OSPREYS
Ground address Liberty Stadium, Landore, Swansea SA1 2FA
DISCUSSION POINTS
So long the flag-bearer for the Welsh regions, with four league titles, the Ospreys suffered an inglorious fall from grace last term that led to coach Steve Tandy’s departure at the turn of the year.
Forwards coach Allen Clarke, a former Ireland hooker, did enough in the interim to secure the top job, and the management have backed him by signing A-list stars George North and Scott Williams, as well as Scarlets scrum-half Aled
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Phone 01792 616400
Davies, in the hope they can fill the void left by Ospreys mainstays Dan Biggar and Rhys Webb.
Clarke will need to improve the Ospreys’ try-scoring statistics, which saw them register only 44 last season – just one more than bottom-ranked Dragons, but he’ll need a secure platform first, and that will be made more difficult by the exit of tighthead Dmitri Arhip.
The Os will again look to Alun Wyn Jones and Justin Tipuric for guidance in the tight spots but need others to step up.
KEY MAN
There was a clamour to see Sam Davies unseat Dan Biggar as the Ospreys and Wales fly-half 18 months ago but injuries and a
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Website ospreysrugby.com
loss of form saw the former World Junior Player of the Year fall down the pecking order. With Biggar gone, this is a make-or-break season for Davies. A gifted kicker and distributor, Davies needs a timely confidence boost.
ONE TO WATCH
Adam Beard had a breakthrough summer tour with Wales, where he showed ball-carrying prowess, a hunger in defence and set-piece solidity. It could be the springboard to him starting regularly.
WHAT’S REALISTIC?
It may take time for the Ospreys to reassert their dominance in Wales, but with Tipuric, AWJ and North in situ, a spirited run in the Challenge Cup could be enough to kick-start a renaissance.
IF THEY WERE MUSICIANS…
Take That – Depleted of stars of yore but high expectations remain.