Ospreys vs Bath RFC

The Ospreys team to play Bath at the Liberty Stadium on Saturday 18th August, KO 3.00pm, is as follows:


15 Richard Fussell

14 Hanno Dirksen

13 Andrew Bishop

12 Jonathan Spratt

11 Tom Isaacs

10 Dan Biggar

9 Rhys Webb

1 Duncan Jones

2 Richard Hibbard

3 Aaron Jarvis

4 Ian Gough

5 Ian Evans

6 James King

7 Justin Tipuric (capt)

8 Joe Bearman

REPLACEMENTS

Scott Baldwin, Scott Otten, Ryan Bevington, Joe Rees, Lloyd Peers, Alun Wyn Jones, George Stowers, Sam Lewis, Jonathan Thomas, Kahn Fotuali'i, Matthew Morgan, Ashley Beck, Tom Grabham, Luke Morgan, Ross Jones.

Head Coach Steve Tandy said:

"This is a big step-up in our preparations for the new season. The trip to France was really beneficial for us, allowing the players to work hard in training without any distractions before a tough game against Clermont on the Friday night.

"We know that Bath will be difficult opponents, like all Premiership teams they'll be physical and will look to gain dominance up front so pre-season game or not we're expecting a battle and a game that will keep supporters entertained.

"The team has a bit more of a familiar look this week. There are a number of internationals coming back into the mix, some starting and some on the bench, and we'll be looking to integrate them into the group ahead of the start of the season.

"It's great to be back home at the Liberty Stadium for the first time since the PRO12 semi-final and I know that the players are looking forward to running out in front of our fans again. We're hoping for a big crowd, a great atmosphere and a good performance to get them excited and whet the appetite for the new season."

TEAM vs Ospreys

15. Nick Abendanon

14. Tom Biggs

13. Dan Hipkiss

12. Matt Banahan

11. Olly Woodburn

10. Sam Vesty

9. Michael Claassens (c)

1. Nathan Catt

2. Lee Mears

3. Anthony Perenise

4. Dave Attwood

5. Will Spencer

6. Will Skuse

7. Guy Mercer

8. Carl Fearns

Replacements

16. Ross Batty

17. Paul James

18. Kane Palma-Newport

19. Stuart Hooper

20. Dominic Day

21. Joe Buckle

22. Francois Louw

23. Ben Skirving

24. Chris Cook

25. Olly Barkley

26. Jack Cuthbert

27. Charlie Beech

28. Mark McMillan

29. Ollie Devoto

30. Ben Mosses

Haven't found the Bath team..!

That is an interesting team. Still missing a number of first choice players but getting closer to the first team line up for last season.

Maes it may be missing a few first teamers from the starting line up, but most are on the bench (only Adam Jones totally missing?), so it looks like this season of the Rabo is going to start with a bang, rather than the horrible not really starting til november last season.

Adam and Ryan (injured in training) are the big names missing.

Yeah so that ain't exactly "Still missing a number of first choice players but getting closer to the first team line up for last season."

It should be interesting to see how the Ospreys get going, seeing as the bulk of their first choice players are involved, I acan only assume that next weekend will be all the available 1st choice, and played as a full bloofed match.

Are many expected for the match?

15. Nick Abendanon

14. Tom Biggs

13. Dan Hipkiss

12. Matt Banahan

11. Olly Woodburn

10. Sam Vesty

9. Michael Claassens (c)

1. Nathan Catt

2. Lee Mears

3. Anthony Perenise

4. Dave Attwood

5. Will Spencer

6. Will Skuse

7. Guy Mercer

8. Carl Fearns

Replacements

16. Ross Batty

17. Paul James

18. Kane Palma-Newport

19. Stuart Hooper

20. Dominic Day

21. Joe Buckle

22. Francois Louw

23. Ben Skirving

24. Chris Cook

25. Olly Barkley

26. Jack Cuthbert

27. Charlie Beech

28. Mark McMillan

29. Ollie Devoto

30. Ben Mosses

Hersh - more or less a first half / second half thing? Should be intersting to see the reception that James gets.

Warm I'd imagine?

Gutted I can't make it, it's always such a good atmos at a quarter full Liberty stadium

HERSH wrote:Warm I'd imagine?

