In the corresponding fixture in Llanelli last season the Ospreys suffered a record 44-0 defeat at the hands of their nearest and dearest. But since the appointment of former London Irish, Bath and Harlequins man Toby Booth as head coach the Ospreys have improved tenfold.
And 22-year-old back-row star Morris, who has been in scintillating form of late, is confident his side are in a good place ahead of meeting the Scarlets. “Culture is huge for us all now,” said the man from Gowerton.
“Everyone is mixing together, everyone is talking to each other and everyone is as one this year. I think you can see that in the way we are playing.
“Last year we didn’t really celebrate things together. Little penalties and tries we’d sort of be off on our own but this year we are all in as one.
“There’s not just 23 of us there’s 50 of us in the squad and we are all in it together. I think everyone’s going to want to turn the TV on Boxing Day with it not having been a great year so far but it’s probably going to be a highlight for some people.
“Especially us playing being able to play against the Scarlets and hopefully turn them over.”
Coming from the Ospreys region and having graduated from their academy the importance of a derby against the Scarlets is not lost on Morris. And he revealed the emotion and intensity at training is ramped up a few notches in the week of a Scarlets derby.
“It’s probably the emotional side of it,” he said. “It’s derby time and since being a kid you’ve watched Ospreys v Scarlets every year and you’ve heard about it from the coaches as well.
“When I was in the academy the likes of Duncan Jones and Richard Fussell talking about the game is huge. There’s huge passion at the Ospreys about these games.
“It’s sort of drilled into you.”
