Ryan Bevington may be missing this weekend's trip to Connacht, but having made his mark in style during last weekend's win over Ulster, the loose-head prop has urged his Ospreys colleagues to continue their good work when they travel to Galway on Friday.
A part of Wales’ Six Nations Squad, Bevington was released to play for his region last week, but this time he has to stay in camp after former Ospreys team-mates Paul James and Craig Mitchell returned to their clubs in England to play in the Aviva Premiership at the weekend, the Welsh coaches understandably not wanting to risk the Osprey ahead of next weekend’s game against Italy.
Porthcawl product Bevington will be following affairs from afar on Friday night, and he backed the team to build on the Ulster win.
“It was a great team performance and an excellent win but it’s essential we keep it up over the next few weeks, whoever is in the team” he said.
“It’s no good getting a big win in Ulster then playing poorly against Connacht, Edinburgh and Munster. The attitude in the squad is great, the boys are positive, and will definitely be up for it. It’s about playing for the cause and although the team that goes to Connacht will be missing a lot of players one thing you can guarantee is that they give everything when they go on the pitch.
“It’s important that everyone knows their jobs, work hard for each other, and if they do that, they should get their reward.”
Bevington crowned his 76th appearance for his home region with his third Ospreys try, a 40-yard run-in to round off a length of the field attack. It was the only try in a tight game, swinging it in the Ospreys favour and, strangely, it was the second time Bevington has scored in such fashion at Ravenhill having scored a similar try in the red of Wales, during an U19 World Cup tie against New Zealand in 2007.
“The one against New Zealand was exactly the same; the same position of the pitch when I picked up the ball, the same corner, everything, it was uncanny” said Bevington.
“I was running back into the 22 to cover when the boys broke out on the wing. I just gambled on getting there to support them, gambling on Kahn getting the pass across to them.
“To be honest, I just went for it when I got the ball, I ran as fast as I can and when I went over I had absolutely nothing left. It was a good moment, one that helped us secure an important win.”
While he remains in international camp this weekend, with the ultimate target of nailing down a place in the Welsh team, Bevington is well aware of the importance of the next home game for the Ospreys, against Edinburgh next Friday (22nd February).
“It’s a must win for the Ospreys” he insisted.
“We don’t have many home games left, just the three, so it’s crucial that we get the performances right. Edinburgh home is massive for us and hopefully we’ll get the crowd behind us that the boys deserve after the way they played out in Belfast. They gave everything for the cause and hopefully the fans will give everything when Edinburgh come to the Liberty.”
Tickets for the Edinburgh game are on sale now at the Liberty Stadium Ticket Office, online at www.ospreysrugby.com/buytickets and via the Ticket Hotline on 0844 815 6665.