End of road for Ospreys’ Galacticos

[TRF_Cymro]

THE OSPREYS have always taken umbrage at being dubbed the “galacticosâ€. Well, at least they won’t have to worry on that count any more.

Their billing as Welsh rugby’s answer to Real Madrid is something that has sat uncomfortably with officials at the Liberty Stadium for some time.

In fact, one of their head honchos has actually asked us here at the Western Mail specifically not to use the galacticos label in the past.

Perhaps the pressure to succeed that goes with such a tag was something that made them feel uneasy.

But the term was entirely justifiable given the star-studded roster that had been put in place in Ospreylia.

Some of the biggest names in the sport have been lured to the Liberty in the last few years, with Justin Marshall, Jerry Collins, Tommy Bowe and Mike Phillips having been brought on board to join home-grown talents such as Shane Williams, James Hook and Gavin Henson.

The region’s power-brokers invested heavily in a squad that could stand comparison with any in Europe, as they set their sights on silverware.

And there has been trophy success, with the Magners and EDF ***les having been bagged.

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/rugbyn...f-road-for-ospreys-galacticos-91466-28426449/​

 

[Logorrhea]

They will be a shadow of the team they were.

When is Tommy's contract up?

 

[TRF_Cymro]

Summer of 2013

 

[dullonien]

They will be a shadow of the team they were.

Not sure that'll be the case. The youngsters coming through are quality and will hopefully create more of a 'team' than the bunch of individuals that they usually play like.

Hook and Collins look likely to be the biggest losses. Whilst Hollah has been a good player for us, he's never performed when it really mattered, in the knock-out stages of the HC. I feel Tipuric is progressing at a rate of knots, and looks set to be very, very good. Beck has looked good at centre recently, although I'm a little worried that all our centres are very similar with Gareth Owen not playing well when the chance has arrisen. Fussell has found his best position at fullback imo, been very impressed with him there. His slight lack of speed isn't exposed as much, and he's always willing to counter-attack. Matthew Morgan will now hopefully get plenty of gametime at 10, something I'm very excited to see.

I think there'll be a slight dip in performance for a year or so, but eventually we'll be a better team. I hope anyway.

 

[cyRil]

I kind of addressed this a couple of months ago: http://cyrilsplace.wordpress.com/20...rd-as-ospreys-prepare-to-re-launch-franchise/

 

[munstermuffin]

Only thing I'll say is this might be best thing that happened the Ospreys

 

[cyRil]

I agree. It could make us as a region.
...On the other hand we could turn into another Dragons.
Hmmm.

 

[TRF_Cymro]

I agree. It could make us as a region.
...On the other hand we could turn into another Dragons.
Hmmm.

Or Scarlets ...

 

[Draggs]

Or Scarlets ...

West is best my dear Cymro.

cyRil is just jealous of us, and our stunning outside half.

Biggar got nothing on Jason.