Pro 14

[Sandydragon]

That is 80 minutes of my life I’ll never get back.

Ospreys won 10-nil.

Aside from a solo Rhys Webb effort, there’s not many other highlights from this one.

[Wallpaperman]

That is 80 minutes of my life I’ll never get back.

Ospreys won 10-nil.

Aside from a solo Rhys Webb effort, there’s not many other highlights from this one.

I had to stop watching with 10 minutes to go as I had agreed to do a quiz on zoom, so I missed the try. Consider yourself lucky !

It was a poor watch. The only defence is that the conditions were good until about 2 minutes before kick off, but then the heavens opened. Really poor Ospreys lineout was annoying, as were the amount of scrum resets. It was a shame when Protheroe dropped the interception pass early in the second half as a try then might have brought the game to life.

Still, the Ospreys won and tried out a few youngsters.

[Son of Mathonwy]

Poor Cardiff defence let the dangerous Wootton through twice, ruining their night. Connacht benefitted from the Blues chasing the game at the end, giving them a flattering scoreline, although no arguments that they deserved the win.

[Son of Mathonwy]

That is 80 minutes of my life I’ll never get back.

Ospreys won 10-nil.

Aside from a solo Rhys Webb effort, there’s not many other highlights from this one.

I had to stop watching with 10 minutes to go as I had agreed to do a quiz on zoom, so I missed the try. Consider yourself lucky !

It was a poor watch. The only defence is that the conditions were good until about 2 minutes before kick off, but then the heavens opened. Really poor Ospreys lineout was annoying, as were the amount of scrum resets. It was a shame when Protheroe dropped the interception pass early in the second half as a try then might have brought the game to life.

Still, the Ospreys won and tried out a few youngsters.

Painful to watch, particularly the lineout which made Wales's look rock-solid. Luckily the Ospreys' defence was more than up to the task and eventually they got on the scoreboard.

[Sandydragon]

Poor Cardiff defence let the dangerous Wootton through twice, ruining their night. Connacht benefitted from the Blues chasing the game at the end, giving them a flattering scoreline, although no arguments that they deserved the win.

Was the refereeing as bad as has been suggested?

[Son of Mathonwy]

Poor Cardiff defence let the dangerous Wootton through twice, ruining their night. Connacht benefitted from the Blues chasing the game at the end, giving them a flattering scoreline, although no arguments that they deserved the win.

Was the refereeing as bad as has been suggested?

Not bad enough to affect the result, although maybe I wasn't looking closely enough. IIRC the ref missed a clear forward pass by the Blues at one point.

[Wallpaperman]

Nicky Thomas off to Wasps on a short term loan. Doesn’t seem to be working out for him at Ospreys at the moment.

[Wallpaperman]

A tidy win earlier for the Scarlets, but the Dragons have lost to Zebre today, after the Ospreys and Blues got turned over by Irish regions (yet again) last night. I think it’s been a positive weekend for Welsh rugby on the whole, though.

[Sandydragon]

A tidy win earlier for the Scarlets, but the Dragons have lost to Zebre today, after the Ospreys and Blues got turned over by Irish regions (yet again) last night. I think it’s been a positive weekend for Welsh rugby on the whole, though.

Just when you think the regions are showing signs of improvement - boom. Ospreys looked like a pub team last week, aside from their defence. They can all look good in patches, but why the lack of consistency?

[Wallpaperman]

A tidy win earlier for the Scarlets, but the Dragons have lost to Zebre today, after the Ospreys and Blues got turned over by Irish regions (yet again) last night. I think it’s been a positive weekend for Welsh rugby on the whole, though.

Just when you think the regions are showing signs of improvement - boom. Ospreys looked like a pub team last week, aside from their defence. They can all look good in patches, but why the lack of consistency?

I watched brief highlights and Ospreys were 7-0 up until just before half time when they gave a daft try away. I think that they are on the up. I think that the international weekends make it relatively easier for some of the Irish sides, eg Leinster with their outstanding squad. Ulster benefit as they never seem to get many call ups, despite having a really good team. As with last week, there were lots of youngsters in the Ospreys side, and the experience will do them good. I think the plan next year is for the regions not to have games on the international weekends. I think the Scarlets and Ospreys will both go a lot better next season, and be a lot closer to the top. The Dragons will be able to field a really good 22 and will also be much better next year. Cardiff Blues are the enigma, I hope that Dwayne Peel will get things moving. I’m optimistic on the whole.

[Son of Mathonwy]

A tidy win earlier for the Scarlets, but the Dragons have lost to Zebre today, after the Ospreys and Blues got turned over by Irish regions (yet again) last night. I think it’s been a positive weekend for Welsh rugby on the whole, though.

Just when you think the regions are showing signs of improvement - boom. Ospreys looked like a pub team last week, aside from their defence. They can all look good in patches, but why the lack of consistency?

