:00:18. > :00:21.2017 has arrived and we are at Rodney Parade for the last of the
:00:22. > :00:25.festive derbies. The weather did its best to put paid to the game but
:00:26. > :00:29.these fans kept the faith and will be getting their rugby fix. The
:00:30. > :00:33.Dragons new years resolution is a simple one. To bring a ten game
:00:34. > :00:47.losing streak against the Ospreys to an end. COMMENTATOR: Here is Giles.
:00:48. > :00:57.He will go all the way for a try. On his inside is Dan Evans he has done
:00:58. > :01:07.it again. And Rhys Webb makes absolutely sure. He gets over.
:01:08. > :01:14.Hello and welcome to a rather wet and spongy Rodney Parade. I am
:01:15. > :01:19.delighted to say the New Year derby is going ahead. A happy New Year to
:01:20. > :01:23.you at home, a bit of drama here in the last couple of hours because we
:01:24. > :01:27.have had endless pitch inspections. A lot of confusion as to whether the
:01:28. > :01:29.game would go ahead. Both coaches have been lobbying the referee and
:01:30. > :01:35.you don't need to be a body language expert to find out what Steve is
:01:36. > :01:39.like that Micra say in there. They didn't want to play, it is difficult
:01:40. > :01:43.coming to Rodney Parade anyway. No matter where the Dragons are in the
:01:44. > :01:48.table. They know that, it is a leveller today, the game is on. They
:01:49. > :01:54.need a good mindset to do the job. Deja vu, five years ago we fill for
:01:55. > :01:58.an hour and a quarter and the game was called off eventually. What is
:01:59. > :02:02.in the minds of the players, they come here and wait for a couple of
:02:03. > :02:06.hours, do they just want to get on the bus and go home? The backs
:02:07. > :02:10.proverb we will. They will be complaining in the changing rooms.
:02:11. > :02:17.As a player, you want to play. There is nothing worse than a game being
:02:18. > :02:22.called off. They have prepared and had a quiet last few days in
:02:23. > :02:26.preparation for this. You can see both sides of the argument today but
:02:27. > :02:31.if there's any chance of the game going ahead, it has to go ahead both
:02:32. > :02:33.sets of coaches were letting their opinions be known to the referee as
:02:34. > :02:38.he was conducting his pigeon section. I think they were both
:02:39. > :02:44.after different outcomes, C what they say. Steve, happy New Year. The
:02:45. > :02:48.game goes ahead, are you happy it's going ahead? We definitely want to
:02:49. > :02:52.play the game. We have some concerns about the condition and safety but
:02:53. > :02:56.the referee feels it is playable, we are ready to go. You'll grow what
:02:57. > :03:04.are those concerns? The ground, the water is clearing up. There is an
:03:05. > :03:08.inconsistency in the conditions and turning the pages of an acceptable
:03:09. > :03:13.standard. Happy New Year, we have just had Steve Tandy here, and
:03:14. > :03:17.saying the pitch is not of an acceptable standard to play, what
:03:18. > :03:21.are your thoughts? The standing water has gone, not a problem. The
:03:22. > :03:30.referee says it is playable, let's have a game. It will be a tough game
:03:31. > :03:34.and a tough battle, physical. But we are looking forward to getting on
:03:35. > :03:37.and starting the New Year well. Kingsley Jones and his team ready to
:03:38. > :03:42.go. The interesting thing about this, the Ospreys are defending a
:03:43. > :03:49.proud record against a fellow Welsh regions, 27 of the last 29 games won
:03:50. > :03:52.against Welsh opposition. The weather is a leveller. That is what
:03:53. > :03:59.makes the Ospreys so impressive, they can win in different ways. But
:04:00. > :04:08.if it becomes an arm wrestle, you have guys like Alun Wyn Jones, Paul
:04:09. > :04:12.James, they want to play open and expansive rugby but it doesn't
:04:13. > :04:16.matter what the conditions are for the Ospreys. An all-weather team,
:04:17. > :04:20.proved by the statistics. A school more tries from their own half than
:04:21. > :04:24.any team in the league but also the most suffocating and brutal defence.
:04:25. > :04:29.They have a was a good defence but since Brad Davis has arrived, they
:04:30. > :04:33.have taken it up a notch. Watch them on Samson Lee here. Two tat was
:04:34. > :04:37.looking to knock him down and lurking in the back field is Justin
:04:38. > :04:46.Tipuric. They look to hold him as well. -- this is a ploy to get more
:04:47. > :04:51.turnover. At the technique of Baker. But for the Dragons, there are signs
:04:52. > :04:54.of improvement. A little off-load out the back, connecting players.
:04:55. > :04:58.The Dragons need to get their best ball carriers on the ball. Morgan is
:04:59. > :05:02.one of those, Jackson at eight another. They can go forward and get
:05:03. > :05:06.some field position and then they can bring the likes of young Aston,
:05:07. > :05:12.much talked about but this fella can score tries in all conditions. Let's
:05:13. > :05:16.look out for him tonight. Another one, double carrying the ball is
:05:17. > :05:19.Leigh Griffiths, the number seven. Set to be a battle royal between him
:05:20. > :05:25.and the wily campaigner Justin Tipuric. Can't wait for this. You
:05:26. > :05:33.relish these conditions as a seven. Justin Tipuric is arguably the most
:05:34. > :05:36.talented player in Wells -- Wales. He has ball-in-hand, a skilful as it
:05:37. > :05:40.comes. Up against Leigh Griffiths, who is the one player the Dragons
:05:41. > :05:46.came away on Boxing Day with credit really. Reminds me of Sam Overton
:05:47. > :05:52.when he was younger. Very good in attack. In these conditions it will
:05:53. > :05:59.be a fascinating matchup. Wheel were hoping the Giles but he hasn't been
:06:00. > :06:04.selecting this week. But you mentioned Ashton Hewitt. Someone who
:06:05. > :06:09.is a generally exciting talent. And some believe he is the fastest man
:06:10. > :06:13.in Welsh rugby. In all conditions, his good two tries in the Challenge
:06:14. > :06:18.Cup a couple of weeks ago in poor conditions. He has an all-around
:06:19. > :06:22.game now. The Blues try to bring him in a little bit too much. Trying to
:06:23. > :06:26.do too much and it cost them a bit. He is electric and gets on the end
:06:27. > :06:30.of things. He makes things happen, much like Giles, who unfortunately
:06:31. > :06:33.we will not see to night. Watch out for him tonight in the tricky
:06:34. > :06:37.conditions. You have great kickers in the Ospreys team who will test
:06:38. > :06:41.him tonight. You will get a bit of pressure in the air. We talked about
:06:42. > :06:45.the weather being a leveller, another thing that could have a
:06:46. > :06:48.massive impact is the home fans are among the most passionate and
:06:49. > :06:53.vociferous there are in the Pro12 championship. Phil Steele is amongst
:06:54. > :06:57.them. Thank you very much. This is where it happens, the Hazel Terrace.
:06:58. > :07:02.Death and has been standing on this Hazel Terrace for something like 12
:07:03. > :07:07.years, what do you hope the crowd might do today? By Queen only do,
:07:08. > :07:11.16th man, it is a great atmosphere in the Hazel Terrace. We love it,
:07:12. > :07:21.rain or shine. The pitch isn't great today but we just hope we can get
:07:22. > :07:24.six and six. Six from six would be something? Won definitely,
:07:25. > :07:30.absolutely. It is what you accept an derby days. Hopefully, conditions
:07:31. > :07:37.aren't great but hopefully we can spur the Dragons on for a win and
:07:38. > :07:41.start 2017 with a bang. You are famous for your singing on the Hazel
:07:42. > :07:44.Terrace. The big hit you hope to have into thousands of in his
:07:45. > :07:49.stand-up for the men of Gwent song, was the chances of getting a
:07:50. > :08:03.rendition before them they go out. Singing macro clear great atmosphere
:08:04. > :08:10.here. Great fun in the middle of the Hazel stand. Do you want to give us
:08:11. > :08:14.a verse as well? Beth and is confident, if you are a Dragons fan,
:08:15. > :08:19.would you be confident? They have a good record at home. You look at the
:08:20. > :08:22.team, the Ospreys have the talent, it will be difficult for the
:08:23. > :08:27.Dragons. But conditions are a leveller but I fancy Ospreys to have
:08:28. > :08:30.too much tonight. These games are running parade much closer than at
:08:31. > :08:37.the liberty, the margin just seven points. So the crowd of the pitch to
:08:38. > :08:45.make a difference. Dan Biggar is key to night. If he is on to night and
:08:46. > :08:49.controls the game, the Ospreys will win. You get what you get from Alan
:08:50. > :08:53.Wyn Jones and go, they will be giving up front but it is Dan Biggar
:08:54. > :09:01.for me. You go back to the Boxing Day game, the Blues dominated the
:09:02. > :09:05.Dragons physically. The Dragons pack will have to go up a notch to pull
:09:06. > :09:09.off a win here. All of the ingredients are in place and the
:09:10. > :09:12.game is going ahead despite doubts. The pitch is a little muddy but that
:09:13. > :09:16.is Manna from Heaven for these forwards. Alan Wyn Jones leading the
:09:17. > :09:21.Ospreys out onto the Rodney Parade pitch and we go and join the
:09:22. > :09:24.commentators, Jonathan Davies and Gareth Giles. COMMENTATOR: Thank you
:09:25. > :09:28.very much indeed. You see them running over the muddy patches
:09:29. > :09:31.earlier, Paul James and Scott Baldwin, starting on the front row
:09:32. > :09:36.for the Ospreys. Olly Cracknell at six, James King moves over to number
:09:37. > :09:39.eight. The Ospreys persist with both Dan Biggar and Sam Davies in the
:09:40. > :09:46.starting line-up. Sam Davies at full-back. A late change sees ducks
:09:47. > :09:55.and on the wing. Howells has injured a hamstring. A great day for sevens
:09:56. > :10:00.in this kind of weather, if you are a particular kind seven. And those
:10:01. > :10:04.forwards are going to have a big influence on proceedings. That far
:10:05. > :10:09.side of the pitch that the players run out from the tunnel is the muddy
:10:10. > :10:19.ester part and down the middle as well. Lewis Evans having a late word
:10:20. > :10:26.with the Dragons, a lot of it is about mindset as well. It was so
:10:27. > :10:29.late getting a firm decision on the game. I then think it will be a
:10:30. > :10:34.classic to night, it will be a dogfight to be honest. It is all
:10:35. > :10:39.down to mental toughness it. Ospreys clearly want to play but they have
:10:40. > :10:43.the mental toughness and know the job is to be done and get back on
:10:44. > :10:52.the bus and start again. For me, the pitch is bad compared to other
:10:53. > :10:55.pitches. But if you play against old Parish, even the old Cardiff Arms
:10:56. > :11:01.Park they have had worse conditions than this so just get on with it you
:11:02. > :11:05.know. Completely different to the Arms Park, Ed Jackson is an
:11:06. > :11:12.important ball-carrier. Griffiths can measure himself against Justin
:11:13. > :11:15.Tipuric. Sam Baird in the centre. And the impressive Ashton Hewitt on
:11:16. > :11:32.the wing. Not the best of nights for windows though. -- winners.
