European Competition Review

[ALunpg]

The competition first stages have finished,so what is your report card for the teams

Champions Cup

Scarlets Won 2 Draw 1
Improvement compared to last year seems to be the key word that has come through..just at times too many errors. They should have won last weekend and should have won yesterday.  It still may not have seen them qaulify ...but would have been  fairer return on how they played. They still have to learn how to win away from home.  However they were in the right competition..6.5/10


Challenge Cup

Blues  Won 5

Have made it through to the playoffs..so well done it was a bit tight yersterday and does reflect where the are right now. However they have a few weeks to get back on track and see how they go after the 6N  and see if they secure a place next year for the Champions League.
5/10

Dragons  Won 3

The loss away in Russia at the start was a setback they never really recovered from. Dissapointing result after the last few years performance but still had some  wins which have been in short supply.
4/10

Ospreys Won 6

This was as good as could be asked ... they won...and played well and gave opportunities to fringe players. It was an achievement... but not anything that should be taken out of context.
Next round will be the start of the real test. But for now the positives are that they put teams to the sword when they should and that has been a problem before.

6/10

[Son of Mathonwy]

The Scarlets had a terribly tough group, they were always up against it trying to get to the KO stages. Not sure they deserved a win yesterday, but definitely last week. They need to win these close matches.

The Ospreys are clearly in the wrong competition. An unfortunate outcome of the Anglo-French dominated European setup, and no doubt something that we will continue to see as the Welsh, Irish and Scottish fight over 6 Champions Cup slots. Or rather, we won't see since none of the Ospreys record-breaking 30-point run was televised here.

[Son of Mathonwy]

Oh yeah, nice to hear that Jordan Williams got a couple of tries yesterday for Bristol. Hopefully he's finding his way back from the wilderness. However there are now a LOT of good wingers coming through, so he has his work cut out.

[Big D]

The Scarlets had a terribly tough group, they were always up against it trying to get to the KO stages. Not sure they deserved a win yesterday, but definitely last week. They need to win these close matches.

The Ospreys are clearly in the wrong competition. An unfortunate outcome of the Anglo-French dominated European setup, and no doubt something that we will continue to see as the Welsh, Irish and Scottish fight over 6 Champions Cup slots. Or rather, we won't see since none of the Ospreys record-breaking 30-point run was televised here.

I think they need to do away with the guaranteed 1 place for all PRO12 nations. The Italians just aren't improving, seem to be continually in some sort of turmoil around 1 team and are mostly content taking the odd PRO12 scalp and being the best Italian team only. It is not helping them progress by rewarding mediocrity.

That would allow the best 7 PRO12 teams in no matter which country they are from and 8th and 9th go into the play off.

[Sandydragon]

The Ospreys didn't have a great season last year, and sadly this is the price they now pay. Hopefully they won't find themselves in the second competition again. It is galling that I read report of routs against an Italian team when its painfully clear they are in the wrong competition. Has the standard of their game improved since their admission to the Pro12? Id argue not.

Newport have been disappointing. Cardiff have done what they needed to whilst the Scarlets have been competitive and could have gotten further with a bit more nouse or luck.

Its an improvement on last year overall.

[MrK]

The best thing for me is the continued exposure of young talent in the Welsh regions, particularly Scarlets and Ospreys as they are giving youth a chance and not suffering too much from results.

Elias, Boyd, Mcloed, Dan Jones, Steff Evans have all looked comfortable at the higher level, Patchell is developing as a 10 - and their Irish U20s player
Smith, Parry, Beard, Thornton, Cracknell, Giles have all played their part in a good Os season so far. Habberfield has been a revelation and really stepped up at 9.
The Dragons have a lot of young players coming through too, but dont seem to have the quality experience to back that up (That said I think Brok Harris and Rynard Landsman have been great for them). Ollie Griffiths will struggle due to the strength in depth we have at 7 but Keddie and Hewitt could make it, theirs also Dixon, Morgan and Amos, who with a good run and some misfortune to others, could find themselves in the welsh camp.
The Blues have started givng Rhun Williams a run out which is good and Brad Thyer has had some game time, but I cant think of too many youngsters pushing through there.

All in all, I think this has been a slightly above average campaign for the Welsh regions.

[ALunpg]

The Scarlets had a terribly tough group, they were always up against it trying to get to the KO stages. Not sure they deserved a win yesterday, but definitely last week. They need to win these close matches.

The Ospreys are clearly in the wrong competition. An unfortunate outcome of the Anglo-French dominated European setup, and no doubt something that we will continue to see as the Welsh, Irish and Scottish fight over 6 Champions Cup slots. Or rather, we won't see since none of the Ospreys record-breaking 30-point run was televised here.

I know this is a forlorn quest and will be howling at the moon a bit..but how do we get heard on this issue. If BT or Sky do not want to broadcast why restrict others with their agreement once they have selected the matches they wish to broadcast?