HEAD TO HEADS

LEIGH HALFPENNY 8 v 6 JAMES HOOK Familiar faces from the international stage, but Halfpenny was easily on top. Calm and assured under the high-ball and in front of goal, Halfpenny did little wrong. Hook was solid, if a little predictable with ball in hand. TOM PRYDIE 6 v 8 LUKE MORGAN Prydie put in another solid outing, with many home fans thinking he had done enough to deny George North. Former sevens star Morgan proved a slippery customer, taking his try well – but can consider himself lucky to have stayed on for the duration after a deliberate knock-on near his own line. KIERON FONOTIA 8 v 7 CORY ALLEN In a score crafted in the south island of New Zealand, Fonotia provided the break and pass for McNicholl’s opening score. Punched holes in the Ospreys’ defence every time he carried although he’ll be disappointed with two of the Scarlets tries as Wayne Pivac pointed out afterwards. HADLEIGH PARKES 7 v 7 OWEN WATKIN It was a relatively quite display for Parkes in midfield, but he carried well as the hosts piled on the pressure in the second-half. Watkin looked good defensively, stripping the ballcarrier on three different occasions, but couldn’t find support when clean through in the first-half. JOHNNY MCNICHOLL 7 v 7 GEORGE NORTH A match-up between two class operators. McNicholl took a lovely inside line for the opening score and was solid under some high bombs. Back on his former stamping ground, North crossed for his fourth try of the season in one of the big talking points of the match. Looked lively in the half hour or so he was on the field before leaving for a HIA. Was a spectator in the second half. RHYS PATCHELL 8 V 7 SAM DAVIES The Scarlets didn’t provide their playmaker with much possession during the opening half hour, but it was his half-break and off-load that set up McNicholl’s score. Also produced a try-saving tackle on Luke Morgan wide out. Passed a HIA after coming off second best in a tackle on Watkin before sparking a comeback in the second-half - taking his try well. Davies provided the usual tactical kicking display, but was starved of ball in the second-half. GARETH DAVIES 6 V 6 ALED DAVIES Much of the build-up had been the battle of the two scrum-halves. Both were decent without being spectacular, with service and kicking solid from both of the Wales internationals. WYN JONES 7 V 6 MA’AFU FIA Wyn Jones deputised for the injured Rob Evans soundly, with the Scarlets scrum working well, while Fia was a little indisciplined at times. KEN OWENS 7 V 7 SCOTT BALDWIN An abrasive battle between Wales’ 2015 World Cup hookers. The Scarlets skipper earned his ovation seconds before the 80-minute mark but Baldwin can be pleased with his effort. SAMSON LEE 8 V 7 NICKY SMITH Wales prop Lee put in a shift that would certainly please Warren Gatland ahead of the autumn, carrying hard and scrummaging well. Loosehead hopeful Smith would have hoped to pit his wits against Rob Evans today, but in Evans’ absence, Smith was solid without shining. JAKE BALL 7 V 7 BRADLEY DAVIES Two Wales locks going head to head and little to separate them. Ball carried well, while Davies looked solid defensively. DAVID BULBRING 7 V 8 ALUN WYN JONES A performance full of grunt from Bulbring, playing his part as the Scarlets turned the tables on the Ospreys in terms of possession and territory as the match wore on. Jones comes into his own in these matches and was at the heart of his side’s effort again. A rare knock-on was the lone blemish in yet another talismanic display from the Wales skipper. ED KENNEDY 6 V 6 SAM CROSS The Aussie has had to find his feet quickly at this level and was twice stripped of possession, but carried with real venom and never stopped trying. Cross didn’t see much of the game in the first half and was replaced at the break by Olly Cracknell. WILL BOYDE 6 V 7 JUSTIN TIPURIC Playing his first game of the season, Boyde put in a full shift without being much influence at the breakdown. Tipuric was his usual busy self, although there was some uncharacteristic ill-discipline from the skipper. BLADE THOMSON 8 V 7 JAMES KING The Kiwi produced one crucial turnover on his own line to deny the Ospreys an opening score, before putting in a huge hit on Alun Wyn Jones to close out the victory. King was solid for the visitors, if unspectacular.