Matthew Morgan signs a new Ospreys Contract

The highly rated Matthew Morgan and relatively unknown (in comparison) openside Emyr Williams have both signed there first professional contract according to ospreys website.http://www.ospreysrugby.com/news/5674.php. Your thoughts?

my first thought was 'who's Matthew Moran?'. but then I read your post and thought 'oh, it's him, good for him'

Great news, but also rather inevitable, despite the rumours of Morgan being linked to other regions.

can't help wondering if the Ospreys might try to get him to change position, maybe with Shane about to retire from internationals, maybe rugby altogether, if they see him as a like for like replacement.

Turkster wrote:can't help wondering if the Ospreys might try to get him to change position, maybe with Shane about to retire from internationals, maybe rugby altogether, if they see him as a like for like replacement.

God I hope not although anything is possible with the chuckle brothers and gerard in charge down at the liberty. Im quite concerned that they are going to stifle his development as it is.

I hope Morgan has got a big season ahead of him. My biggest fear is he ends up like Arwel Thomas who never really reached the heights he could have done.

This could spur on Dan Biggar who although is no longer the golden boy, is a bloody good player.

Yeah Biggar is a good player but I dont think hes going to get back into the Welsh Team with Hook, Tovey and espescially Priestland ahead of him. Morgan has the potential to challenge those guys, Im not sure Dan does.

International rugby's not everything though. A solid club game isn;t the worst thing for Ospreys.

How is Tovey ahead of Biggar ? Hes not eeven been capped yet

munkian wrote:How is Tovey ahead of Biggar ? Hes not eeven been capped yet

He was in the preliminary Welsh squad pre-injury ahead of Biggar, so i would concur.

munkian wrote:How is Tovey ahead of Biggar ? Hes not eeven been capped yet

Biggar got his turn in the welsh Squad when Os were trying to play a similar game to Wales, now the regional game plan seems to be kick as plan A and plan B is "think about something else and THEN kick".

I think this has harmed Biggar's immediate prospects of a return to the squad

Ah, good point, I completely forgot that. He seems fine now, looked good agasint Russia

matthew morgan + pies = the welsh Schalk Brits. lets get it done!

Turkster wrote:can't help wondering if the Ospreys might try to get him to change position, maybe with Shane about to retire from internationals, maybe rugby altogether, if they see him as a like for like replacement.

Cant see it myself the Ospreys already have 3 first choice international wingers in tommy bowe, niki walker and shane williams.

With back ups Tom Prdie, kristian phillips, dirksen and a few other promising ones.

Not surprising really. I can't see him nailing down a starting spot this season but if he can get more minutes, that can only be positive. He will be a good change of pace player to the way Biggar plays.

AlynDavies wrote:

Turkster wrote:can't help wondering if the Ospreys might try to get him to change position, maybe with Shane about to retire from internationals, maybe rugby altogether, if they see him as a like for like replacement.

Cant see it myself the Ospreys already have 3 first choice international wingers in tommy bowe, niki walker and shane williams.

With back ups Tom Prdie, kristian phillips, dirksen and a few other promising ones.

what part of 'like for like replacement' for Shane Williams was difficult for you? and I can't see Tommy Bowe staying for much longer, Nikki Walker's a cart-horse, Dirksen's a centre, Pridie's a fullback, so that leaves Kristian Phillips and er, um, meanwhile Biggar's first choice outsidehalf, all I've said basically is they may see his future on the wing, especially seeing as he's twt/twee/tiny and opposition 12's at 16 stone plus will be running down his channel all day long.

Turkster wrote:what part of 'like for like replacement' for Shane Williams was difficult for you? and I can't see Tommy Bowe staying for much longer, Nikki Walker's a cart-horse, Dirksen's a centre, Pridie's a fullback, so that leaves Kristian Phillips and er, um, meanwhile Biggar's first choice outsidehalf, all I've said basically is they may see his future on the wing, especially seeing as he's twt/twee/tiny and opposition 12's at 16 stone plus will be running down his channel all day long.

Actually Dirksen has been playing left wing not center.
I agree Morgan would make a good winger, but I just don't think the oppertunities will be there for him in light of the amount of competition. If Biggar plays poorly, then he's much more likely to be a fly half.

mmm, I suppose it's a good problem to have for the Ospreys, if in the event he proves hard to keep out of the team then they'll have a choice to make, good for them though anyway.

Turkster wrote:mmm, I suppose it's a good problem to have for the Ospreys, if in the event he proves hard to keep out of the team then they'll have a choice to make, good for them though anyway.

Dont forget about Eli Walker either, he's probably pushed himself ahead of Kristian Phillips and Prydie as well.

I'm not sure about Kristian Phillips, he's amazing going forward but in defence he's totally rubbish, seems like a Welsh Tom Varndell, whether he'll make it I'm not too sure. Prydie seems to have it all, just needs to settle in to one position, I reckon he'll go to fullback.

Turkster wrote:I'm not sure about Kristian Phillips, he's amazing going forward but in defence he's totally rubbish, seems like a Welsh Tom Varndell, whether he'll make it I'm not too sure. Prydie seems to have it all, just needs to settle in to one position, I reckon he'll go to fullback.

Yes I'm inclined to agree about Prydie being a Full back, he looks a bit like a young Gareth Thomas, but without the mental issues.
All things being equal the Ospreys do seem to have a fair bit of young talent to call on... and I don't just mean the ladies in the club shop

15 Tom Prydie (19)
14 Hanno Dirksen (20)
13 Gareth Owen (22)
12 Ashley Beck (21) / Ben john (20)
11 Kristian Phillips (20) / Eli Walker (19)
10 Dan Biggar (21) / Matthew Morgan (19)
9 Rhys Webb (22)
8 Morgan Allen (21)
7 Justin Tipuric (21)
6
5
4 James King (20)
3 Jo Rees (20)
2 Scott Baldwin (22)
1 Ryan Bevington (22)

sam davies (son of nigel) will be ahead of morgan by this time next year imo.

Morgan at 9 was something I have wondered about before, wing is another option but can you imagine him marking tulagi or george north?

AlynDavies wrote:

Turkster wrote:can't help wondering if the Ospreys might try to get him to change position, maybe with Shane about to retire from internationals, maybe rugby altogether, if they see him as a like for like replacement.

Cant see it myself the Ospreys already have 3 first choice international wingers in tommy bowe, niki walker and shane williams.

With back ups Tom Prdie, kristian phillips, dirksen and a few other promising ones.

Did you mean Swansea?