Ospreylia - The land of less!

Clue - less
hope - less

and

WIN - LESS.

What's gone wrong at The Liberty?

The Ospreys have generally played a game based around their pack being in control up front. With Paul James leaving, and Adam Jones being sidelined they have lost some of that edge up front. I think that they will not be this bad for the whole season, and will probably be challenging the play-off spots come the end of the season.

This Friday should be interesting. Any predictions?

Why was James allowed to leave, was it purely financial or did they think the players there now were up to replacing him.

Scarlets to win - easily on current early season form but who knows.

Beford - they still haveBevington, Duncan at loose, and Adam, Javis and the other one (name escapes me) at tight. So I would assume that it was a money saving exercise, to a point.

Jeff's dad - I have a bad feeling that this is going to be one game too far for us. It will be too much pressure on us to win it by a distance, and the expectation is for the Ospreys to fold (or at least that is the way the common folk by me seem to think).

Should be a good game, I don't expect a Scarlets walk over although they should edge it. The Ospreys can't be that bad for a fourth week surely.

Wales needs a strong Ospreys!

ScarletSpiderman what part of Pembs are you? Anywhere near Otter country?

SS,

Yh think you are right, the pressure will be on the Scarlets given home advantage and the varying starts both have had to the season.

But its a derby (though ours at RP on Friday was poor) and these games rarely rely on form.

Jeff's dad - Milford (well Hakin really), there seem to be a fair few of us on here from or at least originally from) the true west.

Yeah we need a strong Ospreys, and I honestly think that when Adam returns and their pack is a bit more solid the wins will come. Being realistic, so far they have lost to Treviso (who were 1pt of beating Leinster), Ulster (Last years HEC finalists, so far unbeaten in the league), and Glasgow (Play-off places last season)., and they have picked up two losing bonus points. It is not like they have taken given Zebre a bonus point win in the Liberty, or gone down to Connacht by 50+.

Bedford - I will be willing to put money ont he game on friday being a dire game, I have feeling there will be a few yellows, and possibly a red, depending on how things go.

ScarletSpiderman.

I'm from Pontiets area. My boy plays for the Otters.

You down PYS on Friday?

SS,

You ever play for Milford, use to play them regulalry when at RAF Brawdy always under floodlights to loved it.

Think the loss on weekend was very poor result, they should be more than capable of beating Glasgow at home.

Jeff's dad - yeah I'll be there friday, you?

It's a small world my sister is living up at Bancffosfelen at the moment, so that would be around your neck of the woods. How did your lad end up down at Narbeth, wouldn't one of the Carmarthen teams been easier (and as good)?

Bedford - Yeah the result this weekend was a comedy of errors, but still Glasgow are not a bad side really.

Only played age grade, I was too weak physically to really stand a chance when we moved up to playing properly (a 9-10st lock is no good to anyone). Its good to hear someone say they like playing Milford, most people moan the pitch is too stoney, or the local kids were throwing stuff at their bus etc etc

Next two games for Ospreys

Scarlets away
Munster at home

think that the Ospreys are going to be hard pushed to get wins in these (they are capable of winning both, but not on current form).

could realistically be looking at 5 games zero wins for the O's, and even being slow starters, making the play offs from that would be some achivement, Ospreys Pro 12 season could be nearly over before the first H-cup game!

ScarletSpiderman wrote:Bedford - Yeah the result this weekend was a comedy of errors, but still Glasgow are not a bad side really.

Only played age grade, I was too weak physically to really stand a chance when we moved up to playing properly (a 9-10st lock is no good to anyone). Its good to hear someone say they like playing Milford, most people moan the pitch is too stoney, or the local kids were throwing stuff at their bus etc etc

Yh pitch wasnt the best but then we also played at Crymych and that was a terrible pitch. Always loved playing under lights really adds another dimension to the game.

ScarletSpiderman

May be at PYS friday - not sure yet!

The boy played for Carmarthen Athletic last season wanted to step up and the fact Narberth were in the new Championship was a factor along with other rewards.

Noted that you are an Instrument Tech! Are you on the Valero site by any chance?

jeff stones dad wrote:ScarletSpiderman

May be at PYS friday - not sure yet!

The boy played for Carmarthen Athletic last season wanted to step up and the fact Narberth were in the new Championship was a factor along with other rewards.

Noted that you are an Instrument Tech! Are you on the Valero site by any chance?

I forgot there was all the reshuffling at the lower levels too. I guess Narbeth makes good sense then, and its meant to be a prett decent setup from what the lads at work tell me.

Good guess with Valero, but sadly not, I the other side of the water way at a smaller site (just storage not actually refining).

bedfordwelsh wrote:

ScarletSpiderman wrote:Bedford - Yeah the result this weekend was a comedy of errors, but still Glasgow are not a bad side really.

