#008 Ospreys v Dragons - Official Matchday Programme by ospreysrugby

GUINNESS PRO 14

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In today’s issue Toby Booth’s Welcome

Pro14 Welcome

Cymry ar y Cae: Dewi Lake

Player Q&A: Olly Cracknell

Player Feature: Keelan Giles

Opposition Team: Dragons

Ospreys Supporters Club

Ospreys in The Community

Ospreys Starting XV’s

2021 Fixtures/Results

Ospreys Player Sponsors

Toby Booth’s

welcome

Bridgend is another part of the Ospreys region and this is an opportunity to show who we are, how diverse we are and how all-encompassing we are. It represents what we are and we embrace it as we always do. We have players from Bridgend, and that diversity is there for everyone to see. Playing without crowds is the new normal. It is different and something we have had to adapt to, and it’s disappointing that we couldn’t reach out to the Ospreys fans in the area.

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GUINNESS PRO14 CAMPAIGN TO CONCLUDE IN MARCH AHEAD OF NEW “RAINBOW CUP” WITH SOUTH AFRICA’S TOP FOUR ‘SUPER’ TEAMS The current Guinness PRO14 campaign will end in March allowing South Africa’s four ‘Super’ teams and our existing clubs to finish the season with a 16-team “Rainbow Cup” competition ahead of the British & Irish Lions tour. After consulting with key PRO14 stakeholders, the Guinness PRO14 Rainbow Cup was chosen as the best pathway to finish up the current campaign and introduce South Africa’s four ‘Super’ teams: the Vodacom Bulls; Emirates Lions; Cell C Sharks and DHL Stormers. This decision also allows our European-based sides to earn qualification for European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR) tournaments in 2021/22 in a fair and equitable manner. Ahead of the 2021 British & Irish Lions tour to South Africa, the Guinness PRO14 Rainbow Cup will provide a ground-breaking spectacle for fans who will see international star players from north and south establish new rivalries in their bid for the ultimate Test selection. Right through until the last kick of the ball in the Rainbow Cup in June, fans will be able to watch it all unfold with our broadcast partners Premier Sports, eir Sport, S4C, TG4, DAZN and Super Sport. How it will Work • The 2020/21 Guinness PRO14 campaign will finish after 16 rounds with the Conference winners facing each other in a final in late March • Qualification for EPCR tournaments in 2021/22 will be decided by rankings after Round 16 • On April 17, 2021, the Guinness PRO14 Rainbow Cup will kick-off and introduce the Vodacom Bulls, Emirates Lions, Cell C Sharks and DHL Stormers and their World Cup-winning Springboks • The Guinness PRO14 Rainbow Cup will consist of a pool stage (two pools of eight teams) and a final between the two pool winners FINAL CHAPTER OF GUINNESS PRO14 Rounds 12 to 16 will take place from February 20 and conclude on March 20. A final will then take place at the home venue of the highest-ranked team. This abbreviated fixture list will aim to ensure

home and away in-conference fixtures are completed and each team plays all of its cross-conference matches also. Further clarification will be available when fixtures are confirmed. The scheduled dates for the conclusion of the 2020-21 Guinness PRO14 campaign are: R12: R13: R14: R15: R16: Final:

February 20 February 27 March 6 March 13 March 20 March 27

Once Round 16 has been completed, the top-ranked teams from each conference will qualify for the 2021/22 Heineken Champions Cup. Requirement for play-offs is under review. GUINNESS PRO14 “RAINBOW CUP” FORGING NEW RIVALRIES With South Africa preparing to host their first British & Irish Lions tour since 2009, the World Cup champions will see their ‘Super’ teams – the Bulls, Lions, Sharks and Stormers take on the very best that Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales have to offer. Players aiming to make the British & Irish Lions squad will find no better trial environment to test themselves in, as they go up against the likes of Siya Kolisi, Pieter Steph du Toit (both DHL Stormers), Duane Vermeulen (Vodacom Bulls), Elton Jantjies (Emirates Lions) and former Guinness PRO14 top-try scorer Makazole Mapimipi (Cell C Sharks). The Guinness PRO14 Rainbow Cup will kick off on April 17 with two pools of 8 teams made up of two Irish, two South African, two Welsh, one Italian and one Scottish club. Each team will play one game against each pool opponent and the sides that finish top of their pools will face off in a final on June 19. Across 57 matches, the Guinness PRO14 Rainbow Cup will feature the best of the Springbok talent going toe-to-toe with some of the British & Irish Lions’ biggest names – every one of them keen to lay down a marker to their respective selectors ahead of what will prove to an historic tour.

