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.

[VinceWLB]

Pretty poor defending from the Scarlets here

[glamorganalun]

Good to see Davies back , Ospreys picked up with Lydiate off the park.

[glamorganalun]

D Jones scres up the chance of a bonus point

[BigGee]

Top four all end up losing. The league is certainly going to be a whole lot tighter this year. Scarlets did Glasgow a big favour there, next weeks game going to be very interesting now.

[glamorganalun]

MOTM should be L Williams or Scott, Scarlets neeeded that win shame the did not get a BP.

[VinceWLB]

Top four all end up losing. The league is certainly going to be a whole lot tighter this year. Scarlets did Glasgow a big favour there, next weeks game going to be very interesting now.

Without even getting a losing bonus point all of them!

[BigGee]

Top four all end up losing. The league is certainly going to be a whole lot tighter this year. Scarlets did Glasgow a big favour there, next weeks game going to be very interesting now.

Without even getting a losing bonus point all of them!

All sides seem to defend well, maybe other than the Italians, now that they have all settled down there are not going to be the mismatches we saw at the beginning of the season. Qualification is going to be tough, how the top sides will come through the international window will be crucial.

[VinceWLB]

Top four all end up losing. The league is certainly going to be a whole lot tighter this year. Scarlets did Glasgow a big favour there, next weeks game going to be very interesting now.

Without even getting a losing bonus point all of them!

All sides seem to defend well, maybe other than the Italians, now that they have all settled down there are not going to be the mismatches we saw at the beginning of the season. Qualification is going to be tough, how the top sides will come through the international window will be crucial.

Indeed 2nd part of the season is going to be tight which is great, shame about the Italians, since they have entered the competition this is the 1st season i really feel they are a good step behind the other 10 teams.

[wayne]

Missed the first 10 or 12 minutes of the 2nd half, but the game was comprehensively lost by us, well before that time, the urgency and belief was totally with the Scarlets today, totally missed Webby as their half backs controlled the game excellently, Liam was Liam, making yards when it seemed impossible to do so, Scott also led very well and why he was binned is beyond me, for the majority of the game we were marched around the field by their pack whether in the scrum or in the rolling maul and the breakdown work was very pedestrian with Roberts taking an age to get the ball out, going to get drunk now to try and forget this match.

[No9]

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.

Sky said later on that he withdrew ill, so just man flu I hope...

Scarlets way the better side today, well done Scarlets. Ospreys need to step up age ar next week, if they are to stay at the top.only managed to do that this week by courtesy of the other top 3 listing as well.

[maestegmafia]

Well done Scarlets, Priestland was superb. Scott Williams and Regan King looked great too.

[The Saint]

On the matter of your opponents today...I think they're wasting a lot of potential. The Scarlets could have put Ospreys to the sword today. And did I hear right that Priestland got MOTM? Absolutely bonkers if Sky are following Jiffy's trend.

[maestegmafia]

Priestland was superb.

[Guest]

I suspect Ospreys will get a WBP in their next game. I suspected as much before today, but now they will be keen to prove a few points.

[No9]

Priestland was superb.

...are you joking... Preistland played well, but SUPERB

His kicking (place kicking) was as bad as ever. He has completly lost the ability to kick the ball from the tee.

But to be fair, he did have a good game (kicking apart), being instrumental in Lliams try, so credit where credits due. But I can't agree that he was superb.

[The Saint]

Priestland was superb.

He wasn't superb at all. He played better than Biggar, but in fairness to Biggar he didn't make a single error. As usual, RP made them in abundance - so he can he be superb? I think he made a good break and done his job, there was nothing great about it. I think these novelty MOTM's intended to build up player confidence are getting beyond now....if he's that bad that he constantly needs a confidence boost to play average then maybe he shouldn't be playing. It just convinces me that what I previously wrote of him in an article was right. Ball, Lee, Scott or Liam Williams MOTM for me.

[bedfordwelsh]

Priestlands confidence is slowly returning and when he has his confidence up he is very good and he was very good tonight (place kicking aside).

