Of all the Welsh regions, it's the Ospreys that get the poor press, why?
They have won 3 magners league titles and fought through two playoffs.
figured in the Heineken 1/4 finals and played in two EDF finals winning one.
Additionally, although playing out of a new stadium which they rarely fill, they do have higher attendance figures than either the Scarlets ( also in a new stadium) and the Dragons.
Meanwhile the Cardiff Blues, who play out of another new stadium, have never won the Magners or featured in a playoff, but have won the Amlin and EDF. Given their exhalted position as the big city team, their attendances are actually only marginally better than those of the Ospreys.
Last season the Scarlets only got into the Heineken because the Blues won the Amlin, thus giving the west Wales region a backdoor entry, and The Dragons have historically languished as the poorer of the regions and have rarely had much success either in the Heineken or the Magners, but in their congested ground a smaller crowd seems to go unnoticed.
In direct comparison, over time the Ospreys have had no m ore NWQ than anyone else, not recruited any bigger names than the Blues or Scarlets, but perenially get a poor press when they are compared, why?
All perception?
posted on 30/6/11
Ok Well ill flirt with the line of WUM here but there is a perception that a lot O's fans are a little over the top with regard touting the unbeatable merits of the O's.
Let's not forget the incessant nature of old 606 where it was a daily battle to find a decent article while trawling through the mire of WUM's
posted on 30/6/11
Dingbat - you do realise Im a Gloucester fan ????
posted on 30/6/11
opps sry... well you gloucester boys don't get a chance to play the HC champs because they are always in a different league
Couldn't resist :-P
Of course i jest
posted on 30/6/11
I think that the Ospreys problem is just a number of unfortunate factors that just cant always be helped in sport - now I may start quoting some soccer stuff in this post - which is unfortunate because i never watch it or have any interest in it - so it could be totally innaccurate.
Dingbat youre last comment about Osprey fans is correct however I believe it was born out of defending the Ospreys from nearly everyone - which then created a monster - Os fans puff their chest because people are jealous and having a go, success then breeds confidence- everyone else says look at that lot puffing their chest. A bit like Man Utd or Liverpool (told you) and so it goes
You have to bear in mind that thye welsh regions are only 7 or 8 years old in the current format and modern fans are different in many ways. We are not talking about Glos Bath rivalries - forged over years - a bit of banter and a laugh - essentially new clubs new fans (mixed with old of course) and Wales is becoming more soccer orientated that rugby orientated and so the youngsters will have that attitude (generally)
Secondly - rivalry - Swansea/Cardiff etc the Ospreys have to deal with the whole of West Wales and Cardiff with the valleys as rivals - so the sniping begins - basically most of Wales are already against the Os to a point - again any excuse for a dig and the Os defend themselves
Heaven forbid to compound all this they are winning - they had the cheek to win an early celtic league and then follow it up with another few - jealousy
They managed at one time to snap up most of the better Welsh players - no-one likes that do they ?
Of course the great HC brings us all together so all of a sudden the Welsh rivalry is extended to Europe or at least the British Isles - so forums like 606 (and other media outlets) join in with everyone looking at the Os fans and saying who do you think you are etc - when in fact they are just the same as anyone - just caught in the unfortunate events that sport can throw up.
From then on everything is an opportunity for a dig - Henson - other players - games lost that should of been won - management issues - in fact anything at all is a big laugh if it happens to the Os but no one would blink at it happening at Bath or Ulster - well not as much - so really its any excuse - the Ospreylians need to get used to the idea - rise above it and move on I suppose
Disclaimer - I am definately no expert and am prepared to be torn apart on this post by any of the Welsh - or celtic league fans
posted on 30/6/11
Dingbat - yes - but that changes this year as Glaws are back to add a touch of (more) class to the HC
Seriously we have a tough group and are not quite up to the standard of some of the HC major players - but we have been rebuilding and had a great season last year - the HC will only help improve our team - we could be in Dublin dishing out a few lessons soon - but it could take a few years
posted on 30/6/11
Good points about the O's Lydneyian
posted on 30/6/11
Thanks mate
posted on 30/6/11
Lydneyian (U2862)
Good post, thanks.
One thing though, I have to say that an awful lot of those who purport to be O's fans..........have never been to the liberty, on the old 606 it became painfully obvious.
Unfortunately far too many other contributers to that forum never knew that and believed the trash that some put up on there, to me it looks as though most of them have now gone elsewhere or just got tired.
And finally, I'm glad to see Glaws back, it's where they should be, and those fans deserve it.
posted on 30/6/11
Lydneyian
"Disclaimer - I am definately no expert and am prepared to be torn apart on this post by any of the Welsh - or celtic league fans"
I think u got it pretty spot on so no need for a Lynching just yet
Ye and congrats to gloucester back where they belong me thinks, well getting there at any rate. great club with a great history so fair play indeed. But dont come to dublin mate... we will go there and do the teaching ,-)
P.S. Don't have anything against the O's, to be fair Tommy plays for them... and its against my religion to dislike a team Tommy bowe is playing for.
posted on 30/6/11
Well its a theory anyway!
Anyway cheers guys Im also glad Glos are back - I have high hopes for the season - I hope some of our young players come through again and a top 4 finish would be nice - but above all - the double over Bath please!!!!!!!