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Cymry ar y Cae:

Dewi Lake

Mae’n hawdd i ddweud bod y tîm yn datblygu, yn enwedig ar ôl ennill ychydig o gemau. Ond y gwahaniaeth fwyaf mae pobl yn gweld o llynedd yw’r newid mewn agwedd a meddylfryd, a sut rydyn ni’n rhyngweithio gyda’n gilydd. Mae pawb eisiau cystadlu gyda’n gilydd ac ar y penwythnos, ennill a gweithio dros ein gilydd, dros y tîm hyfforddi, ac wrth gwrs, ein cefnogwyr ledled y rhanbarth.”

PLAYER Q&A:

olly crackNell

“My school went to South Africa on tour and I played quite well in the games out there and I got offered a contract to stay out there and play by Border Bulldogs U19s Academy. They had just got promoted and were playing against the Bulls, the Sharks and all the big South African academy teams like that. I played for a year out there but when I came back, I had signed for the Welsh Exiles because I had Welsh grandparents but had never played for them.”

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PLAYER FEATURE:

KEelan giles

When Giles was named on the Ospreys bench for the Welsh derby against the Dragons at Rodney Parade, back in January, the team room full of his teammates erupted in cheers and applause. It marked the end of a long road back for the player, but was also an acknowledgement by this teammates, coaches and staff of how hard he had worked to get back to being named in the match day squad.

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Opposition team:

Dragons

DIRECTOR OF RUGBY: Dean Ryan GROUNDS: Rodney Parade, Newport FOUNDED: 2003 CAPTAIN: Rhodri Williams LAST TIME OUT Dragons had proved to be a bogey team for the Ospreys of late, inﬂicting a late defeat at Rodney Parade and denying the Ospreys victory at the Liberty the following year. However, Toby Booth’s men very nearly came away with a bonus point victory after a hotly contested battle in Newport in January this year. Mat Protheroe, George North, and Scott Otten all crossed for the Ospreys while dangermen Jared Rosser and Jamie Roberts claimed a score each for the hosts. Stephen Myler and Josh Lewis exchanged penalties but the Ospreys’ dominant pack kept the Dragons at bay in the closing moments of the game, securing an important 20-28 victory on the road.

22 THREE TO WATCH Jamie Roberts Following some injuries in the Welsh camp, it would not have been surprising to hear that the British and Irish Lion had been called up to

plug

the

gap,

such

his

continued

excellence has been. An imposing ﬁgure in the midﬁeld, the 6ft 4in, near 18 stone Roberts has a terrifying reputation as a ball carrier but is also a defensive talisman. Harrison Keddie The former Wales U20 back rower has been a Dragon since he was 18 and has developed a reputation as a hard-edged and abrasive scrapper. A nuisance at the breakdown, and an aggressive ball carrier, the 24-year-old is in good company in the back row and will be looking to disrupt Ospreys possession at every opportunity. Rhodri Williams An experienced and calming presence at half-back, Williams offers both reliable and dependable service to his outside-half while still being a sniping threat around the fringes. The former Scarlet and Welsh international has a cultured boot, and often shoulders the responsibility to clear the lines and calls the shots in attack. It will be an interesting battle between Williams and Webb, who both will be looking to gain the upper-hand and control the game at their own pace.