The problem being is he is such a confidence player that once his head goes down he go to bits all round which is why I am surprised the Scarlets have maybe tried another option as kicker (heard Li Williams had been practicing).

As it turned out tonight the missed kicks weren't crucial but if the game had been tighter and he had missed them then I think is whole game would have been affected.

[wayne]

I suspect Ospreys will get a WBP in their next game. I suspected as much before today, but now they will be keen to prove a few points.

Rev if we don't start to learn the lessons that are being taught us week in week out, we will not get 5 points again this season, and when I say us I mean our coaches, King is NOT a 2nd row starter against any reasonable scrummaging team, the coaches have to bite the bullet and select EITHER King or Lydiate at 6 with a bit of ballast in the engine room, I would select the Fijian with Bernardo next week giving Alun Wyn a bit of a rest, I just hope Webby is back, Roberts is too lightweight to take on fringe players if our set up is not right and he has to direct them into position.

[wales606]

Priestland was superb.

He wasn't superb at all. He played better than Biggar, but in fairness to Biggar he didn't make a single error.

Biggar did make a fair few errors. It was his worst game for aaaages - which is saying something because he wasn't awful by any means.

It was one of Preistlands best games for a long time though.

Biggar is still no1 by a fair distance, but some competition will be good - especially with Anscombe starting to acclimatise

[The Saint]

Priestland was superb.

He wasn't superb at all. He played better than Biggar, but in fairness to Biggar he didn't make a single error.

Biggar did make a fair few errors. It was his worst game for aaaages - which is saying something because he wasn't awful by any means.

It was one of Preistlands best games for a long time though.

Biggar is still no1 by a fair distance, but some competition will be good - especially with Anscombe starting to acclimatise

He was quiet, but he didn't make a 'fair few errors.' He missed a tackle on RP that lead to a try, but apart from that his basics as per, are flawless. RP basics are very much the opposite I'm afraid to say, missed a tackle, knocked on twice and his goal-kicking gets worse. One novelty MOTM doesn't change anything. I'd be surprised if he could make the starting XV in any other team, wonder how he'd fit into Bath if he makes his way there.

[BuzzScarlet]

I'd hardly call Biggars basics flawless, apart from the missed tackle on Priestland, he missed touch from a penalty, terrible drop goal attempt, dropped a high ball all of which Priestland would be slated for if he'd done it. Biggar also offered very little going forward. Shown up as an average 10 under the pressure of playing behind a well beaten pack.

[maestegmafia]

Priestland was superb.

He wasn't superb at all. He played better than Biggar, but in fairness to Biggar he didn't make a single error.

Biggar did make a fair few errors. It was his worst game for aaaages - which is saying something because he wasn't awful by any means.

It was one of Preistlands best games for a long time though.

Biggar is still no1 by a fair distance, but some competition will be good - especially with Anscombe starting to acclimatise

Anscombe looks very useful, Tovey is playing well too.. With Owen Williams in great form at Tigers there are some good options for the Six Nations

[bedfordwelsh]

I don't think Tovey will get a look in he just doesn't seem to have kicked on really from his last stint with us.

Anscombe for me needs to just be given time without people rushing him into the Welsh set up and being the next best thing etc.

Biggar is clearly No1 in my book and whilst Priestland is like marmite if he's on form and his confidence is high then he brings a different element to that of Biggar but its his confidence which is the issue, once is head drops he goes to pieces.

I would really like to Gatland go with Biggar and Williams for the 6 Nations.

[wales606]

Priestland was superb.

He wasn't superb at all. He played better than Biggar, but in fairness to Biggar he didn't make a single error.

Biggar did make a fair few errors. It was his worst game for aaaages - which is saying something because he wasn't awful by any means.

It was one of Preistlands best games for a long time though.