Gutted I can't make it, it's always such a good atmos at a quarter full Liberty stadium

HERSH if you public said you would be there I think you would find the stadium full just to see you.

Scarlet:

Ryan is out for 6 weeks from a week ago so he will miss a couple of RABO games, he had an op on his knee.

ScarletSpiderman wrote:

HERSH wrote:Warm I'd imagine?

Gutted I can't make it, it's always such a good atmos at a quarter full Liberty stadium

HERSH if you public said you would be there I think you would find the stadium full just to see you.

Maybe one day.

I'd also make sure I'll bring a pen as some of you are bound to want my autograph. I saw a banner on tv once saying 'I hate Hersh' it made my day

HERSH wrote:I'd also make sure I'll bring a pen as some of you are bound to want my autograph. I saw a banner on tv once saying 'I hate Hersh' it made my day

Glamorganalun - yeah I had read that he was injured, and I assume Adam is being rested, and the Ospreys are looking at other options for when he is on international duty.

[quote="HERSH"][quote="ScarletSpiderman"]

HERSH wrote:I saw a banner on tv once saying 'I hate Hersh' it made my day :D

If that is true, that's hilarious!

It was just a piece of cardboard and black marker pen, looked like they only spent a few seconds on it, but hey.

HERSH wrote:

ScarletSpiderman wrote:

HERSH wrote:Warm I'd imagine?

Gutted I can't make it, it's always such a good atmos at a quarter full Liberty stadium

HERSH if you public said you would be there I think you would find the stadium full just to see you.

Maybe one day.

I'd also make sure I'll bring a pen as some of you are bound to want my autograph. I saw a banner on tv once saying 'I hate Hersh' it made my day

Going down the 'Library' with PjHolybloke (Bath) tomorrow. He's my guest for the weekend.

Thought I'd buy tickets in advance rather thank faff around on the day. Phoned up yesterday (the online purchasing is not the greatest ). We are seating in the stand BEHIND the goal as they had nothing available in the main stands. Guess they've sold a good few season tickets there then. Hope those guys turn up, it would be good to see

I hope/expect that Paul James gets a great ovation - fantastic servant

Bath RFC TEAM vs Ospreys

15. Nick Abendanon

14. Tom Biggs

13. Dan Hipkiss

12. Matt Banahan

11. Olly Woodburn

10. Sam Vesty

9. Michael Claassens (c)

1. Nathan Catt

2. Lee Mears

3. Anthony Perenise

4. Dave Attwood

5. Will Spencer

6. Will Skuse

7. Guy Mercer

8. Carl Fearns

Replacements

16. Ross Batty

17. Paul James

18. Kane Palma-Newport

19. Stuart Hooper

20. Dominic Day

21. Joe Buckle

22. Francois Louw

23. Ben Skirving

24. Chris Cook

25. Olly Barkley

26. Jack Cuthbert

27. Charlie Beech

28. Mark McMillan

29. Ollie Devoto

30. Ben Mosses
 

HERSH wrote:15. Nick Abendanon

14. Tom Biggs

13. Dan Hipkiss

12. Matt Banahan

11. Olly Woodburn

10. Sam Vesty

9. Michael Claassens (c)

1. Nathan Catt

2. Lee Mears

3. Anthony Perenise

4. Dave Attwood

5. Will Spencer

6. Will Skuse

7. Guy Mercer

8. Carl Fearns

Replacements

16. Ross Batty

17. Paul James

18. Kane Palma-Newport

19. Stuart Hooper

20. Dominic Day

21. Joe Buckle

22. Francois Louw

23. Ben Skirving

24. Chris Cook

25. Olly Barkley

26. Jack Cuthbert

27. Charlie Beech

28. Mark McMillan

29. Ollie Devoto

30. Ben Mosses

PenfroPete wrote:Going down the 'Library' with PjHolybloke (Bath) tomorrow. He's my guest for the weekend.

