Open Apology To Ospreylia

At the start of this season many ‘rugby experts’, journalists and pundits wrote off the Ospreys, citing the loss of key players as the reason.  I too wrote off the Ospreys, although I would never call myself a rugby expert. However, the Ospreys have won four from four at the start of this season and been the mightily impressive. Therefore, this is my own slice of humble pie as I offer an apology for ever doubting the Ospreys.

On the eve of the new season I wrote that the Ospreys would struggle to make the top six and might miss out on European qualification. With the players that the region has lost it seemed like a far statement, having lost four Lions from the pack alone. However, in my defence I did say that young players would have to step up, and haven’t they done just that.

In the first game of the season against Treviso the Ospreys were missing Alun-Wyn Jones and Justin Tipuric, as well as the departed Lions. The Ospreys won that game 44-13; they beat the Dragons the following week, before blitzing Edinburgh 62-13, not a bad start for a team that was written off.

However, the best performance was this weekend at Thomond Park. A notoriously difficult place to go for the most experienced of teams, the Ospreys’ youngsters took up the challenge well. Nicky Smith, who has had a fine start to the season, was up against World Cup winning prop BJ Botha. To put it some context, Smith, was 13, when Botha lifted the Webb Ellis Cup in 2007. Yet, the young prop was not overawed and put in another solid performance.

Justin Tipuric left the field injured early in the first half leaving Alun-Wyn Jones as the lone Lion in the Ospreys pack. Before Tipuric left he did put Jeff Hassler in with a delightful pass which gave the Canadian a simple run in. Hassler is another who has started the season strongly with three tries and countless hard and straight carries, which are becoming the young wingers’ trademark.

It is impossible to ignore the half-back combination of Rhys Webb and Dan Biggar. They have been excellent all season but against Munster they were absolutely phenomenal. From 9 and 10 they controlled the game perfectly for the Ospreys. Dan Biggar didn’t miss a kick at goal, and with many from near the halfway line it was no mean feat.

Rhys Webb has caught the headlines in the early part of the season with his try scoring exploits against weaker opposition. However, against Munster he reined in the ‘show and go’ and focused on his game management and he barely put a foot wrong, bar one loose kick towards the end of the game. It was a taste of how he game might adapt to test level, less flashy but very effective.

The Ospreys have proven that they are still the pace setters in Wales and have been brilliant in the opening weekends. Can they keep it up? Let’s hope so, but I won’t be making anymore predictions!