I watched brief highlights and Ospreys were 7-0 up until just before half time when they gave a daft try away. I think that they are on the up. I think that the international weekends make it relatively easier for some of the Irish sides, eg Leinster with their outstanding squad. Ulster benefit as they never seem to get many call ups, despite having a really good team. As with last week, there were lots of youngsters in the Ospreys side, and the experience will do them good. I think the plan next year is for the regions not to have games on the international weekends. I think the Scarlets and Ospreys will both go a lot better next season, and be a lot closer to the top. The Dragons will be able to field a really good 22 and will also be much better next year. Cardiff Blues are the enigma, I hope that Dwayne Peel will get things moving. I’m optimistic on the whole.

The Ospreys dominated the first half against Ulster after and early Keelan Giles try from a Webb charge down. But massive possession didn't convert into a single point after that and Ulster eventually broke through the Osprey's defence. I like Keiran Williams's acceleration but he keeps losing the ball in contact. He was not the only offender and in general they just didn't quite have enough to get through Ulster's very solid defence.

Dragons losing to Zebre was the low point of the weekend though. Really poor.

[Sandydragon]

Two steps forward, one step back.

[Wallpaperman]

Two steps forward, one step back.

We wouldn’t have it any other way !

A mixed week for the regions off the field. Elliott Dee and Aaron Wainwright have signed contract extensions at the Dragons, the Ospreys have recruited a new CEO, and a few of their younger players have been extending their contracts, including Dewi Lake this week. The sky is the limit for him if he can sort his darts out. And it looks as though Gareth Anscombe will be playing in a few weeks. I think both of these regions are on an upward curve, due in no small part to their coaches, and the teams that they have appointed. The Ospreys have plumbed the depths for the last couple of years but I can genuinely see them rejoining the European top table.

Cardiff (no longer the Blues) and the Scarlets, by contrast, seem to be at each other’s throats over the services of Dwayne Peel. I hope that it gets sorted out asap.

Am ambivalent about Cardiff dropping the pretence of being a region. They never wanted to be one, and Cardiff is still a major name in world rugby so you can see why they wanted to be standalone. There are reports, too, that their sponsors are very happy about this. And in all fairness, there has never been much love lost between the valleys and Cardiff, so I don’t think the valley boys will shed too many tears. My only worry is that Cardiff seem to get a big chunk of their young players from the valleys, eg Cory Domachowski, Tomos Williams and Shane Lewis-Hughes are all from the Rhondda. I fervently hope the pathways will still be in place for the young players.

[Sandydragon]

The news on Anscombe is good. He has had rotten luck with injuries and is a quality player when fit. Still young enough to make the next RWC and could be an important part of our plans.


Of course the mere hint of a grand slam means some political strife. It should be fairly easy to resolve the Cardiff and Llanelli situation , someone must have signed a contract at some point.

Some of the Cardiff supporters who used to be on here where never keen on the Cardiff regional concept, and the valleys never embraced the association with Cardiff. It’s a shame the Warriors folded but it’s a bit late now to do much to change it. I’m not sure I have the answers for what’s the best format is for domestic rugby in Wales, the old club league spread the talent too thinly and the regions are unloved.

[Sourdust]

The Cardiff thing is just what everybody wants, isn't it? Cardiff fans can stop pretending, Valleys fans can rehearse their grievances without being fettered by a notional, non-consensual allegiance. IMO it's a sad failure of the inclusivity of the regional concept, but that ship sailed in about 2005.

[Sourdust]

I watched brief highlights and Ospreys were 7-0 up until just before half time when they gave a daft try away.

There was a random bounce in midfield, and then Morgan did his hamstring when he had his man lined up. Can't really allow for that. After the break IIRC it was one forward drive and another ridiculous "deliberate knock-on" PT. They couldn't get their attack going but Os did okay, not many teams have denied Ulster a BP this year.

Keiron Williams really needs to sort out his ball-retention though. It's the obvious roadblock to a Wales call-up, a consistent weakness in a player who is otherwise carrying all before him right now.

[Sandydragon]

The Cardiff thing is just what everybody wants, isn't it? Cardiff fans can stop pretending, Valleys fans can rehearse their grievances without being fettered by a notional, non-consensual allegiance. IMO it's a sad failure of the inclusivity of the regional concept, but that ship sailed in about 2005.

The argument that Cardiff, Llanelli and Newport were in effect super clubs has been made many times; Ospreys are obviously more of an amalgamation. Maybe we could have done things differently in the 90s and 00's but we are where we are and aside form some kind of franchise model which might see the weakest region replaced by another, or some kind of WRU promoted entity up north, I don't see many options for change. A return to the 12 team Welsh prem isn't realistic. It would be nice to have a GB&I league but I don't sense much enthusiasm for that in England, so we are stuck with the Rabo.