Thought I'd buy tickets in advance rather thank faff around on the day. Phoned up yesterday (the online purchasing is not the greatest ). We are seating in the stand BEHIND the goal as they had nothing available in the main stands. Guess they've sold a good few season tickets there then. Hope those guys turn up, it would be good to see

I hope/expect that Paul James gets a great ovation - fantastic servant

Sorry not to be able to join you...! Sure to be a cracking start to the season. Bath have fielded a very good side, the O's have a lot on their plate in this match.

Great to the Ospreys really challenging themselves pre season with tough matches.

Wish I could say the same, far too easy

any coverage of this game anywhere? radio? live updates?

Ospreys usually have a text update on their website

http://www.ospreysrugby.com/news/5520.php

Two Sam Vesty penalties have put Bath ahead 0 - 6

Ospreys 0 - 3 Bath (Sam Vesty PEN) 18 mins
Ospreys 0 - 6 Bath (Sam Vesty PEN) 23 mins

Ospreys 0 - 11 Bath (Lee Mears TRY) 28 mins

Ospreys 0 - 13 Bath (Sam Vesty CON) 28 mins

Ospreys 0 - 18 Bath (Dan Hipkiss TRY) 38 mins

Missed conversion (Sam Vesty)

HALF TIME - Ospreys 0 - 18 Bath

18-0?

Cool!

Biggar Penalty goal

Ospreys score a try in the corner through youngster, Tom Grabham. Biggar converts from out wide. 68 mins gone

Did Bath win then?

TWITTER

And that's the end of the game - Bath Rugby notch up their second pre-season win, 10-21

#bathrugby

about an hour ago

PenfroPete wrote:Going down the 'Library' with PjHolybloke (Bath) tomorrow. He's my guest for the weekend.

Thought I'd buy tickets in advance rather thank faff around on the day. Phoned up yesterday (the online purchasing is not the greatest ). We are seating in the stand BEHIND the goal as they had nothing available in the main stands. Guess they've sold a good few season tickets there then. Hope those guys turn up, it would be good to see

I hope/expect that Paul James gets a great ovation - fantastic servant

OMG I saw a bloke walking alongside a Bath supporter, haha I wonder if it was you, though I only saw 2 other Bath supporters there. Though I also saw the same Osprey and Bath supporters getting into their car in the rough car park (opposide the park and ride area). If that's the case I was parked 2 over from you!

As for the game well at least it was a fantastic day, the teenage girl who site next to me started the game wearing daisy duke shorts and tights, though she disappeared and came back 5 minutes later minus the tights. Also I saw the new season ticket holders below me and one of them has massive boobs and a low cut top so the view appears to be much nicer this season. Being one row higher than her obviously helped the view. So I spent the afternoon under a blazing sun looking at a sexy pair of legs stretched out in front of me and a big pair of boobs to my right.
Even better the annoying little naughty boy who was kicking us last season wasn't there either so it seems they have left or moved.

Anyway as for the game I did pick up on a few things, beer is now £3.40 up from £3.30 last season and hot chocolate is now £1.80 instead of £1.60 The attendance was about 6,750 (ish) I heard over the tanoy so I wonder what happened to our 9,500 season ticket holders!

I was quite suprised at how poor the Ospreys were, we lacked physical strength and had real trouble bringing their players down, we also seem to have forgotten how to pass and tackle. We did try to be positive and not kick penalties early on, instead going for kicks to the corner but Bath played a much clever game and took the points when they came. In the end we were forced to chase the game and made mistakes which cost us tries and points. Hand on heart didn't really care too much though was more interested in the sun, boobs and the legs.

So yeah great day and much to be positive about for the coming season.

Well done Bath!

Ospreys 10 Bath 2118 August 2012, 06:13 pm

Match Report By Ospreys Rugby


The Ospreys went down fighting at the Liberty Stadium on Saturday afternoon but a Tom Grabham try in the final quarter wasn't enough to secure a pre-season win over Aviva Premiership opponents.
Bath's dominance in the latter stages of the first half proved the difference to ensure they headed back over the Severn Bridge with the win, giving Steve Tandy and his coaching team plenty ponder ahead of the first PRO12 game of the season in two weekend's time.

The morning rain had given way to blue skies and bright sunshine by kick off and despite it being just a pre-season game the opening stages were fairly frenetic, possession being turned over a number of times as both teams tried to find the right gear.

