Ospreys 2015/16 Season

First topic message reminder :

Never done one of these here before, yet cannot do any worse than last years idiot.
Head Coach Steve Tandy
Backs Coach Gruff Rees
Forwards Coach Chris Gibbes
Squad Alphabetically
TYLER ARDRON 24 Back Row                  Rhodri Hughes 20 Lock
Dimitri Arhip 26 Prop                              PAUL JAMES 33 Prop
Lloyd Ashley (Peers) 24 Lock                   AARON JARVIS 29 Prop
Dan Baker 23 Back Row                          Ben John 24 Centre
SCOTT BALDWIN 27 Hooker                    ALUN WYN JONES 29 Lock
Adam Beard 19 Lock                              JAMES KING 25 Back Row  
Joe Bearman 36 Back Row                      Brendon Leonard 30 S/H
Ashley Beck 25 Centre                            DAN LYDIATE 27 Back Row
Rynier Bernardo 24 Lock                         JOSH MATAVESI 24 Centre
Ryan Bevington 26 Prop                          Scott Otten 21 Hooker
DAN BIGGAR 25 OH                               Sam Parry 23 Hooker
Andrew Bishop 30 Centre                        Kristian Phillips 24 Wing
Jordan Collier 20 Back Row                     Martin Roberts 29 S/H
Olly Cracknell 21 Back Row                     Nicky Smith 21 Prop
Sam Davies 21 O/H                                Johnathon Spratt 29 Centre
Gareth Delve 32 Back Row                      De Kock Steenkamp 28 Lock
Hanno Dirksen 24 Wing                          Dan Suter 23 Prop
Mathew Dwyer 30 Hooker                       Gareth Thomas 23 Prop
Dan Evans 26 F/B                                  Marc Thomas 25 Prop
Lloyd Evans 24 Back Row                       Rory Thornton 20 Lock
Richard Fussell 31 F/B                            JUSTIN TIPURIC 26 Back Row  
Tom Grabham 24 Wing                           Eli Walker 23 Wing
Cai Griffiths 31 Prop                               RHYS WEBB 26 S/H
Tom Habberfield 23 S/H                         The following 2 are either temporary
JEFF HASSLER 24 Wing                          or with feeder clubs
Dafydd Howells 20 Wing                         Sam Underhill 19 Back Row
                                                           Oliver Tomaszczyk 28 Prop
The players in CAPITALS will not be available until after the first 3 games of the Guinness League due to WC call ups
The past 5 seasons we have finished 3, 5, 3, 3 and 4 at the end of the regular season, I envision us finishing around the same position this season.
We will also be without Bernardo and Suter for a while early season, we have recruited Tomaszczyk to cover Suter, Underhill came on as a substitute in the Saracens friendly and there were favourable reports about him. If we have injuries in a few key positions especially early season, that prophecy above could be out the window. There has been talk we have signed a T/H from NZ, who had a serious ankle ligament injury, we are still waiting on his rehab. It needs to be soon or we will have to rely on Jarvis, which is not a good thought.
Just to add we won our first 7 matches last season, against most peoples and my expectations, and it will be more of a shock to me if we win either of our first 2 matches this season. Too many missing through injury and International call ups.

Wayne, not sure that would be too good an idea, to take a ref who was highlighted during the RWC for ignoring a blatant punch which was later banned.

It would be interesting to see how many things Nige has turned a blind eye to that have ended up being cited (and then banned).

ScarletSpiderman wrote:Wayne, not sure that would be too good an idea, to take a ref who was highlighted during the RWC for ignoring a blatant punch which was later banned.

It would be interesting to see how many things Nige has turned a blind eye to that have ended up being cited (and then banned).  

SS yes he made mistakes, and possibly the worse in a rugby sense was his treatment of his linesmen, don't forget how he schooled Pratterson through an error strewn period in a game for us last year, when HE was the linesman, but personally if the committee had to take evidence from the 2, and they were told the Refereeing experience of them, I know whose word I would take, it wouldn't be somebody aged 80 with no refereeing experience whatsoever.