:11:33. > :11:38.Ian Davies was the man who made the ultimate decision and took his time
:11:39. > :11:45.about it. The awful pitching sections. A lot of pressure coming
:11:46. > :11:52.from the Ospreys not to play the game. He has said player safety is
:11:53. > :11:59.paramount. We will see how it goes. The kicking game will be very
:12:00. > :12:09.instrumental in today's conditions. Hoping for a good game. Sam Davies.
:12:10. > :12:13.We will see how the ball goes off the surface. Dan Biggar beforehand
:12:14. > :12:18.throwing the ball up and seeing their reaction as it plopped into
:12:19. > :12:23.the ground. Sam Davies looking for a bit of grass and finding. His
:12:24. > :12:40.opposite number. Angus O'Brien drilling it back down to Dan Biggar.
:12:41. > :12:50., A on halfway. Dan Evans. Playing on the wing as he does like Sam
:12:51. > :12:57.Davies. Occupying the 15 shirt. Matavesi with the tackle. That is
:12:58. > :13:02.going to be a problem keeping hold of the slippery ball when the big
:13:03. > :13:12.hits come in. That is the dodgy part of the ground. A lot of sand has
:13:13. > :13:15.gone on it as well beforehand. The Ospreys players are standing deep,
:13:16. > :13:21.the dink over the top is an for the Dragons. As you can imagine, there
:13:22. > :13:27.will be a lot of kicking in this game, as we have seen in the first
:13:28. > :13:34.minute and a half. Chance to run that time, Dan Evans at Sam Davies.
:13:35. > :13:46.Those shirts are not going to be white for very long. Taken by
:13:47. > :13:51.Harris. And dumped right into the advertising hoardings as well. A
:13:52. > :13:54.very good tackle, lined him up and nailed him. Running across the
:13:55. > :14:12.field, nothing wrong with that tackle. This is old school tonight.
:14:13. > :14:17.Big hit. A few isolated patches move the scrum. I think there are
:14:18. > :14:21.beauties there, looking to kick early on but for me, the Ospreys
:14:22. > :14:23.with a couple of overlap opportunities already. The mindset
:14:24. > :14:31.is all about kicking and getting field position. Leigh Griffiths
:14:32. > :14:36.again in midfield, looking to hand off to Dan Biggar. Griffiths has got
:14:37. > :14:45.in their faces in the first couple of minutes. As an Ospreys player,
:14:46. > :14:49.you know the Dragons will come. You have to take the heat out a little
:14:50. > :14:54.bit. Quite the crowd down and get on with their job. If you are Dragons
:14:55. > :16:26.player, you just have to keep that momentum as much as you can.
:16:27. > :17:54.Good work, both on to tackle. Lost his support runners.
:17:55. > :18:22.He's played half the games at six and half at seven this season.
:18:23. > :18:31.He needs to get some want to chase that. And then you can see they are
:18:32. > :20:06.just giving field position away, that is the problem.
:20:07. > :20:15.Just got to keep your calm. An opportunity for the Dragons there.
:20:16. > :20:19.I'd like to have seen Morgan do a bit more here. He gets the ball.
:20:20. > :20:25.Here is the intercept. Put his head down. You're thinking, he's got to
:20:26. > :20:30.run straight at Davies and then out. He doesn't defend even, he's got the
:20:31. > :20:36.ball in the right hand but unfortunately he doesn't defend.
:20:37. > :20:47.Just watch. Inside, outside and he didn't even fend him. He missed.
:20:48. > :20:52.Lloyd Ashley at the Dragons' ten metre line, you can just make out.
:20:53. > :21:06.Jones driven back in the tackle. Scott Baldwin... That's a good pass.
:21:07. > :21:13.Sam Davies, quick hands to Dirksen. The Ospreys making light of the
:21:14. > :21:23.conditions. Paul James... Doing the basic stuff you'd expect. They
:21:24. > :21:28.certainly haven't changed their style, the Ospreys. A style that has
:21:29. > :21:39.brought them eight bonus points this season. It's not that bad, really.
:21:40. > :21:45.Again, the numbers are there. It's just the execution of the past
:21:46. > :21:49.thing. A couple of Dragons players ran up... You've just got to be
:21:50. > :21:54.aware of that and hit the right runner. He's taken the dummy runner
:21:55. > :22:09.out. If you get a guy going behind him, there's opportunities there.
:22:10. > :22:15.Just be careful... York pulling players your own side in the tackle
:22:16. > :22:25.there. You can't place them there, all right? Cory Hill, three caps
:22:26. > :22:38.during the autumn series. Australia, Japan and South Africa. He has
:22:39. > :22:42.plenty of experience in the Ospreys line-up. Paul James on Scott Baldwin
:22:43. > :22:49.in the front row, Alun Wyn Jones in the second row. Tipuric in the
:22:50. > :22:55.second row. These conditions won't faze those players at all. They'll
:22:56. > :23:02.relish it. The Dragons have started better than they did on Boxing Day.
:23:03. > :23:03.They were outmuscled. So far they've stood up to the physicality of the
:23:04. > :23:23.Ospreys. Carl Meyer... Great pace from
:23:24. > :23:38.Hewitt! Superb tackle by Sam Davies. He's good, isn't he? He's very, very
:23:39. > :23:44.quick. The acceleration there. He uses the touch as an extra defender
:23:45. > :23:56.makes a tackle. Very good work by Sam Davies. Hewitt could easily have
:23:57. > :24:01.got away from him. But he is an exciting talent, Ashton Hewitt. 21
:24:02. > :24:10.last month. Looking forward to that battle between Ashton Hewitt and
:24:11. > :24:19.Ciaran Giles but Giles is being well-managed by the Ospreys at the
:24:20. > :24:24.moment. Jonathan? There's the dummy runner. He's taken it out. What
:24:25. > :24:32.happens then, you know he's coming in there. Just seeing the overlap
:24:33. > :24:42.there. Sam Davies comes in short. You pick up the bridge defender.
:24:43. > :24:49.You've got three men outside... Davies calls four and is awarded a
:24:50. > :25:00.clean catch. The attacking coach... He's going to pick that up. He's
:25:01. > :25:05.been prepared to run at the back of the Ospreys from those long kicks.
:25:06. > :25:10.Tipuric! He is too quick! That's a great counterattack from the
:25:11. > :25:18.Ospreys. Tom Habberfield starting it but who better than Justin Tipuric
:25:19. > :25:23.to finish it? Brilliant. Got to make those tackles if you are in the
:25:24. > :25:37.Dragons but I think a man has gone down injured. He goes in... He falls
:25:38. > :25:47.off the tackle. Off-loads him. Too much space, too much speed. Lovely,
:25:48. > :25:54.lovely try by the Ospreys. Something from nothing. Cannot miss the
:25:55. > :25:58.tackle. Cracknell... It was good play by Cracknell. He created a
:25:59. > :26:03.space for Tipuric to come through. Great combination for the two
:26:04. > :26:15.flankers. It is basic stuff but he took the outside shoulder, but the
:26:16. > :26:28.ball back inside... He had got the smack in the face. Just had to hold
:26:29. > :26:33.on and complete the tackle. Daniel Biggar supplies the extras! The
:26:34. > :26:38.Ospreys on the board first. They'll be disappointed, the Dragons. They
:26:39. > :26:41.having created anything. The defence has been good until this
:26:42. > :26:52.opportunity. An missed tackle. That is why the Ospreys are so good. One
:26:53. > :27:01.opportunity, very clinical. James King underneath the restart. Sam
:27:02. > :27:07.Davies appears that time and that gives Biggar the option. The New
:27:08. > :27:15.Zealander with the kick downfield and Jackson with the return.
:27:16. > :27:22.O'Brien, straightout Sam Davies and he spots a big gap there. Doesn't
:27:23. > :27:34.quite find him as he would have liked. Looks for the far corner,
:27:35. > :27:43.that's where he aims his kick. Hewitt and Meyer back there. The
:27:44. > :27:49.South African born full-back does the necessary. So much talk about
:27:50. > :27:55.the kicking back and the aerial battle and the exit strategy. It's
:27:56. > :27:59.basically kicking. In a nutshell. They are winning the aerial battle
:28:00. > :28:02.because they are just getting a better distance on it. They are
:28:03. > :28:06.finding the grass rather than the player. They are putting the
:28:07. > :28:08.pressure on the Dragons players and have made a couple of errors kicking
:28:09. > :28:26.it straight in. They have done well, the Dragons.
