Ospreys: From brink of extinction to playoff-bound in a season?
After the 2018/19 Guinness PRO14 playoffs were an all-Irish, Scottish and Italian affair, it’s fair to say it was a season that Ospreys and other Welsh regional fans will not look back on fondly.
The Scarlets looked well off their title-winning and table-topping form in 2016/17 and 2017/18 respectively, the Cardiff Blues had their moments but ultimately fell short, and the Dragons were warily watching their back, as they finished just four points above the Southern Kings in Conference B.
The Ospreys had the most to celebrate, as they beat the Scarlets in the qualifier for the 2019/20 Heineken Champions Cup, ensuring that they would be the only Welsh side in the top tier of European competition this coming season.
Discounting the adrift Dragons, Wales’ three other regions posted a combined record of 32 wins and 31 losses in the PRO14 last season, accurately portraying their positions as mid-table teams. They were all capable of taking scalps, but none had the consistency or depth to flourish across the entire season and challenge the competition’s established powerhouses.
Unfortunately for the Ospreys, celebrations over the positive trajectory of their season were short-lived, as stories broke that the WRU were looking to merge the region with their local rivals, the Scarlets.
After a startling back and forth that seemingly could only take place in professional rugby, the Ospreys confirmed that they would not be merging with the Scarlets, something which was backed up shortly after by the Professional Rugby Board.
Whether just a stay of execution or long-term salvation, the Ospreys will at least be around for the 2019/20 season.
Throw into the mix the regions’ inability to budget for the upcoming season until late in the 2018/19 campaign and the consequent effect that had on extending contracts and recruiting from outside Wales, and it’s been a challenging summer for all four sides, some of whom have lost key players in the financial uncertainty.
That said, for all the struggles, the Ospreys have assembled a pretty handy group of players for the upcoming season.
The region’s two big losses come in the form of Scott Baldwin, who has headed to Harlequins, and Sam Davies, who will attempt to resurrect the Dragons.
Wales U20 captain Dewi Lake will endeavour to step into Baldwin’s shoes at hooker and was one of, if not the most consistent performer for Wales at age-grade level over the last seven months, whilst a better replacement than Gareth Anscombe for Davies would have been all but impossible to find.
Having lost Dan Biggar in 2018 and then Davies this summer, being able to go out and snap up Wales’ starting fly-half is a coup for the Ospreys and a statement signing if ever there were one. The depth is not overflowing behind Anscombe, with Luke Price the only established option unless they want to use James Hook there, but if Anscombe can be managed in the Champions Cup, where the Ospreys may struggle to be competitive this season, he could be a difference-maker for the region in the PRO14.
The arrival of Shaun Venter from the Cheetahs brings valuable experience at scrum-half and will help them survive the loss of Aled Davies to Wales, as well as mentoring bright prospect Reuben Morgan-Williams.
The promotion of Tiaan Thomas-Wheeler and Kieran Williams from the academy should be exciting for Ospreys fans, with both offering high ceilings and differing skill sets to the current options at the region’s disposal. Alongside Hook, Owen Watkin, Scott Williams and Cory Allen, the Ospreys may very well have the deepest and most versatile midfield in the competition.
Rory Thornton’s departure is disappointing in the second row, although with Alun Wyn Jones signing on for another two years and Adam Beard coming to prominence over the past two years, opportunities were limited for the former Wales U20 captain.
If there is one area of the squad, on paper, where you would be critical, it’s arguably among the props. Although there are PRO14-calibre options there who can help the Ospreys have a productive season, the depth is thin behind them and a couple of key injuries could create plenty of problems for the region.
Despite that, the Ospreys do look in a good place to build upon their 2018/19 season and push forward in 2019/20.
Often the trend in Welsh rugby is of losing established players to better money on offer in England and France and plugging those gaps with promising academy players or bargain signings from abroad. This keeps them competitive but prevents them from being able to build and genuinely challenge the stranglehold that the Irish provinces have on the competition.
The Scarlets and Glasgow Warriors have both had their moments over recent years, but it’s hard to escape the fact the competition has had an Irish winner in five of the last seven seasons.
With the Ospreys being able to welcome up their academy promotions as reinforcements this year, rather than simply replenishing the player pool, the Swansea-based side look to be a strong candidate for the playoffs this coming season. By being drawn in a conference with Leinster, Ulster and Glasgow Warriors, they will certainly be battle-tested, should they make it.
As four-times champions of the competition, the Ospreys are somewhat of a sleeping giant and whilst that conference will surely push them to their limits, there are signs that they may be beginning to rouse.
If their squad can escape the Rugby World Cup relatively unscathed and they can make the most of their considerable depth in the back row and midfield, the Ospreys could be one of the teams to watch over the next 10 months.
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Comments on RugbyPass
Completely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
3 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
54 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
54 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
10 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
54 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
3 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
54 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
54 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
54 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
54 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
54 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
54 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to comments