The reality is that the regions havent significantly increased the number of people coming through the turnstiles from when they were club sides (aside from the odd games here and there). Until we make the product more appealing, the current malaise will continue.

[Numbers]

I watched brief highlights and Ospreys were 7-0 up until just before half time when they gave a daft try away.

There was a random bounce in midfield, and then Morgan did his hamstring when he had his man lined up. Can't really allow for that. After the break IIRC it was one forward drive and another ridiculous "deliberate knock-on" PT. They couldn't get their attack going but Os did okay, not many teams have denied Ulster a BP this year.

Keiron Williams really needs to sort out his ball-retention though. It's the obvious roadblock to a Wales call-up, a consistent weakness in a player who is otherwise carrying all before him right now.

I don't think the blame for this lies solely with Kieron Williams, the supporting players just don't get close enough to him to clear out quickly enough, without him the Ospreys are thin on the ground for gainline breakers.

[Sourdust]

I watched brief highlights and Ospreys were 7-0 up until just before half time when they gave a daft try away.

There was a random bounce in midfield, and then Morgan did his hamstring when he had his man lined up. Can't really allow for that. After the break IIRC it was one forward drive and another ridiculous "deliberate knock-on" PT. They couldn't get their attack going but Os did okay, not many teams have denied Ulster a BP this year.

Keiron Williams really needs to sort out his ball-retention though. It's the obvious roadblock to a Wales call-up, a consistent weakness in a player who is otherwise carrying all before him right now.

I don't think the blame for this lies solely with Kieron Williams, the supporting players just don't get close enough to him to clear out quickly enough, without him the Ospreys are thin on the ground for gainline breakers.

That's sometimes the case, but he loses possession in the tackle a lot, too.

[Son of Mathonwy]

There was a random bounce in midfield, and then Morgan did his hamstring when he had his man lined up. Can't really allow for that. After the break IIRC it was one forward drive and another ridiculous "deliberate knock-on" PT. They couldn't get their attack going but Os did okay, not many teams have denied Ulster a BP this year.

Keiron Williams really needs to sort out his ball-retention though. It's the obvious roadblock to a Wales call-up, a consistent weakness in a player who is otherwise carrying all before him right now.

I don't think the blame for this lies solely with Kieron Williams, the supporting players just don't get close enough to him to clear out quickly enough, without him the Ospreys are thin on the ground for gainline breakers.

That's sometimes the case, but he loses possession in the tackle a lot, too.

Exactly - in the Ulster match the ball was lost in the collision on several occasions - Williams flew in, the ball flew out.

[Graigwen]

Ospreys 10 Dragons 7 at half time.

Rhys Webb off with what looks like an arm injury.

.

[Graigwen]

Full time Ospreys 20 Dragons 31

A good game for a neutral to watch (especially with a mountain of pasta and unlimited beer).

Dragons have become a proper team.

.

[Wallpaperman]

Deserved win for the Dragons, the old men in the front row went well after the first 20 minutes where every scrum seemed to go down, and their back row was probably the deciding factor. They scored some nice tries (2 each for Hewitt and Holmes), as did Kieran Williams. Great to see Moriarty back, and Wainwright played really well. 5 tries to 2 is a good performance, and it was a good match after a stodgy start.

The Ospreys need a result away to Glasgow in a couple of weeks which looks a bit tricky on present form. They had a great run in the Autumn when their squad was bolstered by Adam Beard being dropped by Wales. Rhodri Jones and Dan Lydiate were also going really well too, and they are sadly lacking at present. It’s reported that they have signed Jac Morgan for next season, great signing.

[Wallpaperman]

Full time Ospreys 20 Dragons 31

A good game for a neutral to watch (especially with a mountain of pasta and unlimited beer).

Dragons have become a proper team.

.

Glad you enjoyed Graigwen. Dragons can be a decent side if they can keep the injuries to a minimum

[Graigwen]

Full time Ospreys 20 Dragons 31

A good game for a neutral to watch (especially with a mountain of pasta and unlimited beer).

Dragons have become a proper team.

.

Glad you enjoyed Graigwen. Dragons can be a decent side if they can keep the injuries to a minimum

It has been clear for some time that they have been improving, but they had a long way to go!

It was amusing to see that Richard Moriarty's beer belly is sponsored by Doombar. He had a good game and had his hands on the ball a lot. Wainwright was also good and it was a change to see Sam Davies delivering consistently. A lot of players on both sides had good games, but Hanno Dirksen looked poor for Ospreys. Ashton Hewitt, Keelan Giles and Kieron Williams looked sharp, Jamie Roberts was mature and solid. Towards the end of the game the Ospreys replacements were vulnerable on their left wing and Rhodri Williams and Jonah Holmes toyed with them.

As I said, a very satisfying game to watch.

.