:28:27. > :28:34.Pulling the drive down very, very quickly. Good awareness from Pat
:28:35. > :29:02.Howard. That allowed him to go for the mark.
:29:03. > :29:20.Off the top from Ashley. Smart call from the Ospreys. Easy call.
:29:21. > :29:34.I have a feeling they been told to play it.
:29:35. > :29:45.The most instant or player on the field so far is Sam Davies. Good
:29:46. > :29:52.kicking game. And then he is like a second eight. Hewitt. Still going,
:29:53. > :30:04.Ashton Hewitt. Just looking for the off-load. There goes on oil. Great
:30:05. > :30:14.thinking from him. Keeping the tempo going. They weren't back ten, this
:30:15. > :30:20.could be yellow. He's trying to slow the ball down. He has ten minutes in
:30:21. > :30:46.the bin. He didn't think so. That should have been a yellow for
:30:47. > :30:53.Derksen. So deliberate that is and that is similar again, deliberate.
:30:54. > :31:01.Negative he said. Instead of blood. Negative play. The hardest position
:31:02. > :31:19.to cover as well, scrum-half. Ospreys have the ball anyway.
:31:20. > :31:28.He's has settled into play nine. Number nines are usually chirpy.
:31:29. > :31:56.Going for Justin Tipuric. you love this though, he will love
:31:57. > :32:19.this. You've got to put it in straight here. Put a bit of pressure
:32:20. > :32:26.on him. Tipuric did well. Shows how important opensides are in the
:32:27. > :32:37.scrummage. A lot of credit to James King as well. The scrums have been
:32:38. > :32:43.fairly even in the first 20 minutes. That is good work. He realised he
:32:44. > :32:44.was on the back foot straightaway, picked it up as quickly as he
:32:45. > :33:06.possibly could. Quite a few line-outs. Too many
:33:07. > :33:14.errors now by Dragons. It is costing them. A good pass to Dan Evans.
:33:15. > :33:30.Spotted the big gap there. Sam Davies gets across. Not quite
:33:31. > :33:40.running freely, Dan Biggar. Got to get closer to the line, the chase.
:33:41. > :33:42.If you Ospreys, 14 men, for Dragons, you got to try to keep the ball in
:33:43. > :34:07.play and test the Ospreys. Dan Evans will take those all night.
:34:08. > :34:11.There is a mindset now, that the conditions are so bad that they have
:34:12. > :34:18.do tick all the time and I don't think that is the case. They have a
:34:19. > :34:24.variety of kickers, the Ospreys. Dan Evans, Sam Davies. They are coming
:34:25. > :34:35.out on top because of it. What is the record on kicks? I'm just
:34:36. > :34:38.thinking generally, in a game. It is quite poor from the Ospreys, down to
:34:39. > :34:42.14, the scrum-half normally goes in front of the line, at least try a
:34:43. > :34:48.little chip to expose them in some area. The Ospreys will be very happy
:34:49. > :34:55.with that, killed three off it three or four minutes just by kicking. Is
:34:56. > :35:11.songs of praise on the other side? Can they put somebody around the
:35:12. > :35:19.fringes now. Tie up the Ospreys defenders, they are being driven
:35:20. > :35:32.towards the touchline. He's the same as us, he has no idea whether ball
:35:33. > :35:40.is. Lewis Evans at Tipuric. They have slowed it down now. Got the
:35:41. > :35:41.defensive line in place. There is Baldwin and Cracknell waiting for
:35:42. > :35:56.him. Cory Hill. Davies looks to link up with
:35:57. > :36:30.Matavesi. Another one on the way. Good pick-up
:36:31. > :36:40.eventually by Dan Biggar, sensibly done. Sam Davies looks at the far
:36:41. > :36:47.corner. Tipuric is screaming on this side. He was not happy, there was a
:36:48. > :36:50.five-man overlap there the Ospreys. The kicking game may be working but
:36:51. > :36:56.there are times you have to keep your wits about you as well. They
:36:57. > :37:01.had so many on the near side here. Actually a good kick from Sam Davies
:37:02. > :37:32.in the end to put them under pressure.
:37:33. > :37:42.Cracknell spills it. Again, we want is even keeping ball-in-hand. You'll
:37:43. > :37:49.macro two passes, you've advantage, two passes and if it doesn't get
:37:50. > :37:54.anywhere, you have a scrum. They've got the extra man as well. The last
:37:55. > :38:06.thing you want to do is put it off the park.
:38:07. > :38:27.Not a great delivery from Sam Davies to Lloyd Ashley.
:38:28. > :38:36.Tom Habberfield's time in the bin is almost up. About two minutes to go.
:38:37. > :38:43.The Ospreys had a comfortable ride at 14 men. They are very comfortable
:38:44. > :39:31.defensively, aren't they? Oh Brian... -- oh O'Brien. Matavesi,
:39:32. > :39:35.back inside for Sam Davies. If you're going to play the ball, play
:39:36. > :39:49.the ball! Don't go down there for a rest, please.
:39:50. > :39:59.Fia over the ball but making no attempt to play the ball. A superb
:40:00. > :40:05.kick. They need to come away with something, the Dragons. The last
:40:06. > :40:16.chance for the Ospreys, back to 15 men. I'm not sure the selection of
:40:17. > :40:23.Sam Davies full-back and Dan Evans on the wing, I'm not sure that's
:40:24. > :40:34.working. I understand the need for a kicking game in these conditions.
:40:35. > :40:42.Steve Tandy the manager knows better I suppose. Price keeps it alive.
:40:43. > :40:48.Lewis Evans alongside him. It's going to be a terribly slow ball.
:40:49. > :40:56.That's disappointing for the Dragons. Tom Habberfield can now
:40:57. > :41:04.come back on. Fill it with Kingsley Jones. You just said fair it's
:41:05. > :41:07.important you scored with the one-man strong, how concerning is
:41:08. > :41:13.that you didn't? We are not accurate enough. At this level when you get
:41:14. > :41:17.opportunities you have to take them. A lot of good play going to get in
:41:18. > :41:22.there but not clinical enough unfortunately on this occasion.
:41:23. > :41:25.You're kicking quite a bit, is that part of the plan? We know the
:41:26. > :41:30.Ospreys kicked the ball more than most. You've got to stay in a
:41:31. > :41:34.kicking battle. In conditions like today you've got to try and
:41:35. > :41:38.counterattack from deep and then you get the rewards with a penalty or
:41:39. > :41:43.turnover. We are conscious of that and need to get to the right areas
:41:44. > :41:47.and be patient. You probably can't glean it from up here on the country
:41:48. > :41:50.but at pitch side there is a bit of a wind that the Ospreys have got at
:41:51. > :42:02.the moment so that might help the Dragons are bit in the second half.
:42:03. > :42:11.Great work by Griffith. Hacked through... This is one of these grey
:42:12. > :42:15.areas where sometimes you see players get penalised for it. He's
:42:16. > :42:21.made the tackle, got back to his feet and played the ball. There's no
:42:22. > :42:26.ruck being formed. You've got to have a go here. I can't see a
:42:27. > :42:33.scoring spree today so you've just got to stay in the game. We've come
:42:34. > :42:40.in a bit too late here. Didn't look like there was any ruck above the
:42:41. > :42:47.tackle. Ollie Griffiths in his rise to get up and play the ball.
:42:48. > :42:52.Interesting to hear Kingsley's strategy about kicking back to the
:42:53. > :42:57.Ospreys and running back at them. The Dragons have made almost 300.
:42:58. > :43:00.100 of those almost coming from Carl Meyer. That's just running back and
:43:01. > :43:33.then kicking it. Drawn across the face by O'Brien.
:43:34. > :43:39.The Dragons needed those. That's a big miss, isn't it? He's just
:43:40. > :43:55.finished work for the year, hasn't he?! On his way back.
:43:56. > :44:05.The other one just needed pumping up a little bit. Happy with that one.
:44:06. > :44:12.Maybe Angus O'Brien should have changed it before the kick. Meyer
:44:13. > :44:36.again, returning. Jackson striving to get the ball to
:44:37. > :44:46.ground. Tipuric again close to the offside line.
:44:47. > :45:35.Sam Davies is the one to the left, Dan Biggar to the right. Nothing
:45:36. > :45:43.happened really. It's been a huge kicking battle. Too many mistakes by
:45:44. > :45:51.the Dragons. They haven't built any momentum because of errors. This
:45:52. > :45:56.penalty will give the Ospreys field position. They haven't been in the
:45:57. > :46:06.Dragons' half. For much of this first half... They mentioned last
:46:07. > :46:16.week trying to keep the Blues on their 22 metre area. That is the
:46:17. > :46:20.same with the Ospreys. That is poor from the Dragons. That is a nothing
:46:21. > :46:25.kick. It's a very difficult kick to go either way in these conditions.
:46:26. > :46:32.You've just got to load the touchline. Someone should have taken
:46:33. > :46:42.that. It's a very difficult kick. I decide, right in the centre field.
:46:43. > :47:21.-- either side. King takes the line-out. Lewis Evans...
:47:22. > :47:33.Dislodging it from Baldwin's grasp, Sam Beard. Sam Beard was three
:47:34. > :48:21.seasons with Edinburgh. Pat Howard trying to take up the
:48:22. > :48:35.field and Biggar with him. Knoyle just finding Sam Davies...
