Ospreys have named forwards coach Allen Clarke as interim boss for the rest of the season. Clarke will take charge while the search continues for a long-term successor to Steve Tandy, who departed earlier this week. Clarke joined the region for the start of the 2017/18 season from Ulster. "He is vastly experienced, at both club/regional level and the international game," said Ospreys managing director Andrew Millward. Clarke is the second Irish coach of one of the four Welsh regions with Bernard Jackman in charge of Dragons. Capped eight times by Ireland, Clarke was a part of the Ulster team which won the 1999 Heineken Cup. As a coach, the 50-year-old helped the province win the 2006 Celtic League title before joining the Irish Rugby Union as high performance manager. He returned to Ulster in 2012 and became forwards coach two years later. Clarke also has international coaching experience with Ireland A and Emerging Ireland, with whom he won the 2015 Tbilisi Cup ahead of Georgia, Italy A and Uruguay. "Allen has agreed to take up the reins as interim head coach, while the search for a permanent replacement is ongoing," said Millward. "He will provide leadership as the team pursues its goals for the remainder of the season. "I have no doubt he will have the full support of everybody at the Ospreys."
I have a feeling he may end up staying as they do a Swans and take the cheap existing option at the end of the season. I did hear somewhere they want Ruddock, any strength in that taff. would take that,
I understand that Clarke is not being considered for the job on a permanent basis - that said if he does a cracking job between now and the end of the season and the Os qualify for the Champions Cup for next season, then who knows! Further, a whole raft of Coaching changes will take place after the World Cup, so it could be the Interim role lasts until then. Ruddock is not in the frame if my contact is to be believed.
ospreys need a clean out top to bottom and that goes down to the youth as well. So insular and the same old story at that age who you know not how good you are. To many excellent young players being released and also very poor coaching in the age groups.
my sons mate, every year group welsh cap, gets to c group and just kicked to touch and now not playing apart from college, now 18 will play seniors at Gowerton. but the guy had class written all over him, very much in the mikey phillips mode and I think that is what did for him, not a flair scrum half but he kept the phases going, but his oppositions father is best mates with the hierarchy at ospreys so now not what they want. I get it is all about opinions, but when we gowerton played against Bryncethin and they were in opposition there was only ever one winner and it wasn't the one who is still with the Ospreys. Time will tell I suppose.
Rugby management, pictures of them at do's together and the same persons picking that age group. not acceptable. He may turn out to be the better player, but friendship shouldnt decide that.
Taff you probably know exactly who I am talking about, I don't think his fathers attitude helps but I am not blinded by friendship. but seems some at the ospreys are.
The Os invest a great deal of time & £s into their Development Pathway - they'd hate to think that that friendships were being place ahead of playing ability / potential. I suspect the Directors would certainly hate to think that selections were made sometimes on that basis.
Ospreys thread I know, but does anyone want to talk Wales? I thought we were superb on Saturday, blew the Scots away in every department. The Scots tried to play high tempo and stretch us from side to side but to do that they needed penetration in midfield but didn't get it because Parks and Williams took down everything that came near them. Imo that's where we won the game, the Scots couldn't penetrate our midfield and were forced back and wide where our sliding defense easily managed them. Our front five totally demolished theirs and with some ease it has to be said. They neutered their counterparts with power and precision. Thought 6,7,8 were superb, Moriarty with some match fitness will improve, Shingler was great but I am still reeling over how well Navidi played. That's twice now he stepped up to the plate and looked like he lives there. Tipuric's got his work cut out if he wants to play. Still, what a guy to have on the bench If Patchell has one more game like that then Biggar wont get a look in either. He was fearless, tried a bit too hard on times, but will settle down the more games under his belt. Our back three was solid, in fact, I can't think of anything negative to say about us. the biggest surprise to me was post match where the studio was like a morgue. Inverdale was floundering for excuses, focused only on Scotland and a 50/50 forward pass which led to our bonus point. Andy Nicole was almost in tears, Johnson and Davies said nothing, it was like they all had a huge row just before the cameras cut back to them. Who cares anyway, we were fantastic and smashed a Scottish side which came here with high hopes of doing the same to us. Looking forward to next week, that will be our biggest challenge. I can see us beating Ireland, France and Italy but only if we can manage a win next week. England looked superb against the Italians and next week at HQ will be our cup final imo.
Great summary Stumpy! The only/best way to beat England is to run them, particularly heir forwards, ragged, the way the Turks ran Bath ragged - easier said than done, I know. Patchell linked the back play well - much better than Biggar in that respect. That's why, if Sam Davies gets his mojo back, I think the Ospreys will cope very well without the Prima Donna that is Biggar..... Anyway, I will be at Twickenham next Saturday (although my heart will be at The Liberty) and Dublin a fortnight later. Tickets for Twickers cost £124 each, the Aviva £84 each.
Much respect Taff Used to love going to HQ and Dublin, never liked Paris though and I've not been away to Italy. My favorite away trip was always hiking up to Scotland for the Weekend. I love Scotland its an amazing place and the people, imo, are second to none except for we Welsh of course.
Harri Morgan looks like a very decent prospect. Looked great against Scotland, well ahead of his years
Beck off to Worcester Warriors next season. If he steers clear of injury he will be a good signing for them
