Young centre Ashley Beck has enjoyed his longest run in the Ospreys starting line-up over the last month, playing every minute of the last five matches.
In the absence of the Ospreys’ international contingent, the 20-year old has been a regular fixture for the region in the number twelve shirt, turning in a string of impressive performances that bode well for the future.
Sunday night’s Magners League win over Leinster came three years and five days after Beck made his senior debut, against the same team in the same competition, setting a record which still stands today as the youngest ever appearance in the tournament. His chances have been limited since that debut, but speaking after the game on Sunday, Beck said that he’s enjoyed having a run in the starting line-up:
“I’ve really enjoyed the last few month, it’s been really good being involved, being in the starting fifteen over the last four or five weeks. Just mixing with the boys and getting a chance to play alongside some of the senior boys has been a great experience.
“When you are playing between people like Dan and Sonny it makes your job so much easier, they are talking you through the game and it allows you to concentrate fully on your own personal job.
“It was a tough night, Leinster have got a good squad and there were plenty of people in their team who can perform and are a threat. They showed that with the tries they scored but we battled really well to get an important win, a really big four points.
“It’s been a good month for us, plenty of younger boys like myself have got some valuable experience and there’s been lots to be pleased about with wins over Leicester, Connacht and Leinster. Hopefully we can carry that through now into December when all the internationals come back.
“Personally, I think it’s gone pretty well for me but there’s still a lot I have to learn. I am only young, I’m still learning the game, and I know that I’ve got to keep working hard in training and hopefully that will take me in the right direction.
“When you are out there against the better teams, like Leinster, they are so organised and it makes life difficult for you. It’s been a really good experience that hopefully I can learn from. Being out there over the last five weeks just makes me want to play some more. There’s tough competition in front of me, but I hope I’ve done enough to show that I can do a job. I’ll just keep working hard and if I get anymore opportunities then I’ve got to try and grab them, show the coaches that I’m continuing to improve my game.”