:48:36. > :48:47.For a change, Dan Evans doesn't go... He just got bored of it! He
:48:48. > :48:56.thought I'm bored of it, I'll have a run here! It's either boredom or
:48:57. > :49:07.he's embarrassed. Good pressure from the Dragons. Even Hanno Dirksen's
:49:08. > :49:18.kicking it now! O'Brien, trying to go the long way round.
:49:19. > :49:31.They've got to hang on in, the Dragons, in this battle. Like an arm
:49:32. > :49:43.wrestle. He had just the one league game with
:49:44. > :50:01.the Ospreys in 2008-2009. Cracknell again involved. Baldwin...
:50:02. > :50:35.Paul James... The Ospreys are giving away far less
:50:36. > :50:41.ball than the Dragons. You can just sense we are one score again, ten
:50:42. > :50:57.points, in these conditions. Possibly a big margin.
:50:58. > :51:09.Good leg drive from Jackson. Gained few extra metres. O'Brien couldn't
:51:10. > :51:16.go straight to touch. Finding the play, the full-back, again. One for
:51:17. > :51:27.Biggar to chase. Nicely picked up by Meir. Perfectly from O'Brien's
:51:28. > :51:32.little side foot. Dirksen getting the wrong side of the ruck. No
:51:33. > :52:04.advantage coming to the Dragons. Just a minute and a half of the
:52:05. > :52:17.first period remaining. The Dragons have had few
:52:18. > :52:31.opportunities to break the duck. Hewitt tries one way, then the
:52:32. > :53:04.other. I think, a good line-out... There will be one last chance, then,
:53:05. > :53:08.for the Dragons to get on the school board. Before they head back to the
:53:09. > :53:38.changing room -- scoreboard. So the clock goes red as the Dragons
:53:39. > :53:49.try and end the half with their first points of the evening. Tab is
:53:50. > :53:58.no oil has a look to see what the opportunities are. Nick Crosswell
:53:59. > :54:05.takes it on. Poor execution. Griffiths keeps possession in
:54:06. > :54:20.Dragons' hands. Jackson. Tyler Morgan... This is the longest
:54:21. > :54:31.they've spent it the Ospreys 22. O'Brien to Pat Howard.
:54:32. > :54:39.A loose pass, missed by everybody except James King for the Ospreys.
:54:40. > :54:47.That'll do as far as the visitors are concerned. They've got the any
:54:48. > :54:51.points of the first half. An excellent try from Justin Tipuric.
:54:52. > :54:56.It was never going to be a try -fest in these conditions. Just the one in
:54:57. > :55:02.the first. Opportunities limited for the Dragons. The Ospreys have done
:55:03. > :55:07.what they need to. Sound defence, and the one chance they had, the man
:55:08. > :55:12.in the blue cap finished it off, Justin Tipuric's try converted by
:55:13. > :55:15.Dan Biggar, giving the Ospreys a lead of 7-0 at half-time. The
:55:16. > :55:24.Dragons captain Lewis Evans is with Phil. How do you think the first
:55:25. > :55:27.half went? Really good. I think you can see conditions dictating the way
:55:28. > :55:31.both sides are playing. Still a kicking battle. If we can start
:55:32. > :55:34.playing a few more, we can start getting a few more points on the
:55:35. > :55:39.board. How important is it you get the first core of the second half?
:55:40. > :55:44.It is very important. We need to get one or two more foothold in the
:55:45. > :55:51.game. Not make some silly errors. The game's there for us. Thanks the
:55:52. > :55:55.time, have a good orange! STUDIO: All the talk before the match was
:55:56. > :55:59.about the weather. Lots of rain at Rodney Parade nearly led to the game
:56:00. > :56:03.being called off. After pitch inspections that was back on and the
:56:04. > :56:08.Ospreys started the brighter. Tom Habberfield swivelling out of the
:56:09. > :56:12.tackle. Lovely link Blake from Cracknell and Tipuric proving too
:56:13. > :56:16.fast for the defence. That was the only score of the first half.
:56:17. > :56:21.Habberfield later saw a yellow but the Ospreys abide that period
:56:22. > :56:36.without conceding any points. -- survived that period.
:56:37. > :56:44.Not much time spent in the Ospreys' 22, the Dragons that is. It does
:56:45. > :56:47.tales with the fact they pride themselves on not only not allowing
:56:48. > :56:55.opposition across the try line but into the 22. The Scarlets spent 20
:56:56. > :56:59.seconds in the Ospreys' 22 last week. If you are a stats man, a lot
:57:00. > :57:06.of tries conceded from within your own 22 in the second phase. They do
:57:07. > :57:11.pride themselves, they've got a big kicking game, they tried to get out
:57:12. > :57:16.of their own territory and they've succeeded in that in the first. A
:57:17. > :57:21.lot of kicking but the Ospreys have more kickers and kickers. We said at
:57:22. > :57:25.the top of the programme, the average winning margin in this game
:57:26. > :57:30.at Rodney Parade is seven points. It's currently 7-0 so sticking to
:57:31. > :57:36.tradition. It was always going to be tight. Conditions are tough. Safety
:57:37. > :57:39.first from both teams. It's a tight game. Newport Gwent Dragons don't
:57:40. > :57:45.help themselves. They make so many basic errors. It doesn't allow them
:57:46. > :57:50.to build any pressure on the Ospreys. So many basic errors, just
:57:51. > :57:54.take the pressure of the Ospreys. It's a very even match. One chance
:57:55. > :57:58.from the Ospreys and they've taken that try. A case in point, ten
:57:59. > :58:03.minutes when Habberfield was in the bin. When the Dragons did get an
:58:04. > :58:07.opportunity with an attacking line-out, they ended up turning the
:58:08. > :58:13.ball over. It's the type of kicks as well. They find the grass, well, the
:58:14. > :58:18.mud. It takes the sting out of any counterattack. It takes time out of
:58:19. > :58:21.the game. Good aerial assault. It gives them time. They are very
:58:22. > :58:27.clever at that. When you've got Dan Evans on the wing, Sam Davies,
:58:28. > :58:33.Matavesi, even Hanno Dirksen boss kicking the ball. There's a lot of
:58:34. > :58:38.kicking options there and do good chase line. -- even Dirksen was
:58:39. > :58:41.kicking the ball. Martin mentioned opportunities in games like these
:58:42. > :58:50.are few and far between. The Ospreys have had one and a ticket. -- they
:58:51. > :58:54.take it. It was a great bit of play from Habberfield. Look where
:58:55. > :58:59.Habberfield comes from. Out of nowhere. It's a second line of chase
:59:00. > :59:03.that's very important. It's great support play. He's got lots of
:59:04. > :59:08.options. I like what Cracknell does. He takes the last defender O'Brien
:59:09. > :59:12.is likely to the left and you're not going to catch Justin Tipuric. It's
:59:13. > :59:21.good smash and grab plague that you need when you're away from home. All
:59:22. > :59:23.instigated by an organised kicking Chase -- smash and grab plague. Is
:59:24. > :59:51.there anything he can't do? That is the quality they have got.
:59:52. > :59:56.That is what the Dragons like. He's a world-class player that is what we
:59:57. > :00:00.hear every week, they work on it in pre-season, almost following the New
:00:01. > :00:05.Zealand way. The front five and the back row all as comfortable as the
:00:06. > :00:08.backs with ball-in-hand. It is important in these conditions, the
:00:09. > :00:11.little rugby we have seen, the quality has come from Ospreys. Even
:00:12. > :00:17.the hard yards and the short carries. They get to the gain line,
:00:18. > :00:22.they forced the defensive line back. It takes its toll in the end. We saw
:00:23. > :00:26.the Scarlets over Christmas, it takes its toll later in the game
:00:27. > :00:33.with the bench that Steve has picked as well. Dragons are by no means out
:00:34. > :00:40.of this. The missed penalty by Angus O'Brien, that was a big blow, 7-3
:00:41. > :00:45.gives you something to feed on. They get a score first after half-time,
:00:46. > :00:48.they are back in this, if the Ospreys go to macro schools in
:00:49. > :00:54.front, it would be difficult to pull back. The ball has seen a lot of
:00:55. > :00:58.air. It was even in the first 1015 minutes but the Ospreys with the
:00:59. > :01:03.range of kickers they have got are beginning to win that battle. They
:01:04. > :01:08.kicked similar amount of time but with the Dragons, it has been
:01:09. > :01:13.errors. A good clean ball, an exit strategy, the coach will be thumping
:01:14. > :01:17.his head in the stand. This was a kick battle, the last of about eight
:01:18. > :01:20.kicks, straight into touch. The Ospreys are more measured, they take
:01:21. > :01:24.the ball to the line a little bit more. There's more distance and they
:01:25. > :01:30.find the ground, look at many bounces it takes. Sam Davies pixies
:01:31. > :01:34.head up and looks for the grass, nails it between the two centre
:01:35. > :01:40.halves if you are a football fan. Look at the time and distance, it
:01:41. > :01:46.all takes its toll and allows you to get your defensive chase and people
:01:47. > :01:50.in position. The Ospreys sitting on a 7- 0/2-time lead, 40 more minutes
:01:51. > :01:58.of rugby coming up in the festive derbies and there is a lot coming
:01:59. > :02:07.your way in 2017. 20 16th of a fair share of surprises. Not just in the
:02:08. > :02:11.rugby world. What might 2017 off? Can the Lions mauled the All Blacks
:02:12. > :02:19.down under? How many Welsh men will make the tour? Will Wales recover
:02:20. > :02:25.their swashbuckling ways in the Six Nations and the South Pacific? Our
:02:26. > :02:30.most exciting talents, will they be given a chance to shine? What are
:02:31. > :02:37.the prospects of a major trophy for the Welsh region? The prospects of a
:02:38. > :02:43.trophy on looking good at the moment, over the season and 2017
:02:44. > :02:47.will begin with two Welsh regions in the top four. If Ospreys win, they
:02:48. > :02:52.will recover their second-place and the Scarlets beat the Blues earlier
:02:53. > :02:58.this afternoon. 15-10 was the final score. Two tries from the Scarlets,
:02:59. > :03:02.this was the best of them, Steph Evans with great build-up work and
:03:03. > :03:08.Jonathan Davies with great awareness to the inside pass. The finish from
:03:09. > :03:12.Scott Williams, his centre partner, they are back in the top four after
:03:13. > :03:18.they dropped to six. The upshot is we have two Welsh sides in the top
:03:19. > :03:22.four and that is pleasing. We might go to approach will find this year,
:03:23. > :03:27.that is good. The Ospreys looked really strong. Home form and squad
:03:28. > :03:31.form. Scarlets are some big game players, if they can keep everybody
:03:32. > :03:35.fit, they can beat anyone on their day. It is about getting the
:03:36. > :03:38.momentum in the second half of the season. It is looking good but
:03:39. > :03:44.Glasgow are coming up the rails, Leinster and Munster are strong and
:03:45. > :03:47.don't forget Ulster. Scarlets need to learn their lessons with a spent
:03:48. > :03:54.the bulk of the season in the top four but slipped out at the end.
