A top eight finish in the BKT United Rugby Championship may now be beyond them but the Ospreys can finish with a flourish if they can complete the double over west Wales rivals the Scarlets at the Brewery Field tonight (Saturday 9 May – 5.30pm).
Leinster, The Lions and Glasgow Warriors have already won their respective Shields and now the Ospreys need any kind of win to overtake Cardiff Rugby the take the Welsh title for a third time.
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That will be uppermost in the minds of the Ospreys players and fans in their final home game of the season – they head to Dublin to face Leinster in their final game of the season next week – although there will be a few sad farewells to be made as well.
For skipper Jac Morgan it will be his final home games before he heads to Gloucester next season along with Dewi Lake, who is not involved tonight. On the other side, Wales wing Tom Rogers returns to the Scarlets side to face the team he will be playing with next term.
It is also likely to be the Ospreys final fixture at the Brewery Field ahead of their proposed switch to a revamped St Helen’s next season. The famous Bridgend venue has become something of a fortress for the Ospreys in the past few years with wins over the Stormers, Ulster, the Sharks, Sale, Edinburgh, Connacht, Dragons, Zebre and Cardiff Rugby (twice) in all competitions.
“The Brewery Field has been pretty special for us and I’ve enjoyed playing there. The atmosphere is always great, and we’ve had some really good wins there,” said Morgan.
“It’s good to have the supporters so close to the field and you can really hear them chanting and supporting. The crowd has been massive for us there and has been a big bonus.”
There will be no shortage of noise by both sets of supporters in one of the biggest derbies in the Welsh game. The Scarlets end their campaign with back-to-back domestic battles with a home clash with the Dragons to come next week.
Two wins could lift them above the Dragons in the table and at least put a big of a shine on an otherwise indifferent season that has seen them win four of their 16 games to date – currently the lowest number of wins achieved in the league’s current format.
Morgan admits it will be an emotional occasion for him and claims it “would be great to get the win.” But victories against the Scarlets don’t come easily.
“I have loved my time here and the region means a lot to me. I will cherish forever the friends I’ve made at the club, and I just want to put in a performance for them,” added Morgan.
“We know how tough it is going to be and how motivated everyone involved is going to be.”
Scarlets interim director of rugby, Nigel Davies, knows all about the intensity of the west Wales derby from his 498-game career with Llanelli that began way back in 1983. In those days it was Llanelli v Swansea, but the ferocity and fervor carried on into the professional era when those clubs turned into regional entities.
“It’s always a big fixture against the Ospreys. It’s what the supporters want to see and it’s a game that brings a level of intensity, passion, and identity,” said Davies.
“We are nearest and dearest of rivals, but we wouldn’t be the same without each other. It’s great to have that level of competition and it absolutely brings a different layer to your preparation.
“It’s been interesting this week because it’s the first time I’ve seen a few scuffles in training. That’s a good thing because it shows the boys are getting mentally prepared for what’s ahead.”
Scarlets skipper Josh Macleod is fit to return to the side for what will be a massive back row battle with Morgan that will be worth the admission price alone.
TEAMS
Ospreys: Jack Walsh; Luke Morgan, Keiran Williams, Owen Watkin, Iestyn Hopkins; Dan Edwards, Kieran Hardy; Steffan Thomas, Sam Parry, Tom Botha, Rhys Davies, Ryan Smith, James Ratti, Jac Morgan (captain), Morgan Morris
Reps: Lewis Lloyd, Garyn Phillips, Ben Warren, Huw Sutton, Ross Moriarty, Reuben Morgan-Williams, Keelan Giles, Evardi BoshoffScarlets: Blair Murray; Tom Rogers, Joe Roberts, Eddie James, Macs Page; Joe Hawkins, Dane Blacker; Kemsley Mathias, Ryan Elias, Henry Thomas, Jac Price, Max Douglas, Taine Plumtree, Josh Macleod (captain), Fletcher Anderson
Reps: Harry Thomas, Josh Morse, Harri O’Connor, Dan Davis, Jarrod Taylor, Archie Hughes, Carwyn Leggatt-Jones, Ioan JonesReferee: Ben Connor (WRU)