Dan Biggar opted to spurn a simple three points from in front of the posts, just 23m out to go for a lineout in the corner just nine minutes in but the Ospreys pack were held up just short as a driving maul edged them close to the line.

It was the Aviva Premiership side who notched up the first points of the day though after Rhys Webb was guilty of not rolling away. Unlike his counterpart, the Bath 10 Sam Vesty opted to go for the sticks - drawing a few boos from the crowd - and he gave his team the lead 18 minutes in.

Strong defence from Tom Isaacs stopped Tom Biggs from finding a way through on the outside, a good tackle halting the bigger man's progress after Bath had moved the ball through the hands.

Ian Gough was then pinged from coming in from the side and Vesty again opted for the points, taking the score to 6-0 just past the halfway mark of the opening period.

At this stage Bath were doing all the attacking and despite some robust defence from the Ospreys, the try eventually came and it was all too easy in the end as the unlikely figure of British Lion Lee Mears skipped through a huge gap in the line to cross for the first try of the afternoon, Vesty adding the extras.

After the frenetic opening the game had become very stop start with little to get a healthy pre-season crowd of more than 6,000 excited, but confusion between Isaacs and Richard Fussell as they both went for a high ball close to the touchline from Vesty's up and under resulted in the loose ball falling in Bath's favour, a Biggs offload giving Dan Hipkiss a simple run-in to stretch his team's lead to 18, Vesty missing the conversion.

HALF-TIME: OSPREYS 0 BATH 18

After a disappointing first 40 the Ospreys wanted a bright start to the second half so they would have been disappointed to go further behind just four minutes after the restart, Olly Barkley with the penalty.

Despite that setback the home team were actually able to enjoy their best spell of the game so far, putting together some good phase play as they looked to reduce the deficit, but still they were unable to unlock a stubborn Bath defence.

The Ospreys first points finally came after an hour after skipper Alun Wyn Jones instructed Biggar to go for goal from the 22m line despite the three try difference.

The home side were rewarded with their first try minutes later and it was a well worked score for wing Tom Grabham, just on from the bench. Fellow replacement Kahn Fotuali'i was the catalyst with his quick tap and go on halfway allowing him to run at the heart of the Bath defence. Justin Tipuric was in support and when he recycled Bath were completely out of shape, with the Ospreys enjoying a five man overlap on the left. It was moved quickly to Grabham on the touchline who showed a fantastic turn of pace to score in the corner, Biggar converting.

Ospreys tails were up and a second quick Fotuali'i tap penalty almost led to a second try for Grabham but the Bridgend youngster couldn't gather Matthew Morgan's pass.

Try as they might though, there was to be no further scoring as Bath held firm for the victory.

Steve Tandy’s men returned to their home ground for the first time since clinching the PRO12 in Dublin in May.

They crashed to a 49-25 to Clermont Auvergne last week and came up short again against the Aviva Premiership outfit, who scored tries through Lee Mears and Dan Hipkiss before Tom Grabham hit-back.

Both teams were hampered by mistakes in the opening minutes but it was the Ospreys who had the first chance to draw blood on eight minutes. They turned down the shot at goal to kick to touch and were subsequently turned over. Bath were more cautious when given a penalty of their own on 16 minutes and Vesty handed the visitors the lead.


The fly-half stretched the visitors’ advantage with his second penalty on 22 minutes. A crushing tackle from Ian Gough on Vesty appeared to swing the momentum into the Ospreys hands but Leighton Hodges penalised the second-row for failing to roll away.

Fellow lock Ian Evans got in on the act with a bone-crunching hit of his own but moments later he was exposed when Mears darted through him to score. Vesty slotted the extras to leave the Ospreys trailing by 13 points.

Former Liberty Stadium favourite Paul James, who was such a vital part of their march to last season’s RaboDirect PRO12 title, was introduced by Bath on the half an hour mark.

James, along with Adam Jones, had been the cornerstone of the Ospreys scrum and he quickly showed them what they were missing by marching his former teammates back at the set-piece.

Matters were made worse for the hosts when the West Country outfit surged further in front with their second try.