Biggar is still no1 by a fair distance, but some competition will be good - especially with Anscombe starting to acclimatise

Anscombe looks very useful, Tovey is playing well too.. With Owen Williams in great form at Tigers there are some good options for the Six Nations

Seeing Owen Williams play against Toulon really made me doubt whether he will involved for a while. He fell apart under pressure in Toulon. It's those sort of games he will have to perform in for him to get into the Wales squad.

[wales606]

Also Patchell is back soon

[bedfordwelsh]

Also Patchell is back soon

Thought he was out until after 6 Nations?

[wales606]

Also Patchell is back soon

Thought he was out until after 6 Nations?

Will definitely be back before then, it was only 3 months to begin with.

Rumour is he will be back imminently, wouldn't be surprised to see him on the bench next week,

I expect he will start the European games with our Argentinians unavailable

[bedfordwelsh]

Also Patchell is back soon

Thought he was out until after 6 Nations?

Will definitely be back before then, it was only 3 months to begin with.

Rumour is he will be back imminently, wouldn't be surprised to see him on the bench next week,

I expect he will start the European games with our Argentinians unavailable

That is good news then, though just hope they don't rush him back or when he is fit mess him about to much as they will have him, Anscombe and Davies all vying for the 10 shirt.

[wales606]

Davies won't really be 'challenging'....

[bedfordwelsh]

Fair one lol.

[wales606]

Although I think he might end up as a FB rather than a 10 at the moment

[bedfordwelsh]

Think that seems to be the more likely outcome which is ok as long as they stick to it and dont keep swapping changing etc.

[wales606]

I don't think it is necessarily a bad thing if he is used between FB and 10 depending on where we need him.

If he was a big bulkier, he would make a fantastic 12 for us.

He is only 21?, it's a matter of time to see where he plays best

[bedfordwelsh]

606,

Its ok for emergency but look how it has affected someone like Hook, I know he's had a good Welsh carear but he's been pushed from pillar to post most of the time.

[wales606]

You need a bit of flexibility these day though.

10 and 15 can work quite well.

Just look at Barrett, Lambie, F.Steyn etc

Especially players as young as Patchell, it helps them learn the game and to get into the squad and get regular gametime, which is just as important

[bedfordwelsh]

Agreed but I think they have to have one position which 'dominates' the rest, just my view. I was a utility back but my default position other than at the end of the bar was 12.

[The Saint]

I'd hardly call Biggars basics flawless, apart from the missed tackle on Priestland, he missed touch from a penalty, terrible drop goal attempt, dropped a high ball all of which Priestland would be slated for if he'd done it. Biggar also offered very little going forward. Shown up as an average 10 under the pressure of playing behind a well beaten pack.

His basics ARE flawless though, hence why he's first choice for Wales and probably the most consistent fly-half in the league - this is coming from someone who isn't a big fan of Biggar. Admittedly not his best game, but my argument is RP is neither superb or was the true MOTM.

[Higher_Ground]

I'd hardly call Biggars basics flawless, apart from the missed tackle on Priestland, he missed touch from a penalty, terrible drop goal attempt, dropped a high ball all of which Priestland would be slated for if he'd done it. Biggar also offered very little going forward. Shown up as an average 10 under the pressure of playing behind a well beaten pack.

Because lots of 10's look great behind a well beaten pack.
Enjoy your victory, maybe you guys can be the new Dragons; ie able to lift your game for one match per season - the Ospreys at home.
Wonder if Priestland would have got man of the match if his Sunday stroll to the ball on his own line had let Tipuric actually get the ball down.

[Guest]

Why is Ospreys, Dragons biggest game of the season HG? Strange comment.

[Higher_Ground]

Why is Ospreys, Dragons biggest game of the season HG? Strange comment.

Haha, that was a bit naughty of me.
But for about three seasons in a row I went up to Rodney Parade to watch the Dragons beat Ospreys,
and then play poorly again.

[BuzzScarlet]

I'd hardly call Biggars basics flawless, apart from the missed tackle on Priestland, he missed touch from a penalty, terrible drop goal attempt, dropped a high ball all of which Priestland would be slated for if he'd done it. Biggar also offered very little going forward. Shown up as an average 10 under the pressure of playing behind a well beaten pack.