Only played age grade, I was too weak physically to really stand a chance when we moved up to playing properly (a 9-10st lock is no good to anyone). Its good to hear someone say they like playing Milford, most people moan the pitch is too stoney, or the local kids were throwing stuff at their bus etc etc

Yh pitch wasnt the best but then we also played at Crymych and that was a terrible pitch. Always loved playing under lights really adds another dimension to the game.

Hving to walk half mile up the road from the club house doesn't help it much either

I almost feel sorry for the team.

ScarletSpiderman

Only asked because I'm at Valero. Electrical Designer!

Your right - good setup at the Otters. Threw away a 30 - 6 lead on Saturday against Newbridge, final score 30 -31!

Jeff's Dad - I've heard from a few working over there it ain't the most friendly places to be working.

Not good result for Narbeth then.

Hopeless just about sums up Fri's game. Clueless in Glas 22, the butchering of two overlaps when it looked like a bit of a comeback was on. Rhys Webb had an absolute shocker.....and I mean shocker. Cost the O's two tries and when Grabham played SH after his yellow, he was better! Well played Glas but.....jeez, We were abject.

Ospreys were terrible against Glasgow. But, as stated above, Wales does need the Ospreys to be strong and I am sure that they will improve. Just hope that their current run of form lasts for one more game! But being a Scarlets fan has made me a pessimist and I can't help feel that the Ospreys are suddenly going to find some form and their pack will realise that they may actually be quite good if they tried a bit!

Breadvan

imho I thought Grabham did really well when he filled in. The ball was faster and cleaner and gave the Ospreys a bit of go forward.

Rugby is a simple game however you need both a game Plan A and B.Ospreys did not seem to have Plan B.

8, 9 & 10 need to be your tactical decision makers, to be honestly brutal they were lacking a player who could change the way they played. Neither Bearman, Webb or Biggar looked like a player who was using the "top 2 inches".

Furthemore you would think that AWJ being Captain with all his intelligence and experience would be able to influence the game plan. On a positive note Adam & Ryan Jones are to return.

jeff stones dad wrote:Breadvan

imho I thought Grabham did really well when he filled in. The ball was faster and cleaner and gave the Ospreys a bit of go forward.

Rugby is a simple game however you need both a game Plan A and B.Ospreys did not seem to have Plan B.

8, 9 & 10 need to be your tactical decision makers, to be honestly brutal they were lacking a player who could change the way they played. Neither Bearman, Webb or Biggar looked like a player who was using the "top 2 inches".

Furthemore you would think that AWJ being Captain with all his intelligence and experience would be able to influence the game plan. On a positive note Adam & Ryan Jones are to return.

Please say that isn't going to be for friday???? We are missing Rhodri and could do without Adam turning up.

No I was thinking long term with regard to Adam & Ryan Jones.

In my opinion the jury is stillout on Rhodri Jones, not sure if his scrummaging is up to regional level yet! There is no doubting his playing ability though, he has bags of potential but far from being the finished article!

jeff stones dad wrote:This Friday should be interesting. Any predictions?

41-9 there i said it, bonus point win too

Shifty wrote:

jeff stones dad wrote:This Friday should be interesting. Any predictions?

41-9 there i said it, bonus point win too

I would be very suprised to see that. I have a feeling 10 -9 (2 unconverted tries to 3 pens) or 10 -12 (same as but to 4 pens) would be more likely.

Ryan Jones may be available for selection.

My prediction 18 - 11 to the Sospanites.

I think the technical staff need to invest in some of these

Leinster lost their first game.
Won their second.
Lost their third.
Lost their fourth.

What's the year? - The year they won their 2nd HEC and the year they were in the final of the Pro12, the bridge too far against Munster.

Losing games? Big deal. The Ospreys are finished for this year? Unlikely.

SecretFly wrote:Leinster lost their first game.
Won their second.
Lost their third.
Lost their fourth.

What's the year? - The year they won their 2nd HEC and the year they were in the final of the Pro12, the bridge too far against Munster.

Losing games? Big deal. The Ospreys are finished for this year? Unlikely.

Compare the Leinster squad depth with the Ospreys though.

gowales wrote:

SecretFly wrote:Leinster lost their first game.
Won their second.
Lost their third.
Lost their fourth.

What's the year? - The year they won their 2nd HEC and the year they were in the final of the Pro12, the bridge too far against Munster.

Losing games? Big deal. The Ospreys are finished for this year? Unlikely.

Compare the Leinster squad depth with the Ospreys though.