I see your point. And to be honest in cases like this I do thing the ref should be present purely to explain their decision process at the time. Then we know whether the ref believe they were right or if it was a brain fart on the day.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/35198891

Webb to stay on a NDC.

ScarletSpiderman wrote:http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/35198891

Webb to stay on a NDC.

They got that one over the line then.

ScarletSpiderman wrote:http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/35198891

Webb to stay on a NDC.

Yes good news for us and the WRU, good to have 2 quality scrum halves battling for the Welsh number 9 shirt for a few years.

Anyway "back to the future" (couldn't resist that) Guinness Pro12 Match at the Liberty on Jan 1st 2016 against the Newport Gwent DRAGONS
I anticipate a much changed team for the Ospreys, I would think that Josh will be out because of being banned and Dmitri out because of hamstring strain, I think a few others will be benched to have a rest, AWJ, Biggar and Baldwin possibly even Paul James and even Lydiate. I could see the following squad line up
Evans, Hassler, Spratt, John, Dirksen, Davies, Habberfield, Smith, Parry, Jarvis, Ashley, Thornton, King, Tipuric and Baker with Bevington, Otten, Fia, AWJ, Cracknell, Leonard, Biggar and Walker on the bench, with hopefully not needing AWJ and Biggar. The scrum halves could be changed around as Brendons wife has had her baby, to me that would be quite a risky selection as normally the Dragons are a stubborn team to play against at the best of times and to go in weaker than we need to be, could be asking for trouble as they will be smarting after the manner of their defeat against the Blues.
I've selected that team on what I was seeing in the preview for this game, would prefer AWJ and Dan selected in the first 15, but they appeared to have bibs on
Hopefully Josh is now back in, after receiving no ban, instead of Spratt and Ben John moving to 13 that will improve our chances no end

Wasn't far out with my team selection yesterday, I'm pleased there is a respect for the Dragons, it would have been unwise to have done otherwise
Evans, Hassler, John, Matavesi, Dirksen, Davies, Habberfield, Smith, Baldwin, Jarvis, Ashley, AWJ, Lydiate, Tipuric, Baker, with Parry, Bevington, Arhip, Thornton, King, Roberts, Biggar and Spratt on the bench. Obviously Dmitri has made a miraculous recovery, given Assey a weeks rest this will still not be an easy match going by past experiences.
I notice none of the Dragons fans on here have taken me up on my offer, if they come to this game I'll go to the other, so as usual it will be one man and a dog Dragons fans.

I'll be very hungover mate, but I'll keep it in mind for future reference - unless you were to withdraw the offer the way in which the WRU have withdrawn some NDC's...

Newport Gwent Dragons: Carl Meyer; Nick Scott, Adam Hughes, Adam Warren, Ashton Hewitt; Dorian Jones, Sarel Pretorius; Boris Stankovich, Thomas Rhys Thomas (capt), Lloyd Fairbrother, Matthew Screech, Rynard Landman, Nick Crosswell, Ollie Griffiths, Ed Jackson.

Replacements: Elliot Dee, Phil Price, Brok Harris, Cory Hill, Nic Cudd, Charlie Davies, Jason Tovey, Ross Wardle.

At the risk of sounding clichéd, Knight is surely injured (but again we haven't heard anything) as why else would you start your 3rd best TH. The team looks good elsewhere however I don't think we're strong enough to overcome the Ospreys right now. Guys like AWJ and Lydiate will be at the forefront of everything they do well.

I dread stankovich against Jarvis....shouldn't this though have been the game we rested AWJ? We need him for the next three games and then were into the 6 nations and he's pretty much played most games since august

Yeah I think this might have been a good opportunity to bring in Thornton and Bernardo. I guess AWJ is there to be a crowd pleaser too.