:03:55. > :03:58.They got off to a flyer last season. Identify will make that mistake.
:03:59. > :04:01.This time they started slowly but they seem to have got themselves
:04:02. > :04:05.together. I think the Ospreys are the strongest Welsh region without
:04:06. > :04:10.doubt because of the depth and the changes they can make. But the Six
:04:11. > :04:14.Nations, can you keep that momentum going? The Welsh and Irish tunes,
:04:15. > :04:19.when your stars go, can you keep your momentum going during the Six
:04:20. > :04:23.Nations period? That will be upon us before we know it. Most of the
:04:24. > :04:28.pundits are talking about an Anglo-Irish Six Nations and the
:04:29. > :04:34.final game in Dublin being a champion to decide, is that
:04:35. > :04:39.premature? It always is. That is one the Six Nations is a great
:04:40. > :04:42.competition, it throws up surprises. If you look at it, of course in
:04:43. > :04:47.glint and Ireland looked to be in the best vein of form. Especially
:04:48. > :04:50.after the autumn and the success against the southern hemisphere.
:04:51. > :04:55.Their key players are playing exceptionally well. I think England,
:04:56. > :05:00.they have really improved. It is all about the axis of ten and 12. They
:05:01. > :05:06.have got that sorted. Ben Youngs, sniping, maybe a bit different but
:05:07. > :05:12.those are the two sides. The good thing is, Wales have them at home.
:05:13. > :05:15.You get a good start in the Six Nations and then you can build
:05:16. > :05:21.momentum and hopefully not get injuries. The Italian game is
:05:22. > :05:25.crucial. We have to show willing and creativity and the clinical in the
:05:26. > :05:29.tackle and put the Italians away. Then we can build from that.
:05:30. > :05:36.Defensively, we can always improve and be strong but the first game,
:05:37. > :05:41.get a good win. Bring the big boys back to principality Stadium. In
:05:42. > :05:43.deed. We will catch up with you in the second half. Jonathan talking
:05:44. > :05:49.about how England have their house in order and going for a second
:05:50. > :05:57.consecutive Grand Slam. Wales often come good in the face of adversity.
:05:58. > :06:03.The public were happy with the performances in the autumn. We need
:06:04. > :06:07.to keep our main players injury free. The likes of Alan Wyn Jones,
:06:08. > :06:15.Toby Faletau, if they are in the team, we have a chance against
:06:16. > :06:19.anyone. If we win in Italy, I think we are too strong for the Italians,
:06:20. > :06:24.the second game sets up the whole tournament. You go on autumn
:06:25. > :06:28.international form, England are not far off untouchable but they are
:06:29. > :06:32.beatable in Cardiff, no doubt. I'm looking forward to it already. The
:06:33. > :06:38.Dragons are turning to the field. Martin said earlier that the Dragons
:06:39. > :06:46.are still in this, a 7-point game, do you see the Ospreys being too
:06:47. > :06:50.strong? I do. Steve has gone big and heavy again, it will take its toll
:06:51. > :06:54.in the end. It is not getting any better, they will try and grind it
:06:55. > :07:00.out. They have the firepower to score again and if they get the next
:07:01. > :07:03.score, I think it will be a foregone conclusion. Martin on his way back
:07:04. > :07:12.to the commentary box and we can do that as well joining Jonathan Davies
:07:13. > :07:16.and Gareth Charles. COMMENTATOR: Ospreys will have seen Leinster
:07:17. > :07:20.overtake them in the Pro12. They can reclaim second place behind Munster
:07:21. > :07:28.if they carry on in the second half as they did in the first. The one
:07:29. > :07:32.converted try of the evening belonged to the Ospreys in the first
:07:33. > :07:43.half. Dan Biggar gets the second underway. No changes during the
:07:44. > :07:50.interval except for a couple of clean shirts. Tom Habberfield as
:07:51. > :07:55.welcome about getting in on the tackle. A poor option on the short
:07:56. > :08:01.side, nothing on. Trying to get the ball to few it but you got to put
:08:02. > :08:05.him in the right position. He needs to be one on one housewife, coming
:08:06. > :08:10.into the line may be, swap him with the full-back and uses base but they
:08:11. > :08:12.just wrap him up. Cracknell again holding him up and driving him into
:08:13. > :08:35.touch. Welcomes ducted line-out drive by
:08:36. > :08:45.the Ospreys. Very clinically done. -- well constructed. Advantage being
:08:46. > :08:53.played from the line-out. Didn't go anywhere so this might go back. I
:08:54. > :09:00.think they went expecting that ball because the backline was very flat.
:09:01. > :09:07.I think they should go for goal here, two scores. Unless they think
:09:08. > :09:22.they will kill the game, get a try, catch and drive.
:09:23. > :09:35.Howard looks like he has had a stinger. Early on in the second
:09:36. > :09:41.half, big line-out. Three points available but the Ospreys going for
:09:42. > :09:45.a second try. Again, penalty advantage being played in their
:09:46. > :09:47.favour as the line-out is brought them illegally. You'll agree got go
:09:48. > :10:00.left, it is on. They called Ian Davis's attention to
:10:01. > :10:36.the fact that he had taken a knock. He has just caught Tipuric's knee I
:10:37. > :10:43.think. Or Tipuric has just got his head with his knee. He's done all
:10:44. > :11:01.the hard work, just catches in with his knee.
:11:02. > :11:13.At least that's not on the playing surface.
:11:14. > :11:21.Howells was meant to play. Just tweaked a hamstring. It is Brendon
:11:22. > :11:23.Leonard getting stripped off. Jonathan Spratt has come onto the
:11:24. > :11:48.bench. The one highlight of the first half
:11:49. > :11:54.was set up by Tom Habberfield. Rate work by Olly Cracknell, dragging
:11:55. > :11:56.Angus O'Brien across and putting Justin Tipuric in the hole and he
:11:57. > :12:04.had plenty of space to round it off. Hanno Dirksen, walking off a good
:12:05. > :12:27.sign. Habberfield goes on to the wing.
:12:28. > :12:32.Leonard comes on at scrum-half. Line-out again, definitely going for
:12:33. > :12:43.the kill here, the Ospreys. Two kickable penalties, catch and drive.
:12:44. > :12:47.Driving line-out. After three minutes of the second half, long way
:12:48. > :12:53.back for the Dragons. All this came from a poor decision to go down the
:12:54. > :13:03.short side. The Dragons have won it. Harris has it. He has got in a
:13:04. > :13:20.couple of those throws. Habberfield to Sam Davies. Leonard, Baldwin.
:13:21. > :13:38.Running Sam Davies was in two minds. Did he get penalised? Dan Biggar to
:13:39. > :13:49.Sam Davies. Good work by Leigh Griffiths.
:13:50. > :13:59.I thought they were unlucky to get penalised there. He said he was fine
:14:00. > :14:09.the first time, then that could go and dropped back a second time on
:14:10. > :14:16.it. Fine margins on it. There heaters, the opportunity. As an old
:14:17. > :14:22.openside, you would be disappointed with the decision there. I think
:14:23. > :14:30.that is a penalty for the Dragons. OK, he was wrong second time but the
:14:31. > :14:34.first time, the penalty was for him. The Ospreys have been stuck in this
:14:35. > :14:38.corner for most of the four and a half minutes played in the second
:14:39. > :14:41.half. They have done very well in the line-out, the Dragons against
:14:42. > :14:47.the Ospreys. The quality they have in the second row, you don't often
:14:48. > :14:53.see that. Alan Wyn Jones trying to get it forward again. They go in
:14:54. > :15:02.together, back comes the ball to Leonard.
:15:03. > :15:16.As ever, James King quietly getting on with his job. The Ospreys are
:15:17. > :15:30.very patient until the opportunity comes. Important period of defending
:15:31. > :15:34.for the Dragons. They have been stuck in 22 in the second half as
:15:35. > :15:48.the Ospreys go in search of a second try.
:15:49. > :15:56.The Ospreys have two keep their width as well. They are showing
:15:57. > :16:08.their hand up, they have to keep their width. Leonard one small
:16:09. > :16:11.forwards involved. 15 phases the Ospreys have gone through. Alan Wyn
:16:12. > :16:23.Jones takes it up within three or four metres of the Dragons try line.