His basics ARE flawless though, hence why he's first choice for Wales and probably the most consistent fly-half in the league - this is coming from someone who isn't a big fan of Biggar. Admittedly not his best game, but my argument is RP is neither superb or was the true MOTM.

Biggars basics were not flawless last night for the reasons I've stated, the reason I pointed them out after your comment was that if Priestland had done them people would be all over them like a rash. I agree that Priestland wasn't superb, he played well and was one off our better players and outplayed Biggar but as for MOM I'd have given it to Scott, Liam, Jake or Barclay.

[BuzzScarlet]

I'd hardly call Biggars basics flawless, apart from the missed tackle on Priestland, he missed touch from a penalty, terrible drop goal attempt, dropped a high ball all of which Priestland would be slated for if he'd done it. Biggar also offered very little going forward. Shown up as an average 10 under the pressure of playing behind a well beaten pack.

Because lots of 10's look great behind a well beaten pack.
Enjoy your victory, maybe you guys can be the new Dragons; ie able to lift your game for one match per season - the Ospreys at home.
Wonder if Priestland would have got man of the match if his Sunday stroll to the ball on his own line had let Tipuric actually get the ball down.

I will enjoy the victory mate, especially in work tomorrow when I see some of the plastic fans of the one true region, I've taken enough banter over the years so I'll really enjoy dishing it out when I see them

As for lifting our game against you for our one game a season i just hope we do just like we have in wins against better sides than the ospreys such as Leicester, Racing Metro, Ulster and Harlequins in recent seasons. With the pack we are developing I think games between us will be a lot more competitive over the next few seasons.

[Higher_Ground]

That's good, a bit of competition is good for the league.
My point - as it was for the Dragons - is why does it take a do or die game like that for the Scarlets to put in a professional 80 minute performance?
The fact you mention the 'better' teams than the Ospreys (including Ulster who the Ospreys just hammered) makes it more confusing that you've only won 2 out of the last 14 games against the Ospreys.
But if you can continue the intensity of last night, I can't see anyone beating you at home, which is the way it should be.

[maestegmafia]

That's good, a bit of competition is good for the league.
My point - as it was for the Dragons - is why does it take a do or die game like that for the Scarlets to put in a professional 80 minute performance?
The fact you mention the 'better' teams than the Ospreys (including Ulster who the Ospreys just hammered) makes it more confusing that you've only won 2 out of the last 14 games against the Ospreys.
But if you can continue the intensity of last night, I can't see anyone beating you at home, which is the way it should be.

HG

Scarlets have put in some very solid performances this season, the is little between them and any of the teams above them in the league. It's going t be very tough to make the playoffs this year.

[BuzzScarlet]

That's good, a bit of competition is good for the league.
My point - as it was for the Dragons - is why does it take a do or die game like that for the Scarlets to put in a professional 80 minute performance?
The fact you mention the 'better' teams than the Ospreys (including Ulster who the Ospreys just hammered) makes it more confusing that you've only won 2 out of the last 14 games against the Ospreys.
But if you can continue the intensity of last night, I can't see anyone beating you at home, which is the way it should be.

The reason we've only beaten u twice in fourteen games is simply due to the fact the ospreys have been consistently the better side.

Consistency is a big problem for us, we can put in an efficient, professional performance in poor conditions to beat ulster one week then follow it up with a urine poor display in losing to the Blues the next week. We even have the tendency to go from the sublime to the ridiculous within the same game such is our level of inconsistency.

If we can continue in the direction were going under Pivac whilst putting in 80 minute performances ion a regular basis then hopefully we'll be far more competitive and hopefully become a successful team.

[The Saint]

I'd hardly call Biggars basics flawless, apart from the missed tackle on Priestland, he missed touch from a penalty, terrible drop goal attempt, dropped a high ball all of which Priestland would be slated for if he'd done it. Biggar also offered very little going forward. Shown up as an average 10 under the pressure of playing behind a well beaten pack.