HEAD TO HEAD Ashton Hewitt The Newport born flyer is often mentioned in talks of international potential, and with good reason too. The speedy winger has been consistently brilliant for his region, finding gaps where there are seemingly none and exploiting defensive frailties with rapier-like precision. His aerial and defensive courage is outstanding and will no doubt be challenging everything the Ospreys throw at him. Few on the field will be able to match Hewitt for pace; but one of those is without a doubt his opposition winger this evening, Keelan Giles. Keelan Giles Having recovered from a long-term injury, Giles has been outstanding upon his return. Having missed out by a matter of inches on a score against Zebre, the speedster showed his lightning pace yet again against Ulster last weekend beating everyone to the ball following a Rhys Webb charge down. The former Wales U20 winger will be hoping to open up and stretch his legs again this weekend as the Ospreys look to bounce back from a defeat at the hands

ASHTON HEWITT

KEELAN GILES

AGE

NEWPORT

PLACE OF BIRTH

SWANSEA

5FT 11IN

HEIGHT

5FT 8IN

90KG

WEIGHT

76KG

LEAGUE APPEARANCES

LEAGUE POINTS

25 OSPREYS

DRAGONS

9th

attack rank

10th

232

points scored

212

tries scored

166

defenders beaten

194

5th

defence rank

3RD

1890

tackLes made

1983

89%

tackLe success

89%

turnovers won

1ST

kicking rank

5th

10,671

kick metres

10,143

3rd

discipline rank

3RD

yellow cards

red cards

135

penalties conceded

130

12th

lineout rank

11th

175/36

lineouts won/lost

155/28

83%

lineout success

84%

lineout steals

6th

scrum rank

11th

94/8

scrums won/lost

66/9

92%

scrums won %

88%

scrum penalties won

Buonfiglio

DRAGONS

team lineup 1

B. HARRIS

E. SHIPP

J. DAVIES

R. MORIARTY

A. HEWITT

16 17 18 19

L. FAIRBROTHER

J. MAKSYMIW

A. WAINWRIGHT

9 12

S. DAVIES

J. ROBERTS

A. OWEN

11 R. HIBBARD

J. REYNOLDS

A. JARVIS

B. CARTER

J. LEWIS

20 21 22 23

5 7

H.KEDDIE

G. BERTRANOU

10 13

J. HOLMES

D. BAKER

R. WILLIAMS

J. DIXON

J. WILLIAMS

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OSPREYS

SUPPORTER’S CLUB

It was rather a disappointing end to our recent trip to play Ulster, at the Kingspan Stadium in Belfast. I am sure that I speak for all Ospreys supporters, when I say that we were desperately unlucky to leave with no points from that game. However, what was essentially a very young Ospreys team, gave an excellent account of themselves, against an Ulster unit simply brimming with experience.

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In the community

Ospreys in the Community’s Sporting Memories session had a special treat this week, when they were joined by Ospreys Development Director Mike Ruddock. Hosted by author David Brayley, our members were treated to an insight into some incredible stories to mark both St David’s Day and World Book Day.

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Matthews

Ospreys

STARTING XV’s N. SMITH

S. PARRY

T. B O T H A

L. ASHLEY

W. GRIFFITHS

R. DAVIES

R. WEBB

S. MYLER

K. WILLIAMS

K. GILES

O. CRACKNELL

M. MORRIS

T. T H O M A S - W H E E L E R

D. EVANS

H.DIRKSEN

Ospreys

Sub

16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23

I. PHILLIPS

G. PHILLIPS

M. FIA

G.EVANS

S. CROSS

COACH TOBY BOOTH

R. MORGAN-WILLIAMS

O. WATKIN

D. CROSS

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2021

Fixtures JAN. WIN

CARDIFF BLUES

DRAGONS

WIN VS

OSPREYS

POSTPONED OSPREYS

WORCESTER

POSTPONED CASTTRES

CONNACHT

WIN VS

OSPREYS

FEB. 10

SAT. 20 FEB. 21

OSPREYS

ZEBRE