Richard Fussell failed to secure a Bath up-and-under and the ball came loose to Olly Woodburn. The wing was caught by Isaacs but managed to flick an offload to Hipkiss, who evaded Isaacs’ ankle-tap and eased past Fussell who scored.

Vesty failed to dissect the posts but the try had given them an 18-0 half-time lead.

England fly-half Olly Barkley quickly got the scoreboard ticking after the interval with a penalty.

Dan Biggar slotted his side’s first points shortly after the hour mark and they continued to camp themselves in Bath’s half.

With Kahn Fotuali’i injecting some much-needed tempo, the Ospreys began to threaten in attack.

And it was the Samoan scrum-half’s quick tap which provided the opening for Ospreys’ late score. Fotuali’i broke free and fed Justin Tipuric, who drove on. The flanker was hauled down but the ball was quickly recycled and spread to Grabham on the overlap.

The Bridgend-product could have grabbed a second minutes later following some slick handling from Matthew Morgan, but he fumbled possession with a clear run in front of him.



Read More http://www.walesonline.co.uk/rugbynation/rugby-news/2012/08/18/ospreys-10-21-bath-winless-run-continues-for-welsh-region-91466-31650767/#ixzz23vZGU2fE

sugarNspikes wrote:18-0?

Cool!

Thought you were a Man City fan. Good to see you nail your colours to a mast finally. Best of luck for the season Squirrel

Cyril was from Leeds and said he felt closest to Leeds rugby team. Are they even in the Premiership nowadays?

After watching the Ospreys suffer a home defeat in their second and final pre-season defeat, Head Coach Steve Tandy took a pragmatic view of his team's performance, stressing they have two weeks to get things right before launching their RaboDirect PRO12 defence underway in Treviso.

It was a frustrating afternoon for Tandy and his coaching team as Bath raced into a first half lead that was to prove insurmountable despite an improved second half showing, and despite acknowledging his disappointment at certain aspects of the Ospreys performance he insisted that there was plenty on show to be happy with.
Speaking to the press within minutes of the final whistle, he gave an honest appraisal of thing as always.

"I spoke to the boys just now and I told them I am disappointed" said Tandy.

"There's no ifs and buts about it, but there were some glimpses and I'm sure when we review the footage we'll pick the bones out of it and find some highlights. We did get opportunities to score in the second half, and early on we could have taken some points that were on offer but we didn't. We went for field position, we tried to work on different things. It's about practice to get things right.

"It's the second game of pre-season and some of the guys are a little undercooked with the amount of rugby they've had. It was a first hit out for some of them. We'd have liked a better performance in certain areas if I'm honest but I thought some of the guys coming on in the second half put a bit of spark into us. I thought we showed a lot of intent to try and play but we probably overdid the offloads early doors and conceded some soft possession so we will review that.

"Obviously I'm disappointed but there are certain aspects I'm pleased with. It is pre-season, it is a means to an end. Am I disappointed with certain aspects of the performance? Yes, I am. There's no getting away from that.

We've used a lot of players today though and ultimately it's about preparation for Treviso away in two weeks.

"We worked on some things out in Clermont and we want to bring a positive intent to the game, which I think we showed. There were a couple of opportunities where we did get outside Bath only to fumble the ball, turning it over. I think, if I'm honest, Bath were positive at the tackle contest area, we got turned over a few too many times for my liking and that's something we've got a fortnight to work on and get it ready for Treviso.

"We can get too carried away with a pre-season game. There are aspects of our game that we did implement, we did try to things. Particularly in the first half we'd cut them, then we'd force an offload and give possession back to Bath resulting in them trying to drive or kick it back to us. I'm disappointed that when we did cut the line we didn't keep the ball for long enough periods.

"The young guys are coming through and we've had a chance to look at options over the last few weeks and for the internationals it was their first hit out. We know we have to up our game before we go to Treviso so we've got a fortnight prep time.

"We're two games in, we've come off the back of a very physical week in training, and now we need to improve certain aspects before we go to Treviso. There's no real right or wrong way to approach pre-season. We're trying to manage what we've got, guys who are playing twelve month seasons. You look at people like Ian Evans and Alun Wyn and the questions was did we play them last week, or maybe give them a full game today?