His basics ARE flawless though, hence why he's first choice for Wales and probably the most consistent fly-half in the league - this is coming from someone who isn't a big fan of Biggar. Admittedly not his best game, but my argument is RP is neither superb or was the true MOTM.

Biggars basics were not flawless last night for the reasons I've stated, the reason I pointed them out after your comment was that if Priestland had done them people would be all over them like a rash. I agree that Priestland wasn't superb, he played well and was one off our better players and outplayed Biggar but as for MOM I'd have given it to Scott, Liam, Jake or Barclay.

Wasn't his best game, as mentioned... His basics are flawless week in, week out (maybe not as good last night) and that's expected of a fly-half. Nobody heaps a lot of praise on Biggar for managing to kick to the corner. They do so with RP. Why? Maybe they're being sarcastic as half the time he misses! The only reason you pointed the finger at Biggar is because of your banner. Whenever a Scarlets player is rightfully or wrongfully criticised we get a band of one-eyed turks running in and responding by slagging other players rather than accept the truth - sorry to say that I've experienced this too many times. When I pointed out RP shouldn't be playing for Wales on a different site I even had turks come in and say Rhys Webb cost us the game against the Wallabies via an interception pass . Everyone knows I wasn't a fan of the Ospreys half-backs before the season but they've earned my respect, so I don't think I can be accused of bias here.

Here's a tip: if RP stops getting special treatment from coaches, media and pundits and it's accepted that he is a limited player that has no place at international level right now, people will turn a blind-eye. Until then, you can expect people to voice their frustrations. Heck, even James Jones has joined in now by publically praising him on facebook. He's never done that for any other player.

[BuzzScarlet]

Believe it or not, I'm not a massive Priestland fan, poor goal kicking and very erratic form. Whilst I agree with u that Biggar should clearly be wales's first choice 10 what grips my Poopie is that every mistake that Priestland makes is always picked up on and magnified ten fold, yet when other 10's in Wales make mistakes they are usually glossed over.

There's no way Priestland should be mollycoddled by pundits or the media but I also don't think it's right he's always criticised for every mistake he makes as he's now an easy target, while, like I've stated others mistakes are usually overlooked.

As a season ticket holder who goes to every home game, I do criticise players when it's deserved and praise them when that's deserved to. Unfortunately it's not just the Turks that are one eyed and it seems no matter what Priestland does there will always be someone there to knock him.

[maestegmafia]

Believe it or not, I'm not a massive Priestland fan, poor goal kicking and very erratic form. Whilst I agree with u that Biggar should clearly be wales's first choice 10 what grips my Poopie is that every mistake that Priestland makes is always picked up on and magnified ten fold, yet when other 10's in Wales make mistakes they are usually glossed over.

There's no way Priestland should be mollycoddled by pundits or the media but I also don't think  it's right he's always criticised for every mistake  he makes as he's now an easy target, while, like I've stated others mistakes are usually overlooked.

As a season ticket holder  who goes to every home game, I do criticise players when it's deserved and praise them when that's deserved to.  Unfortunately it's not just the Turks that are one eyed and it seems no matter what Priestland does there will always be someone there to knock him.

I don't think that the professionals criticise Priestland that much. More the Internet Warriors on here. I agree he gets a rough ride and 90% is underserved..!

[maestegmafia]

Forwards Coach, Chris Gibbes, said it’s going to be a “pretty painful” few days for the Ospreys as they review their performance in defeat at Parc y Scarlets on Saturday night.


The defeat, only the third in the PRO12 to date this season, made pretty grim viewing for Ospreys supporters at times as their team struggled to get a foot hold in the contest and, speaking to the press shortly after the final whistle, Gibbes was honest in his appraisal.

“I think first and foremost you’ve got to give credit to the Scarlets” was his immediate response when asked for his thoughts.

“I think they were pretty good in most aspects of the game. They put a lot of pressure on us and forced us in to errors we don’t normally make.

