Blues A V Ospreys A Monday 20th Oct 7:15 pm Arms Park

The Ospreys will face Cardiff Blues next week in a one-off A team fixture at BT Sport Cardiff Arms Park.

The fixture, on Monday 20th October at 7.15pm, will allow players who haven’t featured regularly to date this season, as well as a number of younger members of the squad, an opportunity to play as a team ahead of a busy autumn period where they will be expected to step up to senior regional duty.

Rugby General Manager, Andrew Millward, said:

“Selection in the opening weeks of the season has been pretty consistent, which obviously means there a number of players who are short on game time this season. In addition, while some of the younger squad members have had the opportunity to play club rugby, we haven’t been able to see them as part of a unit, how they fit into our system and interact with their fellow Ospreys.

“Once Europe is out of the way and the autumn international series is upon us, the weight of responsibility will fall on some of these shoulders for PRO12 and LV fixtures. Rather than have them going into these games cold, this game against the Blues will be an important part of their preparation for an important part of the season. With five games in two competitions during this period, they will play a huge part in how our season shapes up so it’s important they are up to speed and ready to go when their chance comes.”

Gates will open at 5.30pm and admission is free for supporters of both regions.


Well this is a good idea, what does everyone else think ?

I agree it sounds like a good idea, even better they have put it as free admission - so many clubs would see that as another way of making a bit more money.

Sam wrote:I agree it sounds like a good idea, even better they have put it as free admission - so many clubs would see that as another way of making a bit more money.

Yeah good to see it is free, as you say others would have seen it as a money spinner (Prob v poss), so technically the Blues will be running the game at a loss (unless they sell enough beer/burgers).

Also it is a good idea for the two sides going into the period where they will be missing internationals. Now some of the finger players will get a chance to prove themselves ready before the next round of the Pro12, and LV=. I really hope this game gets a decent turn out, and that this does help both sides get/keep some continuity going forwards while the internationals are away.

Looking forward to this. Missed the game at the Liberty as I was away. This will kind of make up for it. Wondering what the squads will be. Be nice to see a few people there.

In view of the the match against Treviso being only 30 hours or so ahead of this match, I cannot see any players from that match appearing in an A match, unless absolutely necessary. My Team is
Fussell/Jones, Howells, Dirksen, Spratt/Beck, Natoga, Price, Habberfield, G Thomas, Otten, N Thomas, Beard, Thornton, Cracknell, Fox, Allen. Had to select Otten even though he is on the bench this weekend as Parry is concussed

Cardiff Blues:
15 Tom Williams, 14 Harry Davies, 13 Garyn Smith, 12 Tom Pascoe, 11 Lewis Morgan, 10 Will Thomas, 9 Mike Hale; 1 Thomas Davies, 2 Ethan Lewis, 3 Dillon Lewis, 4 Miles Normandale, 5 Lou Reed, 6 Jevon Groves, 7 Rory Watts-Jones (c), 8 Ben Roach

Replacements: 16 Gerwyn Coleman, 17 Callum Lewis, 18 Joe Jones, 19 Seb Davies, 20 James Sheekey, 21 Will Baird, 22 James Whittingham, 23 Ellis Wyn Benham, 24 Jack Phillips


15 Richard Fussell
14 Dafydd Howells
13 Hanno Dirksen
12 Aled Jenkins
11 Tom Grabham
10 Luke Price
9 Tom Habberfield (Capt)

Ospreys:
1 Marc Thomas
2 Sam Parry
3 Cai Griffiths
4 Rory Thornton
5 Rhodri Hughes
6 Jordan Collier
7 Lloyd Evans
8 Ifereimi Boladau

Replacements

16 Matthew Dwyer
17 Gareth Thomas
18 Dan Suter
19 Matthew Dodd
20 Calum Davies
21 Zach O’Driscoll
22 Rhodri Cole
23 Joel Matavesi
24 Owen Watkin
25 Ashley Evans
26 Aisea Natoga

Could be a long night for the Blues. Some decent players in that O's team.

Already done, last week:-

https://www.606v2.com/t56046-blues-a-v-ospreys-a-monday-20th-oct-715-pm-arms-park

Merged these threads lads.

ScarletSpiderman wrote:Merged these threads lads.

Cheers SS.

Looking at those sides, I would say that the Ospreys looks far closer to a side that are likely to get game time during the AIs than the Blues.

The Blues will still have the likes of Fish, G Evans, Hewitt, G Davies, Knoyle, Other Scrum Half Lewis Something, Navidi, Dicomedies, Hoetta etc etc etc whilst the internationals are away. I honestly expected them to field a few of them during this game.

Thank you.

ScarletSpiderman wrote:Looking at those sides, I would say that the Ospreys looks far closer to a side that are likely to get game time during the AIs than the Blues.

The Blues will still have the likes of Fish, G Evans, Hewitt, G Davies, Knoyle, Other Scrum Half Lewis Something, Navidi, Dicomedies, Hoetta etc etc etc whilst the internationals are away.  I honestly expected them to field a few of them during this game.

Craig Mitchell, Ian Watkins amongst others.

Not Ian Watkins, LD. Using that name will get you into trouble...

Yes, always hated Steps

Anyone keeping track of the game? 8-17, three tries (one was pen try) to one try on pen

According to twitter it's 8 - 17 with 20 minutes to go.

Yeah 8-24 now

15-24, 5 mins to go

We win 24-15, wish I could have been there

More interestingly, Elliot Kear was a last minute addition to the Blues XV, starting at 11.

He has been rumoured for a while, but many thought it wouldn't happen with Amorosino joining.

Kear is a former league player who is supposed to be a pretty good wing/fullback.

Cuthbert will have to watch his back with Anscombe, Kear and Amorosino involved from next week.

Yeah, I thought Kear was pretty handy at league. Pretty good signing for you

If this if anything to go by, then Ospreys LV team might not be as bad as I said they would be, if guys like Arhip, Matavesi, Bishop, etc play. Can't see Jones or Jarvis being involved in team Wales either.

Poor Lou Reed. . . It's been a long way down for him. He only played 30 mins in total after going off for a blood injury in the first half. He did not have a good game. Not many of the Blues did in fairness. The O's scrum was very good. Dirksen was a cut above as was Fussell. Natoga lookee dangerious when he came on also. A fair amount of O's fans made the trip. All in all it was good for the price. Be nice to see a few more of these.

Coleman wrote:Poor Lou Reed. . . It's been a long way down for him. He only played 30 mins in total after going off for a blood injury in the first half. He did not have a good game. Not many of the Blues did in fairness. The O's scrum was very good. Dirksen was a cut above as was Fussell. Natoga lookee dangerious when he came on also. A fair amount of O's fans made the trip. All in all it was good for the price. Be nice to see a few more of these.

I was waiting for someone to come out with something like that!

So was there a decent enough crowd, considering it was essentially an LV= game played on a Monday?

Yeah it was a good crowd for a wet windy monday night. Maybe 1000 people. That's a really rough guess, i'd like to see the official number. The bar was always busy so I don't think the game was run at a loss.

That's good to hear, if a game like that can be run without making a loss (even if it were only at break even). These are the sort of games that I think the regions need to get organised amongst themselves more often, gives the fringe/future players a run out etc.

It'd be nice to see a league set up with RGC thrown in to the mix and a few friendly game played vs the teams just over the border. I don't think these young lads are playing enough rugby. No reason they can't play a few mid week games for regional A teams.