"It's a long season and you don't want to be peaking for the first game. It's got to be a gradual thing as you don't want to be dropping off by Christmas time but we do need to be prepared and we need to do a lot of work to be right for Treviso away."

From the Bath RFC Website

18 August 2012, 9:18pm

Bath Rugby two from two

Bath Rugby made it two pre-season wins from two this afternoon with a 10-21 victory over Ospreys at the Liberty Stadium.

First half tries from Lee Mears and Danny Hipkiss along with points from the kicking tee from Sam Vesty and Olly Barkley proved the difference. The visitors restricted the 2011/12 RaboDirect Pro12 Champions to a converted try and a penalty, and it took an hour of play for them to unlock the Bath defence.

A typically frenetic start heralded this pre-season fixture as each side tried to test the other and small errors crept into play as they tried to find their rhythm.

Ospreys spurned their first chance of points from the kicking tee, instead opting for a lineout and driving maul which was well dealt with by the Bath defence. The visitors were not in the same mindset, and on 17 minutes, Vesty was given his first penalty chance after some good play between Matt Banahan and Nick Abendanon saw the centre earn a penalty. Vesty made no mistake and took the lead for Bath. 0-3.

Bath were slowly gaining the upper hand in the match and Vesty doubled the lead five minutes later after the Ospreys were found guilty of coming in at the side. 0-6.

The visitors were beginning to attack with vigour, and a try looked inevitable going into the last ten minutes of the half. After some strong build up between Banahan, Abendanon and Michael Claassens, the ball came to Mears, who spotted the gap and cantered through from short range to go over for the first try of the game. Vesty added the extras with the conversion, taking Bath's lead to 0-13.

An up and under from the fly-half started the move for the second try. Confusion between the covering Ospreys defence allowed Olly Woodburn to gather the kick, sprint away and offload to the supporting Hipkiss, who handed off the defender as he crossed the line and dotted down. 0-18 – Half Time score.

A huge hit from Ben Skirving set the tone for the second half, with Bath extending their lead within just three minutes. Carl Fearns peeled off the back of a driving maul, Banahan drove through the centres and offloaded to Skirving, who earned the penalty. Olly Barkley, a second half replacement, stepped up and sent the ball sailing between the posts. 0-21.

Dan Biggar finally got the home side on the scoreboard with a penalty on 60 minutes, and they seemed to take some encouragement from it, mounting their first real period of attack since the opening minutes, which eventually paid dividends. Kahn Fotuali'I's quick tap penalty on the halfway line saw him sneak through the defence, and after some quick recycling, the ball found Tom Grabham alone on the wing. Whilst Woodburn sprinted back, the young winger couldn't get the tackle in quick enough and Grabham just touched down in the corner. Biggar converted. 10-21.

Despite both sides working hard to take something further from the game, the home try was the last score of the game as the strong Bath defence stood firm against any further attacks, and they held on for a solid victory.

"It's a long season and you don't want to be peaking for the first game"

Aye, there's no point building a winning momentum. That never works.

It does seem like he's making excuses. Let's hope it doesn't come back to bite him in the arse

Shifty wrote:

PenfroPete wrote:Going down the 'Library' with PjHolybloke (Bath) tomorrow. He's my guest for the weekend.

Thought I'd buy tickets in advance rather thank faff around on the day. Phoned up yesterday (the online purchasing is not the greatest ). We are seating in the stand BEHIND the goal as they had nothing available in the main stands. Guess they've sold a good few season tickets there then. Hope those guys turn up, it would be good to see

I hope/expect that Paul James gets a great ovation - fantastic servant

OMG I saw a bloke walking alongside a Bath supporter, haha I wonder if it was you, though I only saw 2 other Bath supporters there. Though I also saw the same Osprey and Bath supporters getting into their car in the rough car park (opposide the park and ride area). If that's the case I was parked 2 over from you!

As for the game well at least it was a fantastic day, the teenage girl who site next to me started the game wearing daisy duke shorts and tights, though she disappeared and came back 5 minutes later minus the tights. Also I saw the new season ticket holders below me and one of them has massive boobs and a low cut top so the view appears to be much nicer this season. Being one row higher than her obviously helped the view. So I spent the afternoon under a blazing sun looking at a sexy pair of legs stretched out in front of me and a big pair of boobs to my right.
Even better the annoying little naughty boy who was kicking us last season wasn't there either so it seems they have left or moved.

