1st round of Welsh derbies

[Sandydragon]

Choice of the weekend has to be Ospreys v Cardiff. Teams released and the surprise call is that Biggar is on the bench in favor of Sam Davies. Perhaps not a surprise to anyone who has watched Davies play this season, but I didn't expect the Ospreys management to drop Biggar.

Ospreys: Dan Evans, Hassler, John, Matavesi, Walker, Sam Davies, Webb, N Smith, Parry, Arhip, B Davies, AW Jones, King, Tipuric, Baker. Replacements: Baldwin, James, Fia, Thornton, Lydiate, Habberfield, Biggar, Beck.

Cardiff:Fish, Scully, G Smith, Lee-lo, James, Anscombe, L Williams, G Jenkins, Dacey, Filise, Cook, Turnbull, Navidi, E Jenkins, N Williams. Replacements: Rees, Gill, Andres, Down, Dolan, T Williams, Shingler, M Morgan.

I think Cardiff have had the better form of the season thus far, but home advantage and a stronger bench (IMO) for the Ospreys could count.

[TibetanBlue]

Quite looking forward to this one, though I'll miss most of it.
I'm not holding out much hope for our chances - the Os usually get the better of us regardless of their form
I think the loss of Earle in the second row will be a big blow. Cook is a good player but he's lightweight - as such I think our lineout AND our scrum will suffer more than it might have already.
I'm also unsure why Garyn Smith is startig int he centre - has he played this season? What happened to Allen?
Also, as pointed out above, our bench is weak compared to the Os one
Think this will be a compfortable victory for the Os

[Son of Mathonwy]

The winner will be the form Welsh team for the start of the season. Hard to call with Cardiff finally roaring into good form, but history gives the Ospreys the edge. Hope Sam Davies repays the coaches' faith with another good game.
Looking forward to it.

[wayneha50]

good from a Blues perspective to have a neutral ref this week

[Sandydragon]

Good first quarter. 10-3 to the blues. Tipuric, Anscombe and Gethin Jenkins all making good first impressions.

[wayneha50]

terrible mistake by Fish really gave Ospreys the momentum now

[Sandydragon]

What a turn around. 27-10 to the Ospreys. Some lovely work by Sam Davies, but it's the Ospreys forwards doing the damage.

[WaspInWales]

Thought this would be a lot more of a contest!

[Sandydragon]

46-24 to the Ospreys. Bit of a purple patch in the middle of the game where the Ospreys forwards were dominant and the side was very clinical.

Some cracking performances from King who was everywhere, Tipuric, Sam Davies, Webb and AWJ. Arhip was very busy as well, with Matavesie very effective.

For the blues, Anscombe was hot and cold. Nick Williams tried hard and Tom James took his try well but their pack was stuffed and after 50 minutes it was game over except for some desperation efforts.

[Son of Mathonwy]

Wow, hoped but didn't expect it to be so one-sided. Comprehensive victory.
I wonder what the Ospreys will do re Davies/Biggar going forward... and what will Howley do??

[cadofyddol]

Wow, hoped but didn't expect it to be so one-sided. Comprehensive victory.
I wonder what the Ospreys will do re Davies/Biggar going forward... and what will Howley do??

I wonder what the liklihood is of Wales calling up Smith and James at LH, Baldwin and Parry at Hooker, Lydiate and King at 6 and Biggar and Davies at 10. Not to mention both Alun-Wyn and Bradley.

They could end up getting screwed!

[Son of Mathonwy]

Wow, hoped but didn't expect it to be so one-sided. Comprehensive victory.
I wonder what the Ospreys will do re Davies/Biggar going forward... and what will Howley do??

I wonder what the liklihood is of Wales calling up Smith and James at LH, Baldwin and Parry at Hooker, Lydiate and King at 6 and Biggar and Davies at 10. Not to mention both Alun-Wyn and Bradley.

They could end up getting screwed!

They shoul be used to it by now, but yes it could be tough for them. Sam Davies's form has crept up on them a bit, but they knew Lydiate would disappear come the international window, ditto Bradley, when they signed them.
If Matavesi gets injured, they are really screwed. A surprise (but not completely undeserved) call-up for Ben John would be a nightmare too. Walker might get the call too... and with Hassler and Dirksen injured, that's not great either.

[Son of Mathonwy]

Scarlets (14) 31
Tries: S Evans 2, Williams, J Evans Cons: Patchell 4 Pen: Patchell
Dragons (20) 27
Tries: Amos, Warren 2, Pretorius Cons: Macleod, O'Brien Pen: Macleod

Very entertaining match yesterday. A draw would have been a fair result. Unlucky for the Dragons to fall just short as usual, but at least they get 2 points.

[cadofyddol]

Wow, hoped but didn't expect it to be so one-sided. Comprehensive victory.
I wonder what the Ospreys will do re Davies/Biggar going forward... and what will Howley do??

I wonder what the liklihood is of Wales calling up Smith and James at LH, Baldwin and Parry at Hooker, Lydiate and King at 6 and Biggar and Davies at 10. Not to mention both Alun-Wyn and Bradley.

They could end up getting screwed!

They shoul be used to it by now, but yes it could be tough for them. Sam Davies's form has crept up on them a bit, but they knew Lydiate would disappear come the international window, ditto Bradley, when they signed them.
If Matavesi gets injured, they are really screwed. A surprise (but not completely undeserved) call-up for Ben John would be a nightmare too. Walker might get the call too... and with Hassler and Dirksen injured, that's not great either.

Bradley they have no grumbles with imo as there are two second rows in a team and they knew his standing.

The other positions are a bit more frustrating as they could possibly lose their first and second choice players at LH, Hooker, blindside and fly half.

If it happens at fly half, the back up is either Matevasi or Dan Evans as I'm guessing it's too early for Lake Price. I'm guessing that the lack of full back cover would see Matevasi move up and Beck and possibly John in the centers. If John gets called up God knows what they will do. When is Fonotia arriving?

[ALunpg]

With Ardron and Hassler out as well it again removes some crucial quality cover . Hopefully if there are a lot selected for the Wales squad a couple of them may get released for matches that will strengthen things up.
But there is one player that has really impressed me and he will be available ..Arhip.. he came in a bit under the radar .. but value for money he is a bargain.

[Numbers]

With Ardron and Hassler out as well it again removes some crucial quality cover . Hopefully if there are a lot selected for the Wales squad a couple of them may get released for matches that will strengthen things up.
But there is one player that has really impressed me and he will be available ..Arhip.. he came in a bit under the radar .. but value for money he is a bargain.

Yeah, he's proved himself to be an excellent signing.

[cadofyddol]

With Ardron and Hassler out as well it again removes some crucial quality cover . Hopefully if there are a lot selected for the Wales squad a couple of them may get released for matches that will strengthen things up.
But there is one player that has really impressed me and he will be available ..Arhip.. he came in a bit under the radar .. but value for money he is a bargain.

Yeah, he's proved himself to be an excellent signing.

I thought he had a poorish season last season, but that might have been part of coming back from his achilies injury or that he was been pinged for numerous scrum penalties as a result of a poor set piece.

I've been very impressed so far this season though.