“Secondly, we probably didn’t turn up with enough intensity, even though we did talk about it. We knew what was expected of us but we didn’t turn up with enough. We made crucial errors. You look at the set piece, some of the stuff, the scrum stuff and the lineouts that we needed to win, and we didn’t. That’s probably the tale of the game really.

“It’s disappointing, and fair play to them again, they’ve gone and done their homework and I thought their set piece was a lot better, particularly the lineout, this week. That allowed them to get a platform into the game. We didn’t get our set piece, our scrum right, and we’ve got to make sure we get that bit right.

“We knew that coming down here is tough, it’s a hell of a tough place to play. We knew all that was in front of us, we knew what we needed to do what works for us and, when we play well, what we are doing, and we just didn't do that tonight. Fair play to them, they’ve turned up and done it.”

With another Welsh derby next weekend, against the Dragons at the Liberty Stadium on Sunday 11th January, Gibbes is expecting another tough outing for the Ospreys and he acknowledged that coaches and players alike have to dust themselves down and look to start putting things right immediately:

“Yep, and that’s what we’re going to do. We’ve spoken about it in the shed and there’s not much we can do about that now. It’s going to be pretty painful looking back and we’re going to have to take a lot of learning out of it, as we do every week. Our focus is to get the performance right for next week because this competition waits for no one and we’ve got the Dragons on Sunday, another Welsh derby, and they are going to be coming at us hard.

“They’ll be looking at that tape I would say and putting a strategy together so we’ve got to make sure we are better.

“We are lucky, there’s been a few teams at the top of the table turned over, but the thing we’ve got to get right and I keep coming back to it is the performance week in, week out. We weren’t looking too much at the table coming into this, we just needed to make sure we get the performance to beat the Scarlets. We didn’t do that.

“There are some boys out there who’ve served us pretty well over the last few months, in terms of our injuries and whatever, and maybe that showed by the end tonight. That’s taking nothing away from the effort, and they kept going to the end to put some respectability into the performance and result, but we all know we have to be better than that. That’s the challenge for the next couple of weeks and two big home games against the Dragons and Northampton. We have to perform better.”

[The Saint]

Believe it or not, I'm not a massive Priestland fan, poor goal kicking and very erratic form. Whilst I agree with u that Biggar should clearly be wales's first choice 10 what grips my Poopie is that every mistake that Priestland makes is always picked up on and magnified ten fold, yet when other 10's in Wales make mistakes they are usually glossed over.

There's no way Priestland should be mollycoddled by pundits or the media but I also don't think  it's right he's always criticised for every mistake  he makes as he's now an easy target, while, like I've stated others mistakes are usually overlooked.

As a season ticket holder  who goes to every home game, I do criticise players when it's deserved and praise them when that's deserved to.  Unfortunately it's not just the Turks that are one eyed and it seems no matter what Priestland does there will always be someone there to knock him.

You make some fair points. RP does get a lot of criticism, sometimes undeserved. As I alluded to, if he continually gets selected when he is so badly off form it will frustrate paying fans who want to see their team do well and perhaps see a more deserving playing in the jersey. This coupled with the fact that after 'booing gate' he seems to get a lot of unwarranted praise - all of this is going to continue to frustrate fans, hence why Priestland and his errors may be more highly documented. He's been pretty poor since 2013 and I held my tongue for a while - up until this year when I realised this is it. Also Biggar had a lot of flak from people before he established himself by actually playing well rather than get praised for making a kick to the corner and passing the ball; I think people often forget that. I never used to get angry at RP getting selected, I backed him hoping that he could prove doubters wrong, which I think he has failed to do. What does get me a bit angry is this over-the-top praise from all corners when the guys executes a miss-pass or loop around, it's his job FFS, stop overlooking the basic errors he makes week-in, week-out; further to this we then get told how the doubters are wrong on the back of some novelty MOTM award.

I find turks are the most one-eyed, Ospreys fans coming a close 2nd. I like to think us Dragons supporters are the least biased.

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