Anyway as for the game I did pick up on a few things, beer is now £3.40 up from £3.30 last season and hot chocolate is now £1.80 instead of £1.60 The attendance was about 6,750 (ish) I heard over the tanoy so I wonder what happened to our 9,500 season ticket holders!

I was quite suprised at how poor the Ospreys were, we lacked physical strength and had real trouble bringing their players down, we also seem to have forgotten how to pass and tackle. We did try to be positive and not kick penalties early on, instead going for kicks to the corner but Bath played a much clever game and took the points when they came. In the end we were forced to chase the game and made mistakes which cost us tries and points. Hand on heart didn't really care too much though was more interested in the sun, boobs and the legs.

So yeah great day and much to be positive about for the coming season.

That wasn't us Shifty, we came in by bus - however it was probably the same two that we saw and said to each other "it's not just us then".

To be fair, there's not much either team could take from the game. Bath look as though they will continue to be tough to break down this season - but without the raft of penalties they gave away last season, it was much more disciplined yesterday. Attack-wise they were a little more clinical than Ospreys, but both teams coughed up too much pill to put any real momentum together, Bath did show some pretty neat offloading at times, so maybe there will be more continuity in the attack this season, less of the stop-start.

The Ospreys dominated the opening 10 minutes or so, but just didn't have the key to the Bath defence, their consistent failure to keep the ball through midfield severely hampered any threat that developed, and that was minimised anyway by Bath's ability to slow down Ospreys' ball through numbers committed at the breakdown. Ospreys did look threatening when the game started to break up with 10 minutes to go, but Bath managed to scramble and make key tackles just in the nick of time. Dirksen looked very sharp for the O's whenever he got involved, but the rustiness in midfield handling skills left him somewhat short of opportunities.

Bath were roundly booed for taking the 3 points on both occasions in the first half, but I have to be honest, I was one of them too, well it was a pre-season friendly . It was a little quieter when the O's took their 3 points to get them on the board on the hour mark though...

James was well received by the O's faithful (so I was told by Penfro - as I was on a beer sortie at the time) and I reckon he will be considered great business by Bath come the end of the season, James and Perenise looked totally solid and should offset the lack of power from Mears come scrumtime, his try was a typical snipe from the 10 metre line and his work in the loose should now be seen as having no downside with the more solid front row. It was also good to see KPN back in the blue, black and white.

On the whole it was a bitty game in the Swansea sunshine, and the only definite that came from it was that both teams need to sharpen up - which is the entire point of these games anyway, oh and that Penfro is a perfect gent, a lovely, lovely bloke and a credit to his club and country - cheers Pete, love you man.

And what about Penfro's mates, eh Peej?

Disappointed the O's lost...the scoreline at half time made it look as though they didn't turn up! Good to hear PJ (that's Paul James, not the Holybloke) get a great reception when he came on.

Cari wrote:And what about Penfro's mates, eh Peej?

Disappointed the O's lost...the scoreline at half time made it look as though they didn't turn up! Good to hear PJ (that's Paul James, not the Holybloke) get a great reception when he came on.

Cari, you're a babe. You pulled me in no time flat.

Pity I'm happily married, and old - and you're young and gorgeous - God has it in for me, I swear it.

Tommy has no idea...

Aw shucks Peej....you're getting me all bashful. Just as well there's no smiley for it Feel free to put a word in with the Ulsterman when he's in Baff next

Still laughing about the 3 annoying Saints fans dressed up as the Sally Army (with tambourines)... "Well they was feckin quiet second half..."

Tommy? Everyone knows he only went back to Ulster to save himself from a broken heart.

Ha ha! Next time I'll have to tell you about the Brummie Cardiff supporter sat behind me and Gibbo

Cari wrote:Ha ha! Next time I'll have to tell you about the Brummie Cardiff supporter sat behind me and Gibbo

Brummie Cardiff fan? One of the famous "Industrial Welsh" offspring by the sounds of it. Looking forward to that already.

Till the next time then... iach y da.

Iechyd da!