The touring Australian squad made a return visit to Ospreylia today, five years after their historic defeat at the Liberty Stadium, to train at the region's Llandarcy Academy of Sport HQ.
The Wallabies spent the morning training at Llandarcy ahead of their test match against Wales at the weekend, with the Ospreys backs joining them on the training field for an opposed session with their Australian counterparts.
The likes of local youngsters Matthew Morgan and Ashley Beck went up against James O’Connor and Berrick Barnes as both sets of players enjoyed a good workout ahead of their respective games on Saturday, with the Ospreys entertaining Munster at the Liberty Stadium (KO 6.30pm).
The session came about thanks to Ospreys Director of Coaching Scott Johnson, a former Australia Attack Coach.
Johnson said:
“It was a good workout and a great experience for some of our players to be involved in a session with the Australian squad. With an important game against Munster at the weekend it gave the training sessions a bit of extra zing and the guys really enjoyed being out there doing something a little bit different.
“It’s always important to mix things up a little and I think they’ll all benefit from what we did today.”
The Australians are the second major touring rugby nation to make use of the facilities at Llandarcy Academy of Sport, after New Zealand also spent the day with the Ospreys during their European tour in November 2009.