:16:24. > :16:34.Dan Biggar orchestrating things from ten. Have they worked the space out
:16:35. > :16:40.wide? Sam Davies roll-out of the first tackle. But the ball stripped
:16:41. > :16:52.from his grasp on the Dragons have it and a chance to clear. Despite
:16:53. > :17:06.all of that pressure, the Dragons survive. He picked his moment really
:17:07. > :17:11.well. Just got in, there he is, he's just gone a little bit too early,
:17:12. > :17:15.too high. You can argue for Ospreys it is a penalty for them. He was
:17:16. > :17:20.taken off his feet, perhaps a bit of justice from the earlier decision.
:17:21. > :17:26.We now have good Nic Cudd is from the breakdown but Leigh Griffiths is
:17:27. > :17:38.in great form as well. -- Ollie Griffiths. Dan Biggar, just a
:17:39. > :17:57.locate, and easy take for Travis noil. Just little things like that.
:17:58. > :18:18.Sam Davies wasn't held. Inside ball to Habberfield. Again, he flies
:18:19. > :18:20.forward in the tackle. Neither side at the moment able to hang onto the
:18:21. > :18:39.ball long enough. If you're an Ospreys fan, Dan
:18:40. > :18:45.Biggar, they only need one score in front. The next chance, you take a
:18:46. > :18:51.3-pointer, two scores ahead. Whether it is a drop goal a lot has made
:18:52. > :19:16.about the pitch, just drop it and whack it.
:19:17. > :19:43.Dragons back at the 22. Nothing he can do except put it on top of the
:19:44. > :19:50.stand. The first ten minutes has been all Ospreys. Keeping the
:19:51. > :20:05.position. A change in the Dragons front row.
:20:06. > :20:17.Hobson coming on. A similar change in the Ospreys ranks.
:20:18. > :20:34.Not quite yet. He does well, he got across there. He has done an heroic
:20:35. > :20:37.job, across well. They have done their homework in the last few days
:20:38. > :20:48.because they have really done a job on the Ospreys line-out. Head in
:20:49. > :20:51.hands. That is a killer for the forwards, you do your job, win the
:20:52. > :20:59.possession back and he's given it straight back to Ospreys. A couple
:21:00. > :21:20.of kicks now, poor execution. You've got to hang it up.
:21:21. > :21:28.Can you confirm the Hanno Dirksen situation please? It was at the head
:21:29. > :21:34.so looking at it on the screen, taking every precaution. This is an
:21:35. > :21:39.old-fashioned game that you and I will remember from our days, how do
:21:40. > :21:43.you play it from now? By and large, a huge quantity of kicks in the game
:21:44. > :21:48.in the first half. Territorially we have been pretty good but with that
:21:49. > :21:53.comes responsibility to do more with possession. Only one score ahead,
:21:54. > :22:00.does that concern you? Won it does. Especially with a little bit of the
:22:01. > :22:06.discipline. -- little bit of ill discipline.
:22:07. > :22:17.The Ospreys have had over 80% of the ball in the second half. Do will be
:22:18. > :22:34.a zone is? Is that after nine o'clock?
:22:35. > :22:44.Morgan thought he was coming in for that one. Karl Maier thought he was
:22:45. > :22:47.the dummy runner. And given the little possession may have had in
:22:48. > :22:53.the second half, that is quite literally throwing it away. The last
:22:54. > :22:55.Ospreys line-out was penalised and not being straight. They are really
:22:56. > :23:06.struggling with their line-out, Ospreys. They went forefront in the
:23:07. > :23:09.first half to get some clean ball. Cracknell down in front, safe all.
:23:10. > :23:37.Matavesi. Karl Meyer looking for distance. Sam
:23:38. > :23:51.Davies is there. Pops it up to Dan Biggar. Incredibly, he managed to
:23:52. > :23:59.get it. Smith. And it has gone forward. A little trickery from Dan
:24:00. > :24:02.Biggar, not his usual jump up in the air and catch it. That's where the
:24:03. > :24:37.knock-on occurred. The win against the Scarlets in the
:24:38. > :24:44.last game is the only time the Ospreys have not had a winning bonus
:24:45. > :24:50.point this year. That is where they are so good, they can adapt their
:24:51. > :24:56.style to any conditions. This was never going to be a classic today
:24:57. > :25:03.but they have ground it out. Strang in the Dragons in the first 15
:25:04. > :25:14.minutes of the second half. They just can't get out of the half,
:25:15. > :25:18.can't get any ball, the Dragons. Is there any point in standing there
:25:19. > :25:35.because they are understanding in midfield maybe. Given the option.
:25:36. > :25:49.Referee allowing them to play it even though the front rows had gone
:25:50. > :26:08.down. Not getting it beyond the Ospreys defenders.
:26:09. > :26:40.It is a real baseline game. It is like July. This is the advert for
:26:41. > :26:48.summer rugby, isn't it? And that's just the number of kicks. Did you
:26:49. > :26:55.find out the record. The boys in the van are looking for the world record
:26:56. > :27:01.for number of kicks in a match. There have only been 75 kicks in
:27:02. > :27:18.this game, that's all. It feels like more. 50% of them are good ones. He
:27:19. > :27:19.is struggling. Hypothermia. His conference of the rugby and pervert
:27:20. > :27:53.conditions, welcome to Wales body. A telling kit, no pressure at all. A
:27:54. > :27:56.real let off for the Ospreys. They've had so little possession in
:27:57. > :28:12.the second half, the Dragons, they have to make better use of it. There
:28:13. > :28:18.we are, normal service is resumed. Even the crowd are taking the Mickey
:28:19. > :28:25.now. Get the Mexican wave going. Every kick bringing cheers, that is
:28:26. > :28:37.out on the full, isn't it? The referee says he is clearly inside.
:28:38. > :28:49.Football markings. Interesting to see that again. He's close, isn't
:28:50. > :28:53.he? That is very close. Landed in play anyway. Doesn't make any
:28:54. > :29:07.difference where he is. He's outside of the 22 but it bounces in. You
:29:08. > :29:10.know it's a boring game when you get excited about something like that, I
:29:11. > :29:14.thought that was going to be the big talking point of the second half.
:29:15. > :29:35.Jonathan Spratt has come on. He's done him. Yellow macro right,
:29:36. > :29:41.kick this, if you're the Ospreys, kick it, ten points. That's what I
:29:42. > :29:49.would do. Emma Croker there is no way you can see the Dragons scoring
:29:50. > :29:54.two tries. I think they are so confident and are in total control
:29:55. > :30:01.of the game, that they think they can shut out the Dragons, one more
:30:02. > :30:11.try, you never know. 20 minutes to go, they should still be thinking of
:30:12. > :30:17.the bonus point of four tries. That's a dreadful throw. That's the
:30:18. > :30:21.pressure of the last 15 minutes. They didn't even compete that time,
:30:22. > :30:24.the Dragons. An easy ball for Alun Wyn Jones. Scott Baldwin
:30:25. > :30:35.disappointed with himself. When was the last time we had two
:30:36. > :30:59.consecutive games with no points in the second half?
:31:00. > :31:12.Stay up, stay up! Jackson trying to get the Dragons away from their own
:31:13. > :31:21.try line. Which is exactly what is in the background. Taverners noil
:31:22. > :31:29.gets the kick in. A good kick. -- Tavis Knoyle. No fixtures in the
:31:30. > :31:32.Premiership but there was a big programme yesterday and we now know
:31:33. > :31:48.seven of the eight teams in the top eight. The last place will be
:31:49. > :31:55.between Cardiff and other -- ever Vale. If they do no worse than
:31:56. > :32:04.Cardiff, they will clinch that last eight spot. There is 30 cans of
:32:05. > :32:12.paint behind me. I think Newport have got a game here tomorrow. I
:32:13. > :32:19.think they played football here yesterday. Could be a try-fest here
:32:20. > :32:27.tomorrow with the black and Ambers. Thornton wins the line. Adam Warren
:32:28. > :32:35.has come on in the Dragons midfield. Jackson gets the tackle in an bald
:32:36. > :32:40.win. Way way back from Justin Tipuric. Griffiths gets the tackle
:32:41. > :33:07.in. Matavesi makes ground. Carl Meyer should get there first,
:33:08. > :33:15.and does. His route is blocked by Alun Wyn. Forced out of play. This
:33:16. > :33:27.will be a very good position for the Ospreys. Even when nothing was on,
:33:28. > :33:32.just to chase the pressure from the Ospreys, they kept it up all the
:33:33. > :33:39.time. Carl Meyer, nowhere to go. They won themselves this position.
:33:40. > :33:41.It is painstaking staff but the Ospreys are sticking to their plan.
:33:42. > :34:02.Doing what they need to do. Thornton again, safely gets the
:34:03. > :34:07.possession. The Dragons sacked it really early. So difficult to play
:34:08. > :34:15.off this ball and get any momentum, it's so static. Nicky Smith under
:34:16. > :34:34.pressure from Ollie Griffiths. Good defending from Sam Hobbs. Got
:34:35. > :34:44.the tackle in. Biggar goes for the drop goal. A knock an advantage
:34:45. > :34:55.being plagued by Davies. Usually the kick brings the advantage to an end.
:34:56. > :35:22.Maybe, because it was an attempt at points, he's called him back.
:35:23. > :35:37.Sam Davies alongside Dan Evans on the far side of the scrum.