Gowales, I just don't, and wouldn't even if I was a follower, feel the need for panic. Maybe it's all just plotting and planning. Maybe we're seeing Ospreys announce their official intention to really go for the HC this year. You have to manage your resources if you're deathly serious about two goals, and that can sometimes materialise in entering into the full fray of the rugby season a little later than others. It's complex planning and it's much too early to be seeing disaster in anything Ospreys have done yet.

If the intention is to go for the HC this year then Tandy's in for a rude awakening. Toulouse and Leicester are on fire and Treviso will probably claim a few scalps.

We've been crap and the squad is very thin nothing else, we're not gunning for the HC that's actually a pretty hilarious suggestion
I'm not going into panic mode just yet but if things continue as they are then this will be a pretty grim season.

gowales wrote:If the intention is to go for the HC this year then Tandy's in for a rude awakening. Toulouse and Leicester are on fire and Treviso will probably claim a few scalps.

We've been crap and the squad is very thin nothing else, we're not gunning for the HC that's actually a pretty hilarious suggestion
I'm not going into panic mode just yet but if things continue as they are then this will be a pretty grim season.

We'll see..... Edinburgh were 2nd last last year in the league. Where did they end up in HC? The future is out there.

Go - your one win shy of both the Dragons and Blues, so a win for your lot at PYS and a loss for one of them (Munster v Dragons / Blues V Treviso) it is quite possible that you could end up looking in a far healthier position come Saturday.

Also when Adam Jones returns and your pack start dominating games again then I think your backs will know what to do with the possession. It is just a case of hanging on in there.

Is the doom and gloom now over?

Hey if they continue to play like they did against the Scarlets then we'll be alright

....................................

Did not expect that on Friday night! Well done to the Ospreys!

The Scarlets have a problem at THP though!

Thought Sampson did well considering he is 18.

maestegmafia wrote:Is the doom and gloom now over?

Ask againm on Saturday night...

maestegmafia wrote:Thought Sampson did well considering he is 18.

I must haver missed something there he only came on in the second half & got binned at the first scrum for pulling it down, anonymous after that.

Breadvan wrote:

maestegmafia wrote:Is the doom and gloom now over?

Ask againm on Saturday night...

Yep it's a big one, Munster are clicking really well already and we are a long way off form despite winning at PYS.

BigTrevsbigmac wrote:

maestegmafia wrote:Thought Sampson did well considering he is 18.

I must haver missed something there he only came on in the second half & got binned at the first scrum for pulling it down, anonymous after that.

I believe Maes may have been suggesting that he 'did well' to leave the field under his own steam, rather than on a stretcher, after being buckled in half at that scrum.

Needs another couple of years in the gym and scoffing the weight gain powder.

Breadvan wrote:

maestegmafia wrote:Is the doom and gloom now over?

Ask againm on Saturday night...

Are you attending this week?

Casartelli wrote:

BigTrevsbigmac wrote:

maestegmafia wrote:Thought Sampson did well considering he is 18.

I must haver missed something there he only came on in the second half & got binned at the first scrum for pulling it down, anonymous after that.

I believe Maes may have been suggesting that he 'did well' to leave the field under his own steam, rather than on a stretcher, after being buckled in half at that scrum.

Needs another couple of years in the gym and scoffing the weight gain powder.

Didn't read Trevs comment actually


I thought he did well. He was penalised as an example made by the ref for Scarlets poor scrum Prior to his arrival, not his fault he just lost footing.

He is 18 and was up against a seasoned prop with 50 plus caps

An apprentice doesn't become a tradesman after one week in the job. Samson needs to learn his trade and I dont think a local derby at regional level is the perfect place to do that.

Maybe a couple more seasons at premiership level or at championship level. I have watched Division 3, 2 ,1 and Championship level for the last 4 seasons and in my opinion there is more empahasis on honest scrumaging resulting in very few collapsed scrums making the games flow and therefore being better to spectate.

maestegmafia wrote:

Casartelli wrote:

BigTrevsbigmac wrote:

maestegmafia wrote:Thought Sampson did well considering he is 18.

I must haver missed something there he only came on in the second half & got binned at the first scrum for pulling it down, anonymous after that.

I believe Maes may have been suggesting that he 'did well' to leave the field under his own steam, rather than on a stretcher, after being buckled in half at that scrum.

Needs another couple of years in the gym and scoffing the weight gain powder.

Didn't read Trevs comment actually


I thought he did well. He was penalised as an example made by the ref for Scarlets poor scrum Prior to his arrival, not his fault he just lost footing.

He is 18 and was up against a seasoned prop with 50 plus caps

He was mostly playing against Bevington though

Bevington has more experience playing and training at both regional and international level than Lee and during his first few seasons he played for Bridgend in Division 1 and Premiership before being subjected to regional rugby.