Booth in call over URC finale kick offs
OSPREYS head coach Toby Booth has questioned why all games in the United Rugby Championship’s final round are not kicking off at the same time, insisting they should for the sake of the competition’s integrity.
If the Ospreys can claim a bonus-point victory against South African side Bulls on Friday week, they will finish the term as the top Welsh team and seal a Champions Cup spot for next season.
If they fail to get a bonus point, the Scarlets could finish the season as Wales’s top side when they face the Stormers a day later, with Dwayne Peel’s men knowing what they need when they head into the game.
“I can’t understand why it is not (all games played at the same time),” Booth after the 50-31 win over the Dragons on Sunday.
“For the integrity of the competition, surely it has to be at the same time, especially when there is something tangible on it.
“I have come from the Premiership in England where all games finish at the same time (on the last day).
“I appreciate things like television picks. But even now, if there are meaningful games with big repercussions, there has to be that integrity of competition, despite the TV picks. There are enough quality games so we can fill the schedule.
“We will be asking the question for sure.”
Meanwhile, Booth has allayed any injury fears over Rhys Webb and Alex Cuthbert, who were both early departures in their derby win.
“They’re okay,” Booth said. “One’s (Webb) a neck spasm and Cuthbert, when he went up for the ball, we were in the position where we could afford to make those changes. Him and Keelan (Giles), they’re all fine.”
Webb added: “I just had a bit of a stinger on the neck so I think it was just precautionary to come off and ice it up, but it’s all good now.”