Acting Head Coach Filo Tiatia said that the LV= Cup experience was proving beneficial for both the players and coaches after a spirited effort saw the Ospreys tough it out in the second half to claim victory against the Blues.
“It was a good exercise” said Tiatia, speaking to the media after the final whistle at the Cardiff City Stadium on Saturday evening.
“What we’d planned during the week we didn’t really execute, which was quite disappointing, but there were some positive factors. When we got it right we applied some pressure on them, we found a lot of space that we could attack into. We scored three pretty good tries.
“The second half there was a block of 20-odd minutes where we couldn’t get any ball. We were down to 13 men and the boys showed some real character to keep them out. It’s all about choices as a group. You can lie down and just accept it or get up and fight together, which they did in that period.
“A lot of young kids played tonight and I’m really pleased to see that they didn’t give up. That’s not an Ospreys trait. They fought, they stuck in there and I’m really pleased to see that.
“In terms of our defensive stuff it was totally a group effort. I thought Duncan Jones was good tonight, the soldier stood up again. He hasn’t played much footy and it was pleasing to see him get out there again and work well with the kids, with Mefin in the middle.
“I thought Tom Prydie was outstanding at times, defensively he was in really good positions, it’s just a shame that we didn’t have enough ball to play off. When we did have it, you could see that we had quite a bit of potential and firepower to really put pressure on the Blues, which we did a little bit.
“There’s a really good competitive edge at the Ospreys, that’s what it’s all about. We’re trying to push through players.
“I think this is a great competition. There are a few kids that you wouldn’t have seen before tonight. Craig Cross came on at tighthead prop, he’s a big lump, Will Taylor, he came on, and the first scrum with those two on, they definitely showed their potential there.
“In terms of the opportunities for young coaches like myself, Steve Tandy and Gruff Rees, it’s a great opportunity. To manage 30 odd players and also, to manage some young coaches, it’s exciting. You have to get some experience somewhere, and fortunately, for the Ospreys, we’ve got a pretty good process here. We want to develop from within and I’m learning everyday.
“We’ll prepare this week for the Wasps game as we would any other. We’ve a proud tradition of competing in every competition we are in, so it’s a big day for us in Bridgend next Sunday. It’s not going to be easy against Wasps. We know what we are up against as a coaching team and as a group of players. We’ll have to prepare well, that’s what it’s about, and hopefully, we’ll have a good crowd at the Brewery Field to show their support for these young players.”