True Raven, yes I agree if they both play to their ability it will be long afternoon for Jarvis, I just hope Baldwin and Nicky on the other side can nullify the advantage, this is also for Mikey, there was an interesting exchange on our forum today about the non selection of Fia, Bernardo and Thornton, it was between a respected member and the Ospreys Moderator, but basically the first 2 are doing extensive conditioning work so that they are in top condition for when we really need them (in the 6N period), he said if there had been extensive injury concerns they would have been available by now, the second part also applies to Thornton.

wayne wrote:
I notice none of the Dragons fans on here have taken me up on my offer, if they come to this game I'll go to the other, so as usual it will be one man and a dog Dragons fans.

Aw be nice. They're most probably still pouting after their Xmas party when Cardiff pinched all the presents.

Cardiff Dave wrote:

wayne wrote:
I notice none of the Dragons fans on here have taken me up on my offer, if they come to this game I'll go to the other, so as usual it will be one man and a dog Dragons fans.

Aw be nice. They're most probably still pouting after their Xmas party when Cardiff pinched all the presents.  

Or maybe not that keen to meet Wayne, when all he does is snipe at Dragons all the time

wayne wrote:
I notice none of the Dragons fans on here have taken me up on my offer, if they come to this game I'll go to the other, so as usual it will be one man and a dog Dragons fans.

Maybe people don't actually want to meet you in real life. Plenty will be making the trip, they just won't be telling you about it.

Edit: sorry, didn't see Rev's post. Both saying the same thing though!

You seem to be saying that if Dragons fans don't take you up on your offer then the travelling support will be low? Firstly, how over inflated is your own self opinion?!!' Secondly, there's only perhaps 7 Dragons fans regularly on here. Hardly the best place to advertise your 'offer' so expect the take up to be low.

Risca Rev wrote:

Cardiff Dave wrote:

wayne wrote:
I notice none of the Dragons fans on here have taken me up on my offer, if they come to this game I'll go to the other, so as usual it will be one man and a dog Dragons fans.

Aw be nice. They're most probably still pouting after their Xmas party when Cardiff pinched all the presents.  

Or maybe not that keen to meet Wayne, when all he does is snipe at Dragons all the time

I bet Wayne is alright in the flesh like most on here I suspect.

Google saying it's 1.6 miles from Swansea railway station to the Liberty. Is this correct? 1.3 miles on the hoof is my limit.

Regardless of weather your going to meet the Dragons fans, just head into the club house it's always great in there before the game. Their always really friendly. It's by far the best ground for atmosphere in Wales.

Shifty wrote:Regardless of weather your going to meet the Dragons fans, just head into the club house it's always great in there before the game.  Their always really friendly.  It's by far the best ground for atmosphere in Wales.  

The one true clubhouse?

Why have the Dragons gone for such a weak team against us? Only Landman would get into the Ospreys team. Am expecting the Ospreys to put 40-50 points on the Dragons today.

Cardiff Dave wrote:

Shifty wrote:Regardless of weather your going to meet the Dragons fans, just head into the club house it's always great in there before the game.  Their always really friendly.  It's by far the best ground for atmosphere in Wales.  

The one true clubhouse?

The one by the stadium itself, just before you walk to the stand.

Shifty wrote:Why have the Dragons gone for such a weak team against us?  Only Landman would get into the Ospreys team. Am expecting the Ospreys to put 40-50 points on the Dragons today.

Great wum.

But I'll ask you, who should they have picked? McCaw at 7 maybe? I'll happily engage with you, if you post who is an apparent "weak" selection. This should be good.

Risca Rev wrote:

Shifty wrote:Why have the Dragons gone for such a weak team against us?  Only Landman would get into the Ospreys team. Am expecting the Ospreys to put 40-50 points on the Dragons today.

Great wum.

But I'll ask you, who should they have picked? McCaw at 7 maybe? I'll happily engage with you, if you post who is an apparent "weak" selection. This should be good.

