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Tandy starts with a win

Tandy starts with a win

Steve Tandy launched his reign as the Ospreys’ head coach with a RaboDirect PRO12 win over basement club Aironi Rugby at the Liberty Stadium but the contest never hit any real heights.

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There was some belated action near the end with the ball in hand but overall it was a scrappy stop-start affair with one bright spot being the continuing comeback from injury of Wales star Alun Wyn Jones as he got 80 minutes under his belt to put him in the frame for the RBS 6 Nations round 3 clash against England at Twickenham.

And collectively the Ospreys stayed firmly on course to claim invaluable home advantage in the play-offs in May, ensuring they remain in second spot and clear of the chasing pack.

However Tandy, who took over the coaching reins in midweek from Sean Holley, has plenty to work on in the weeks ahead as they bid to keep those home play-off hopes alive against more potent opposition.

The Ospreys did scorn an early kickable penalty and their superior scrum power promptly earned them a penalty try that outside half Dan Biggar nonchantly converted to give them a flying start.

But with scrum after scrum then producing free kicks or penalties, the game got well and truly bogged down and, when Aironi were penalised in the loose for going off their feet, the Ospreys opted to take the points on offer through Biggar’s boot and to ease into double figures after 25 minutes.

And there was worse to follow for the Italians as flanker Mauro Bergamasco was spotted taking out scrum-half Rhys Webb off the ball. Aironi were reduced to 14 men with the international back rower sent to the bin for virtually the remainder of the half but Webb’s own participation was ended in the process.

However the Italians promptly mounted their first real raid deep into Ospreys territory after being confined to almost non-stop defensive duties and restricted the home side to just that early try from a first half full of effort but low on quality.

The Ospreys relied on the boot of Biggar for six more points after the break as the Italians conceded a rush of penalties before clean line-out possession by skipper Jones came to nothing in the face of some determined Aironi defence.

And having gone the best part of 70 minutes waiting for another try, two came along in virtually as many minutes to warm the hands of the 5,554 crowd.

Wing Sinoti Sinoti finished off a smart move for Aironi, Olivier converting, before center Andrew Bishop raced over for a second Ospreys try, replacement Matthew Morgan converting.

That ensured the game at least finished with a flourish – plus Jones walked off fit and well and looking ready to resume international duties.

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