started. Hope nothing serious with 6 Nations coming soon.

Can't be that bad if he was a late withdrawal.

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