 | OSPREYS PREDICTIONS Celtic League: 3rd Celtic Cup: Semi-final Heineken Cup: Group stage |
Steady improvement is the name of the game for the Ospreys as they build on their solid base from last season.
Even though they have largely escaped the off-field wranglings that beset many of the other Welsh regions, it still took the Ospreys time to find their feet.
A lacklustre start to last season was saved by a better second half, where willingness to tough it out saw Lyn Jones' men claim some notable wins and hang in there to claim some vital bonus points in defeat.
With all their players fit and not spirited away by international calls, the Ospreys are becoming a match for all but the very best.
Munster are one of those elite, however, and will probably be the stumbling block that sees the Ospreys fail to advance from Pool 4 of the Heineken Cup.
Castres Olympique and NEC Harlequins will both provide stern tests, but the Ospreys will be comfortable to mix it in such company.
The pack, especially with the addition of lock Brent Cockbain from the defunct Celtic Warriors, is formidable.
The Jones boys, aka the Hair Bear Bunch, either side of hooker and skipper Barry Williams or tyro Huw Bennett, provide a hard-scrummaging, hard-running front row.
 Sonny Parker is the pick of the recruits from the Celtic Warriors |
The back row is no less exciting, with Jon Thomas, James Bater, Andy Lloyd, Nathan Bonner-Evans, new signing Ryan Jones and the excellent young openside Richie Pugh giving their coach plenty of options.
Under coach Jones, the Ospreys have always been keen to fast-track youngsters through the ranks and outside-half Matthew Jones, stepping up full-time from Neath, could be another ready to make an impact.
The half-back area looks strong, with New Zealander Jason Spice drafted in to compete for the scrum-half shirt with Andy Williams.
Gavin Henson looks set to continue his improvement as either a full-back or inside centre, something both Wales and Ospreys fans should look forward to with almost as much eagerness as his latest hairstyle - spiky two season's ago, slick last year, what will be in vogue for the 2004-5 season?
Wales' Sonny Parker and youngster David Bishop, two more Warriors recruits, will add a cutting edge at centre, while wings Shane Williams and Stefan Terblanche know their way to the try line.
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Without a World Cup to disrupt the season, the Irish and Scottish provinces should be more competitive in the Celtic League.
But expect the Ospreys to finish in the top half and qualify for the Celtic Cup - now reborn as a post-League season competition.
Once again the likelihood is that the Ospreys will be battling it out with the Cardiff Blues for entry into the Heineken Cup.
The lowest placed Welsh side in the Celtic League 'qualifies' for the bottom tier European Challenge Cup (formerly the Parker Pen), although there has been a stay of execution the past two seasons.
However, the Newport Gwent Dragons could be vulnerable in what is a transition year for them under new coach Chris Anderson, while it remains to be seen how badly the Llanelli Scarlets will miss Stephen Jones.
In: Brent Cockbain, Ryan Jones, David Bishop, Sonny Parker (all Celtic Warriors), Jason Spice (Wellington), Matthew Jones (Neath), Aled Brew
Out: Gavin Thomas (Scarlets), James Storey (Munster), Gareth Swales, Chris Wells (Aberavon), Rob Sweeney (Caerphilly RFC), Gareth Llewellyn (Narbonne), Gareth Morris (becomes Neath RFC captain)
Captain: Barry Williams
Coach: Lyn Jones
Assistant coach: Sean Holley
Team colours: Black and white
Chief executives: Andrew Donald, Mike Cuddy
Grounds: The Gnoll, St Helens
MMIX
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