Coombs, Faletau, Dixon, Morgan, Amos, Prydie? to be honest I'm not up to scratch on all your injuries but they all can't be out surely?

Shows your ignorance then. They're all out. You're a genius.

Unbelievable

Sorry I had no idea I've largely switched off since the World Cup, and only been keeping up on the Ospreys games, and even then not all of them which is unusual for me.

Bloody boring game today though, 5 in the house watching it and I'm the only one still awake, you could say 6 in the house and 5 asleep but I'm not sure if we can count the cat.

Turd game for the most part. Can't believe two teams of pro players can play so badly. Our missed tackle count is particularly standout too, unacceptable. Ospreys weren't much better. I thought Sam Davies was a rabbit in the headlight, now I can acknowledge he did well to step a few forwards and put somebody into space but it weren't half as good as the commentary team made out. I guess Davies is their new Priestland. Dirksen was rather erratic as well, so it a little bit funny to hear them both be touted as MOTM candidates. Dan Evans was good, but quiet in the last 30.

wayne wrote:True Raven, yes I agree if they both play to their ability it will be long afternoon for Jarvis, I just hope Baldwin and Nicky on the other side can nullify the advantage, this is also for Mikey, there was an interesting exchange on our forum today about the non selection of Fia, Bernardo and Thornton, it was between a respected member and the Ospreys Moderator, but basically the first 2 are doing extensive conditioning work so that they are in top condition for when we really need them (in the 6N period), he said if there had been extensive injury concerns they would have been available by now, the second part also applies to Thornton.

Thought we were better in the scrum today and didn't really get rewarded for it, we mostly got penalised. By the time Arhip had his second scrum the Ospreys were perhaps a bit more solid than us there.
RE Fia and Bernardo, their conditioning must have been pretty bad if they're still doing it, it's taking longer than I expected. It's probably the best option as they'd likely get injured if brought back too soon. I think if you had these guys available you would be a little less vulnerable when defending driving lineouts. As alluded to then why not rest AWJ and have these guys on the bench at least, I would think that's a more sensible option.

Ospreys should've been 20+ points up at half time if we'd turned our possession into points and Sam hadn't had a ladle on his boot. Maybe harsh but probably the worst first half by a pro side I've seen at the Liberty in ages by the dragons. A half time rollicking by Lynn and credit due, they were the better side in the second but if Dirksen hadn't knocked on with a foot to go it would've been a be win IMO. Ospreys back play is still so lacklustre.

Poor game, the standard of some of the play was abysmal, do we need to start trusting Dan Evans with our place kicks? as Sam left out 8 points that he should have got, although if he had converted either of the penalties the game would have started from a different position, this is not the first game that he has missed simple kicks. Yet his overall game was pretty good at least he made the Dragons back row honest, even though he messed up a couple of offloads by taking the ball a bit too far. Thought Lyds had a good game (he needed it after his few brain farts against the Scarlets) with some prominent carries, there was a lot of wrong options taken by us, and credit where it's due the Dragons were very frustrating to play against.
Sorry Mikey, you didn't have the upper hand in the scrum, Stankovich who I thought would strangle Jarvis, did nothing except totally turn one scrum that got rightly penalised, I thought we controlled that facet of play all afternoon, I thought your 6 Crosswell and 8 Griffiths were very good but Ollie Griffiths and his replacement Cudd were totally manhandled at the breakdown.
As I said in an earlier post it was one man and his dog Dragons support that was to be expected, and I was not disappointed, there will be a lot more Ospreys supporters at the return fixture, but at least I won't have to be one of them.
We will have to have a dramatic improvement next Friday to get anything out of the Leinster game, hopefully we should have a few of the walking wounded back and available, it will need our best 23 out there and performing in the right way.

Did you hear the manufactured atmosphere? You have music now instead of a band to get you going. No wonder the Dragons mob travel en masse.

Plus, it's hardly a perk meeting you either. Please come to Rodney Parade though. It won't be the same if you don't.