:35:38. > :35:48.Not quite allowed to get the ball out on that occasion. The Dragons
:35:49. > :35:54.head coach Kingsley Jones is listening in. In terms you're really
:35:55. > :36:03.under the cosh in the second-half. A bit frustrating. Our line-out
:36:04. > :36:07.defence has been particularly good. You have to credit Dan Biggar, the
:36:08. > :36:10.way he's controlling the game. We are doing well to defend from those
:36:11. > :36:14.situations and get ourselves out of trouble but we are unable to get a
:36:15. > :36:18.foothold, particularly in their half. I suppose when you get the
:36:19. > :36:24.ball, the kick isn't quite good enough and they come straight back
:36:25. > :36:28.at you. Some inaccuracies. Several things, to be honest. There's lots
:36:29. > :36:32.of good in what we do and our defence has been good. We are in a
:36:33. > :36:37.vulnerable position here from the scrum but we have been good in many
:36:38. > :36:49.areas. We just need to get a foothold. Thank you. Matavesi, the
:36:50. > :36:52.Ospreys again make their way into the 22. One-handed from Leonard.
:36:53. > :37:00.Good pressure defence from the Dragons. But it is relentless from
:37:01. > :37:07.the Ospreys. Nicky Smith the next one. You can't blame the effort from
:37:08. > :37:13.the Dragons but it is all on the back foot as Biggar picks out Sam
:37:14. > :37:22.Davies. Morgan getting the tackle in. And they win the turnover.
:37:23. > :37:28.Excellent defence. Tavis Knoyle looking if they can get them away,
:37:29. > :37:38.they can't. Clearer lines, now. It would be worth making a change at
:37:39. > :37:47.scrum-half. Get Pretorius on, Dorian Jones. Maybe extra kicking to get
:37:48. > :37:54.out of their own 22. A big penalty won again by Ollie Griffiths. Over
:37:55. > :38:02.the ball early. Can't move much in that position. He's relished these
:38:03. > :38:11.conditions today. Ollie Griffiths epitomising the defensive adverts.
:38:12. > :38:15.-- defensive effort. The easiest thing is when you don't have the
:38:16. > :38:19.ball, it's when you've got the ball to try and create something, they've
:38:20. > :38:26.lacked that. Conditions are difficult. Crosswell on his own
:38:27. > :38:29.ball. Ashton Hewitt is high. An apology from Cracknell. A clumsy
:38:30. > :38:45.tackle. The Dragons can at last spend some
:38:46. > :39:19.time in the Ospreys' half. That is the directive these days,
:39:20. > :39:24.and it is meant to keep the tackle is lower. Just going back to this
:39:25. > :39:29.decision, even if it goes over they've still got to score a try.
:39:30. > :39:33.You can be stuck in your half full game, trying to put a bit of
:39:34. > :39:43.pressure on the Ospreys. Not easy kicking in these conditions.
:39:44. > :39:56.Good effort by Angus O'Brien. Not quite, though. Just pushed it,
:39:57. > :40:03.didn't he? I'd have gone for the touch there, I think. Keep a little
:40:04. > :40:16.bit of ball. They are under the cosh, aren't they? Double change in
:40:17. > :40:23.the second row for the Dragons. Sam Underhill is an foot the Ospreys.
:40:24. > :40:54.He didn't catch it. I think he's just fed up. After that! LAUGHTER
:40:55. > :41:10.That's the best kick he's put in all day, that is!
:41:11. > :41:48.Drifting a bit of centre, the throw. A bit of leeway shown.
:41:49. > :42:10.See who is going to crack first. We are going up towards three figures
:42:11. > :42:17.as far as kicks go. It feels more like four figures! It's horrendous,
:42:18. > :42:21.let's be honest. CHEERING It's embarrassing. When the crowd
:42:22. > :42:32.are taking the Mickey out of you, it's embarrassing.
:42:33. > :43:03.I think they are taking the Mickey out of the kicking.
:43:04. > :43:14.Howard just lost his footing as the ball approached.
:43:15. > :43:20.We are into the final ten minutes of the game. So only time for another
:43:21. > :43:45.couple of dozen kicks. Former Dragon, Sam Parry, on the
:43:46. > :43:52.Scott Baldwin. You've got a lot of thinking to do, Jonathan! I can't
:43:53. > :43:59.wait for this! Pick the bones out of this one, Jeff. I'd put the ball
:44:00. > :44:05.down and runaway! Normally buy now we've got a sheet in front of us and
:44:06. > :44:07.a mark... There isn't one mark by any of the names here! A couple of
:44:08. > :44:34.names. Ruck was formed. Ollie Griffiths...
:44:35. > :44:45.They aren't going to score three tries now, are they? Kick it. Davies
:44:46. > :44:55.was really clear straightaway there was a ruck forming. A bit too keen
:44:56. > :45:07.that kind, Ollie Griffiths. -- that time, Ollie Griffiths.
:45:08. > :45:22.How long have we got? I've got to pick a man of the match, you've got
:45:23. > :45:29.to talk for the remainder of the game! Shaun Lunt can do that! --
:45:30. > :45:48.Sean can do that! It's been a long time coming, but
:45:49. > :45:53.there are points in the second half. And they belonged to Dan Biggar and
:45:54. > :46:16.the Ospreys. It's been total domination in the second half.
:46:17. > :46:37.Lloyd Fairbrother, I think. 97 kicks from hand! There's no contact
:46:38. > :46:45.here... Let's have a look. We're just checking the actions of 18
:46:46. > :46:51.black. Here it comes. I'll try and show you the angle from the stand
:46:52. > :46:55.side as well. I've got the guy round the neck on the floor there. That's
:46:56. > :47:03.a penalty. Show me the first one again. Lloyd Fairbrother took a
:47:04. > :47:14.bump... Is that 17 holding him by the neck?
:47:15. > :47:21.He's connected with the shoulder. I'm going to penalised 17 black.
:47:22. > :47:35.Just watch this angle. Poor technique, no arm, wrong
:47:36. > :47:38.shoulder... He could have hurt himself more than anything, there.
:47:39. > :48:07.Penalty, get on with it. Just be careful, because you do run
:48:08. > :48:33.the risk there. OK, the mark is there. Step of it.
:48:34. > :48:44.Rory Thornton has claimed every line-out since coming on. Sam Parry
:48:45. > :48:57.keeps it in there. Until Brendon Leonard picks his moment. Especially
:48:58. > :49:00.when you've got to run that back, your ten points down, there's only
:49:01. > :49:04.six and a half minute, you've got to try something, haven't you?
:49:05. > :49:13.Otherwise you're killing the clock, giving the ball back to the Ospreys.
:49:14. > :49:17.You've got to have your bonus to try something. I think they are
:49:18. > :49:26.demoralised now. There's no change from the Ospreys' defence. Ollie
:49:27. > :49:31.Griffiths picks up the loose line-out ball. Pretorius to Jones.
:49:32. > :49:43.Morgan... Just behind his shoulder, Pretorius. Buckley. Landman.
:49:44. > :50:05.As the Dragons at last get a chance to keep ball in hand. Ashton Hewitt
:50:06. > :50:19.to Tyler Morgan once again. That's a tackle! Pretorius... The chase is
:50:20. > :50:21.on. Pat Howard gets it but even though he ground the ball it's not
:50:22. > :50:39.forward. Just a tinge of disappointment.
:50:40. > :50:49.Quite clearly went forward. Clearly forward. I think I'll be
:50:50. > :50:52.disappointed with that, Pat Howard. So, the Ospreys try line remains
:50:53. > :51:28.intact. Penalty goes the Dragons' way. Went
:51:29. > :51:35.he goes scrum again? Try and get a bonus point now? Dorian Jones like
:51:36. > :51:53.looks like he might go for the corner. Lewis Evans' call.
:51:54. > :51:59.After being under the cosh for pretty much the whole of the second
:52:00. > :52:06.half, the Dragons may have an opportunity to grab something from
:52:07. > :52:11.this game. Good drive, kept their positions well, now they've what the
:52:12. > :52:22.ground. Was it illegal? Play on, says Ian Davies. Hobbs gets driven
:52:23. > :52:26.on by Ed Jackson and Ollie Griffiths. There's the ball first
:52:27. > :52:39.Sarel Pretorius. Lewis Evans the skipper... Pretorius... Nicky Smith
:52:40. > :52:45.defending the outside centre position. Landman... Again,
:52:46. > :52:54.Pretorius looks wide. Fairbrother has a go. Now it's the Ospreys'
:52:55. > :53:03.turned to do a bit of defending. Pretorius, change of direction to
:53:04. > :53:14.Lewis Evans. Matavesi leads that defence... And the ball is held up
:53:15. > :53:22.off the floor. Excellent defensive work as the Dragons are denied.
:53:23. > :53:25.Jonathan, man of the yours. For me, Ollie Griffiths had a good game but
:53:26. > :53:34.for me it's got to be that man there. Olly Cracknell, ten tackles,
:53:35. > :53:38.of after 65 minutes so he still tops those stats. His contribution has
:53:39. > :53:54.been immense. Very good performance by the young man.
:53:55. > :53:58.He has certainly made his presence felt since coming down to join the
:53:59. > :54:38.Ospreys. Still only 22 years old. They are trying hard to get back
:54:39. > :54:46.into it. It looks as though the Ospreys will be keeping a clean
:54:47. > :54:52.sheet. 35-17, the corresponding fixture down at the Liberty at the
:54:53. > :55:01.end of October. A solitary try this evening in the first half, way back
:55:02. > :55:11.from Justin Tipuric. James King tries to clear the decks again.
:55:12. > :55:16.Underhill giving enough, and enough is enough, says Dan Biggar. Brave
:55:17. > :55:21.defensive effort by the Dragons in the second half. The Ospreys very
:55:22. > :55:32.much in control, couldn't add to the first half try, but their winning
:55:33. > :55:36.ways continue. That's four in a row for them after the blip in Munster.
