Rhys Webb scores in tight win for Ospreys over Zebre
OSPREYS head coach Toby Booth admitted he was concerned for the future of the PRO14 after this appalling game.
The Welsh region were 10-0 winners against an awful Zebre side thanks to a try from man-of-thematch and captain Rhys Webb.
Josh Thomas also kicked a penalty and conversion but of greater significance than the actual result was the paucity of the encounter. There was a complete lack of basic skill, errors galore, constant kicking and equally constant ill-discipline.
It was a blessed relief to everyone inside the Liberty Stadium and no doubt those watching on television when referee Nigel Owens brought proceedings to an end.
Booth acknowledged part of the reason this was such a poor game was the absence of international players due to the Six Nations. It has been a big issue for the PRO14 for a long time now.
“I am concerned,” said Booth. “Let’s not be unclear about it. Winning really matters and that’s the currency coaches keep or lose their jobs over.
“On the whole, watching the Premiership and PRO14 this weekend, you can see you get a different product when lots of quality comes out of squads.
“That’s part of the issues we as coaches have to overcome. We prepare squads and depths of squads to develop the product and that’s important. Every coach wants the best resources available to them to produce the most competitive performance they can and to get a good product at the end of it.
“When the fans are allowed back in, they want to watch good rugby and their best players.
“We need to make sure where we can that the overlaps (between domestic and Test rugby) are as minimal as they can be.”
This game summed up the problems the PRO14 has in a nutshell. The Ospreys were without their Wales stars and there is no getting away from the fact Zebre are a poor side.
So perhaps it was no surprise the 80 minutes never got above what was at best mediocre. At worst, it was abysmal.
Zebre butchered two opportunities for tries in constant drizzle and failed to turn their early pressure into points. The rest of the first half was dominated by Owens’ whistle, not that he had a choice.
There were penalties and turnovers galore.
Thomas did at least kick a penalty with the last kick
of the first half. The second period was arguably even worse and it looked at one stage Zebre might do the double over the Ospreys.
Their chances improved further when Ifan Phillips was yellow-carded for entering a ruck from the side, but even with a man advantage hapless Zebre couldn’t capitalise.
Ospreys scrum-half Webb, seemingly unwanted by Wales, proved his worth with a late try when he danced down the blindside following a driving maul.
“I’m delighted with the win, but less than satisfied with the performance,” said Booth. “Rhys led the team well all week and all he can control is playing well for the Ospreys.
“We won’t play that badly in Ulster next weekend.”