Risca Rev wrote:Did you hear the manufactured atmosphere? You have music now instead of a band to get you going. No wonder the Dragons mob travel en masse.

Plus, it's hardly a perk meeting you either. Please come to Rodney Parade though. It won't be the same if you don't.

Of course I heard it, I was there, unlike any of your mob, and I have to agree with you, as has been mentioned on our board, it was pathetic and was not needed, when there are 9000 odd with NO opposition supporters there to banter against, the atmosphere is going to be dull.
If you actually met me, I bet we would get on just fine, at my time of life you get an understanding of people you would get on with, without a doubt we would be ok, there is one of your contingent on here I know I wouldn't, the further I'm from him the better, let's see further down the line whether I grace you with my presence, but as you've said up to now that you don't want to meet me, why would I bother ?

wayne wrote:there is one of your contingent on here I know I wouldn't, the further I'm from him the better,

Dear God, let it be me

Wayne if you're wanting a hook-up at Rodney Parade then ask Dowlais. He loves the Ospreys and like you he also enjoys a petty snipe at the Dragons. Being there with you whilst Ospreys beat the Dragons would be the icing on the cake .

Another thought provoking interview by the CEO of Ospreys Rugby on our website today, it shows Part 1 today, Installment 2 showing tomorrow.
It doesn't say how many Installments there are.

wayne wrote:Another thought provoking interview by the CEO of Ospreys Rugby on our website today, it shows Part 1 today, Installment 2 showing tomorrow.
It doesn't say how many Installments there are.

What's the news wayne ?

LordDowlais wrote:

wayne wrote:Another thought provoking interview by the CEO of Ospreys Rugby on our website today, it shows Part 1 today, Installment 2 showing tomorrow.
It doesn't say how many Installments there are.

What's the news wayne ?

Go and have a look Lord, I don't think you are going to like some of it, when you've finished watching it why don't you provide the link to put it on here. I would if I could

wayne wrote:

LordDowlais wrote:

wayne wrote:Another thought provoking interview by the CEO of Ospreys Rugby on our website today, it shows Part 1 today, Installment 2 showing tomorrow.
It doesn't say how many Installments there are.

What's the news wayne ?

Go and have a look Lord, I don't think you are going to like some of it, when you've finished watching it why don't you provide the link to put it on here. I would if I could

I bet it is about Andrew Hore wanting to sign more NWQ players, even though we have just been through a massive war, he wants to start a new one.

I must say, Andrew Hore is a I play with my 2inch cock of the highest order. Here's your link:-

http://www.ospreysrugby.com/News/Article/43435

He is the CEO of Ospreys, so he agreed to the settlement after the war with the WRU, and now he wants change again. FFS, why did he not say any of this when they were negotiating last time around. For the life of me, I think that man just wants to cause friction to get hos name in the media. He also wants our only four clubs to have more NWQ players, and why the fook is he comparing the Pro12 to rugby league and big bash cricket ?

I doubt I will watch tomorrow's installment, the man just winds me up.

LordDowlais wrote:I must say, Andrew Hore is a I play with my 2inch man sausage of the highest order. Here's your link:-

http://www.ospreysrugby.com/News/Article/43435

He is the CEO of Ospreys, so he agreed to the settlement after the war with the WRU, and now he wants change again. FFS, why did he not say any of this when they were negotiating last time around. For the life of me, I think that man just wants to cause friction to get hos name in the media. He also wants our only four clubs to have more NWQ players, and why the fook is he comparing the Pro12 to rugby league and big bash cricket ?

I doubt I will watch tomorrow's installment, the man just winds me up.