:55:37. > :55:44.It's only Munster above them in the table. The Ospreys starting the New
:55:45. > :55:50.Year as strongly as they finish the old one. Couldn't manage another
:55:51. > :55:55.bonus point, but in these conditions they won't mind. The game only just
:55:56. > :56:01.went ahead, the Ospreys will be glad to get it out of the way and keep on
:56:02. > :56:06.and go from Rodney Parade with a win and four points. 10-0 the margin of
:56:07. > :56:13.victory in the end for the Ospreys. Man of the match, Olly Cracknell, is
:56:14. > :56:22.with Phil. Congratulations, will give you our Guinness man of the
:56:23. > :56:27.match award. It's Sally's birthday today. In a strange masochistic way,
:56:28. > :56:33.did you enjoy it? I did quite enjoy it. This sort of game seek the way I
:56:34. > :56:37.play quite a lot. It's good to get the winners. Once you got the first
:56:38. > :56:43.try, did you always feel that might be enough? I think so. We do back
:56:44. > :56:48.our defence quite a lot so that was key. The Dragons put quite a lot of
:56:49. > :56:52.pressure on us but just pleased to get over the line, really. You went
:56:53. > :56:57.out there for that bit of defence at the end but how impressive was that?
:56:58. > :57:02.Massive. Great shift at the end. They came really close and the
:57:03. > :57:06.second half was just, throughout the whole second half, really close. I
:57:07. > :57:10.think that last set sums up the attitude of the boys today. Well
:57:11. > :57:21.done, nine from nine. Great, very good. Cheers. STUDIO:
:57:22. > :57:25.Congratulations to Olly Cracknell, today's man of the match. Another
:57:26. > :57:30.victory for the Ospreys. They really gain second place in the table.
:57:31. > :57:35.Munster are top of the pile... The Scarlets are into fourth courtesy of
:57:36. > :57:41.their victory over the Blues. Which means 2017 begins we have two Welsh
:57:42. > :57:48.regions in the top four of the Pro12 table. Dragons dropped to tenth as a
:57:49. > :57:52.result of today's defeat. You don't have to be called Ollie to be a of
:57:53. > :57:58.the man of the match but it certainly helps. Olly Cracknell, he
:57:59. > :58:03.did that bit of magic to put Tipuric away. Very physical, like you said,
:58:04. > :58:08.those conditions suiting him. I think he deserved that coming out on
:58:09. > :58:12.the winning team as well. Although Ollie Griffiths was probably a close
:58:13. > :58:17.second in the man of the match race and he himself defensively at least
:58:18. > :58:21.had a cracking game. Yet, it was a game for the sevens. He has a lot of
:58:22. > :58:25.defending to do and he had opportunities to get over the ball.
:58:26. > :58:29.He was particularly influential for the Dragons. As much as the Ospreys
:58:30. > :58:34.huffed and puffed, he chose the breakdowns to go to and was
:58:35. > :58:38.successful. That was a little illegal but this one he was a bit
:58:39. > :58:45.unlucky. That's a penalty, he's over the ball, he's their first and the
:58:46. > :58:59.second attempted got away. Good tackler, good prospect, he's one for
:59:00. > :59:02.the future. So many sevens, in the Scarlets, Thomas Young is tearing up
:59:03. > :59:08.the Aviva at the moment. Ollie Griffiths with a real defensive
:59:09. > :59:12.performance. You might say Tipuric was quiet today but the Ospreys had
:59:13. > :59:16.all the ball. It's a nice game for Ollie Griffiths, he's a poacher. He
:59:17. > :59:21.did his job really well and stopped the Ospreys creating much momentum.
:59:22. > :59:25.Yet another victory for the Ospreys. We become used to talking about the
:59:26. > :59:31.tries they score. Bonus points galore, especially in Europe. Today
:59:32. > :59:35.it was all about attitude and defence. It had to be about
:59:36. > :59:39.attitude. You can see why Steve Tandy and his team didn't want to
:59:40. > :59:44.play today. As dominant as they were, the Dragons were still in the
:59:45. > :59:48.game. This was the second half. Ironically it was an Ollie Griffiths
:59:49. > :59:51.penalty. They did show their determination and they showed their
:59:52. > :00:00.class in the end to grind out a win, get on the bus and get home.
:00:01. > :00:05.They also showed confidence to turn down a number of kickable penalties.
:00:06. > :00:11.There was buried the end where the Dragons could have got close. The
:00:12. > :00:15.Dragons finally got out of their own half and had a penalty in the middle
:00:16. > :00:19.of the park. I think they should have gone for the corner. You might
:00:20. > :00:23.only get one opportunity, which they did at the end. They could have put
:00:24. > :00:26.pressure on the Ospreys but they didn't. Even if the 3-pointer gone
:00:27. > :00:31.over, I'm not sure what they would have gained from that. Apart from a
:00:32. > :00:38.couple and is where you thought they could come back into it, Dan Biggar
:00:39. > :00:41.bossed the game. He put them in the corners. And the Ospreys back
:00:42. > :00:47.squeezed the life out of the Dragons pack. If there are positives for the
:00:48. > :00:52.Dragon, they disrupted the line-out almost at will at times. Getting a
:00:53. > :00:58.shove on as well. But errors let them down. It seems to be deja vu.
:00:59. > :01:05.It was the same in the first half against the Blues. Here, they kicked
:01:06. > :01:09.the ball is rated at three times. We know they don't like to be kept
:01:10. > :01:15.waiting. When you design the Boxing Day game as one for the purists, how
:01:16. > :01:20.would you describe that? Probably one for the traditionalists. I think
:01:21. > :01:25.wearily disappointed, irrelevant of conditions. The out of territory we
:01:26. > :01:33.had, we should have capitalised more. We had to put pressure on. We
:01:34. > :01:39.are really disappointed coming out. Yes, job done but we could have put
:01:40. > :01:52.more than that on the park. Another four points and 949. When you have
:01:53. > :01:55.conditions like that, this block of three games, Scarlets, Dragons and
:01:56. > :02:00.Connacht is a turning point in the season for us. So far so good but a
:02:01. > :02:06.massive game against Connacht coming up. If you make it ten from ten, how
:02:07. > :02:12.will that set you up? We are not looking at it like that. Without
:02:13. > :02:15.giving away too much, we still have a bit of hope in us from last year.
:02:16. > :02:21.It doesn't have only play games like this. It probably does because it
:02:22. > :02:30.heightens that. We have a big game coming up and we have the win and it
:02:31. > :02:33.is time to move on. Simon Jones was talking at the beginning there about
:02:34. > :02:37.what we were talking about, the fact the Dragons did disrupt them in the
:02:38. > :02:41.line-out and got the shove in the scrum. So aspects that the Dragons
:02:42. > :02:47.can be pleased with. It shows what a perfectionist he is that he wins at
:02:48. > :02:51.night game on the trot and is not happy. Only he can get the word
:02:52. > :02:55.dysfunctional into a post match interview. The scrum was good, in
:02:56. > :02:59.the first half in particular. Defensively they were good. Against
:03:00. > :03:03.the Blues in the second half, they didn't concede a point. There are
:03:04. > :03:07.good signs but they lack that little bit of quality and finishing power.
:03:08. > :03:14.They couldn't get Ashton Hewitt involved in the game today. At home,
:03:15. > :03:23.they look pretty strong. One try for us to watch back again. We might as
:03:24. > :03:30.well milk it. Habberfield creates the opening. He makes the initial
:03:31. > :03:34.break. We talked about Olly Cracknell in support and his fellow
:03:35. > :03:40.flanker, with the athleticism to finish. The one highlight of the
:03:41. > :03:45.game really. It was early on and you wondered if conditions were not that
:03:46. > :03:49.bad. But it turned into a real kicking fest, which you would
:03:50. > :03:53.associate with the game seven or eight, nine yes ago. Just watching
:03:54. > :04:00.the ball go back and forward over your head. It is what it is, but
:04:01. > :04:03.that one to bed and move on. On that, the boys in commentary
:04:04. > :04:08.expressed their views on the kicking game. To a certain extent,
:04:09. > :04:12.conditions dictate tactics. The Ospreys, when they knew they had to
:04:13. > :04:16.play, they had to play that way. Promised the boys in the truck I
:04:17. > :04:20.wouldn't mention kicking but I have do. If you take the Ospreys there,
:04:21. > :04:24.they will go there. They will bore you and kick you and play gaining
:04:25. > :04:28.ground until you make an error. Pat Howard knocked the ball on just
:04:29. > :04:32.under the stand. They don't care if the crowd booing, they are going to
:04:33. > :04:36.take it to the wire and they have lots of good kickers and also
:04:37. > :04:39.structure and good field position. Credit to them. They played the
:04:40. > :04:44.conditions and changed their mind set when the starting whistle went.
:04:45. > :04:51.All of that stuff with art of the way. Alun Wyn Jones didn't want to
:04:52. > :04:55.look beyond the Connacht game, but the Ospreys have won Pro12 titles
:04:56. > :04:58.for times. You talk about the hurt of coming a class easing, it is
:04:59. > :05:04.halfway through the season, too early to talk about them as title
:05:05. > :05:08.contenders? They are definitely title contenders, it is about
:05:09. > :05:13.getting those top two spots and the home semifinal because they are so
:05:14. > :05:17.difficult to beat at home. We mention the Six Nations is crucial
:05:18. > :05:22.when the big players are away. Many congratulations to Ospreys, they are
:05:23. > :05:26.on a roll right now, nine in a row in all competitions, the 11th win in
:05:27. > :05:29.a row over the Dragons. Many congratulations to them, happy New
:05:30. > :05:36.Year to you all is well, good night.