Consistent and dependable, but Wales are still cool about selecting Otten
THERE’S a famous stat that tell us on New Year’s Eve in 2014, 835 of the 1,000 police officers meant to be on duty in Rome phoned in sick.
It seems reasonable to assume that were he one of those charged with enforcing law and order in the Italian capital, Scott Otten wouldn’t have had cause for a doctor’s paper.
For there are plenty at the Ospreys who will tell you that Otten always reports for duty.
Indeed, when the PRO14 recently named their team of the season for Conference A of the competition he was the only Welsh player in the starstudded XV, picked on the basis of performances over the campaign.
“The 25-year-old hooker is the sole Ospreys player to make the cut and deservedly so,” ran an explanation on the PRO14’s website.
“With 84 lineouts won, 79 carries and a couple of tries to his name, he has been a star for the Welsh outfit.” It’s a weird one, though.
Otten can perform as consistently as he likes, but little is written of him and he rarely seems to rate a mention in Wales squad deliberations.
His is the story of the unsung player down the ages. When he is there, few comment; when he isn’t there, things don’t work as well as they should work.
Unfortunately for him, such a testimony isn’t the stuff of banner headlines or a name being put up in neon lighting. But the Ospreys appreciate him – they really do.
“Scott has been playing well,” said coach Carl Hogg recently.
“We have a very good pool of hookers, with the likes of Sam Parry, Scott, Dewi Lake and Ifan Phillips all having their strong points.
“Injuries have affected a couple of those, but the fact that Scott has been playing regularly says a lot.
“He’s durable and he looks to keep his performance level high.
“Like every player, he has areas where he can get better. But there has been a lot to be pleased about in his game this season.
“The competition is good for him, too.
“Hooker is a strong area for us and all the boys are pushing each other for the shirt.”
The owner of his own business outside rugby in SO Coffee – slogan: ‘appreciate the moment’ – Otten is an enterprising sort who isn’t short on self-belief.
But rugby is his top priority and the challenge for him is how to take the next step.
Areas where he could get better? Well, there was the odd match where he could have been more accurate with his throwing, but such matters can be overblown.
Only Munster in the entire league have had a 90 percent line-out in 2019-20. With an 87 percent return in that area, the Ospreys have been far from the worst.
Maybe there’s scope for him to get over the ball more.
His region have achieved just 55 turnovers in the league this term, compared with arch-possession thieves Cardiff Blues coming up with 101 steals.
Parry and Morgan Morris have contributed more than 30 percent of the Ospreys’ ball-switches, and the Liberty Stadium region will want others to back those two up when rugby resumes.
But, in respect of his carrying and tackling, Otten has been to the fore.
Former Wales hooker Kevin Phillips has been taking close note of the Ospreys hookers, with his son one of them, and he last year admitted that Otten had impressed him.
But it’s the old story, too.
The Ospreys need to pick up as a side before Wayne Pivac starts choosing their players in serious numbers.
As Warren Gatland replied when asked what the Dragons’ Ollie Griffiths needed to do to make the Wales squad: “The answer to him would be to just keep doing what he is doing, keep playing well and competing on the ball...and get the Dragons winning more.
“That makes a difference. “Sometimes it is that plain. It’s not about individuals. It’s about a team collectively getting a performance and results.”
If he has a moment, though, Pivac could do worse than study the tape of the Ospreys’ game against the Cheetahs at The Gnoll last autumn. Otten had a terrific match, with the highlight being a monster break from the former Waunarlwydd RFC hooker which saw him tear out of defence, chip ahead and force the opposition to kick the ball dead.
He does the Hollywood stuff but he also does the graft.
That night he was into everything. The following morning’s headlines? They were all about Wales’ win over the Barbarians which had been played hours before the Ospreys’ game.
Otten’s exploits barely rated a mention. Such is the lot of the unheralded player.
But the 25-year-old is worth looking at, for he’s a player with heart, skill and physicality.
Just maybe, when rugby returns the Welsh selectors may check out what he can offer.