Thanks for the link

wayne wrote:

LordDowlais wrote:I must say, Andrew Hore is a I play with my 2inch man sausage of the highest order. Here's your link:-

http://www.ospreysrugby.com/News/Article/43435

He is the CEO of Ospreys, so he agreed to the settlement after the war with the WRU, and now he wants change again. FFS, why did he not say any of this when they were negotiating last time around. For the life of me, I think that man just wants to cause friction to get hos name in the media. He also wants our only four clubs to have more NWQ players, and why the fook is he comparing the Pro12 to rugby league and big bash cricket ?

I doubt I will watch tomorrow's installment, the man just winds me up.

Thanks for the link

LordDowlais wrote:I must say, Andrew Hore is a I play with my 2inch man sausage of the highest order. Here's your link:-

http://www.ospreysrugby.com/News/Article/43435

He is the CEO of Ospreys, so he agreed to the settlement after the war with the WRU, and now he wants change again. FFS, why did he not say any of this when they were negotiating last time around. For the life of me, I think that man just wants to cause friction to get hos name in the media. He also wants our only four clubs to have more NWQ players, and why the fook is he comparing the Pro12 to rugby league and big bash cricket ?

I doubt I will watch tomorrow's installment, the man just winds me up.

Maybe he did and IIRC dodger wasn't really ever in the mood to negotiate.
Anyway, what's your objection to having a few more NWQs if it helps the 4 to be more competitive and aids the development of the better Welsh youngsters?

Who are the stand out welsh 8 and 5 who learnt from xavier rush and Paul tito?

GavinDragon wrote:Who are the stand out welsh 8 and 5 who learnt from xavier rush and Paul tito?

Dunno. Is this a quiz?

GavinDragon wrote:Who are the stand out welsh 8 and 5 who learnt from xavier rush and Paul tito?

Who are the stand out Welsh open side, inside centre and full back who established themselves playing alongside Rush and Tito,instead of being thrashed week in week out like their neighbours down the road because they had a couple of semi pros in the pack

GavinDragon wrote:Who are the stand out welsh 8 and 5 who learnt from xavier rush and Paul tito?

Inspiration is an aid to development too and those two defo inspired all players. Not just fellow players either, but kids watching from the CAP terraces who no doubt we'll hear from in the near future after Cardiff win the European Cup for the third time on the bounce. Meh!

Stone Motif wrote:

GavinDragon wrote:Who are the stand out welsh 8 and 5 who learnt from xavier rush and Paul tito?

Who are the stand out Welsh open side, inside centre and full back who established themselves playing alongside Rush and Tito,instead of being thrashed week in week out like their neighbours down the road because they had a couple of semi pros in the pack

Aye. And that inside centre you mention would've been a great full back for Wales. I blame Ben Blair for being too blydi marvelous.

Stone Motif wrote:

GavinDragon wrote:Who are the stand out welsh 8 and 5 who learnt from xavier rush and Paul tito?

Who are the stand out Welsh open side, inside centre and full back who established themselves playing alongside Rush and Tito,instead of being thrashed week in week out like their neighbours down the road because they had a couple of semi pros in the pack

Toby faletau and Dan Lydiate didn't seem to suffer

GavinDragon wrote:

Stone Motif wrote:

GavinDragon wrote:Who are the stand out welsh 8 and 5 who learnt from xavier rush and Paul tito?

Who are the stand out Welsh open side, inside centre and full back who established themselves playing alongside Rush and Tito,instead of being thrashed week in week out like their neighbours down the road because they had a couple of semi pros in the pack

Toby faletau and Dan Lydiate didn't seem to suffer

Who has produced more international players and won more trophies?

Cardiff Dave wrote:

Stone Motif wrote:

GavinDragon wrote:Who are the stand out welsh 8 and 5 who learnt from xavier rush and Paul tito?

Who are the stand out Welsh open side, inside centre and full back who established themselves playing alongside Rush and Tito,instead of being thrashed week in week out like their neighbours down the road because they had a couple of semi pros in the pack

Aye. And that inside centre you mention would've been a great full back for Wales. I blame Ben Blair for being too blydi marvelous.

Wasn't it gatland who switched Roberts to centre?