Cardiff v Ospreys: Five takeaways as Welsh pair’s ‘axis of doom’ pivotal while visitors’ discipline ‘costs them dearly’ with ‘flurry of cards’
Planet Rugby's key takeaways from Cardiff's win over the Ospreys
Following Cardiff’s 24-21 win over Ospreys in the Welsh grudge match at Cardiff Arms Park, here are our five takeaways from the round 16 clash.
The top line
The hosts came out of the blocks the quickest, nudging into a 10-0 lead in the opening 25 minutes. Callum Sheedy’s boot opened the scoring, with the Wales international knocking over a long-range penalty, which was swiftly followed by a Rory Thornton try as the lock crossed from short range. Sheedy was again successful off the tee with the conversion.
Despite being reduced to 13 men, courtesy of a Daniel Kasende 20-minute red card and a yellow to Owen Watkin, the visitors soon began to get a foothold in the contest. A string of Cardiff penalties marched them to within striking distance of the try-line, but a sloppy penalty of their own cost the Ospreys dearly in the end and Cardiff escaped scot-free.
They weren’t held out for long, though, with Ospreys making the next dent on the scoreboard in the closing stages of the half. A clever pick-up and subsequent piece of silky footwork from Dan Edwards saw him burst through the Cardiff line, and the fly-half put the try on a plate for support-runner Kieran Williams. Edwards’ conversion sailed through the uprights to bring them back to within three at the half-time break.
With the game firmly in the balance at the restart, the next score felt crucial.
It went to the hosts.
After yet another extended period of possession, resulting in further penalties close to the line, Liam Belcher powered over for his side’s second to give Sheedy an easy conversion. Once again, Cardiff led by 10.
The hosts soon had their third, too, as Dan Thomas burrowed his way over to push his side’s lead out to 17.
But Ospreys were not going down without a fight, and they hit back with two tries in the final few minutes.
Jack Walsh was on hand for the first, as the Australian-native finished off a dazzling break by replacement loosehead Cam Jones. His effort was soon followed by Edwards, who scooted over from short-range after another tidy break.
It looked like they were positioning towards a match-winning try in the final play of the game too, breaking away after winning a turnover close to their own line, but a knock-on saw Cardiff escape with the win.
Ramifications
The URC play-off race continues to excite heading into the final rounds of the season, and this result has had some big effects on the ladder.
Cardiff’s win keeps them in the top four and within touching distance of Leinster, the Stormers and Glasgow Warriors above them as well, but their inability to get a try-bonus has given the likes of the Lions, Ulster, Munster and the Bulls hope of leapfrogging them this weekend.
For the Ospreys, their losing bonus point keeps them just about in the hunt for a place in the eight, but they will need results elsewhere to go their way to stay in it at the end of the round.
Playmaking pair pivotal
Everything good about Cardiff’s play had a flick of flair from Sheedy and Ben Thomas, with the playmakers forming a proper axis of doom.
The duo just seemed to feed off one another’s actions ball-in-hand, interplaying between themselves to get Cardiff on the front-foot. Sheedy’s intent to play wide and into space meant he was always looking for Thomas in that slightly wider 13 channel, with the centre in turn connecting with the wingers to send them hurtling down the wing.
When an opportunity presented itself, Thomas would also shift into first receiver to buy Sheedy that little bit of time and space on the ball to put boot to ball and unlock those wider channels.
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This interplay was threatening to break away in the first-half, despite Cardiff’s inability to turn possession into points, but it was especially prevalent come the second-half as the pair took control. While all the tries came from forwards and came from short-range, it was always a direct result of some joue joue from either player. It was dazzling at times.
It also wasn’t reckless or done for the sake of it. It was measured, controlled, well-orchestrated and aimed to get them playing in the right areas. Whenever the play went a big stagnant or Ospreys got a little bit excited on the fringes of the defensive line, one of the two would step up and offer their services.
It told in the stats, too, with Sheedy and Thomas sitting second and third in the passing stats for their side, only beaten by Johan Mulder, while Sheedy’s attacking kicks also saw him end the night second for kicks and third for kick-metres out of anyone in a blue jersey.
That ability to inject themselves into the game was so important in helping Cardiff get that crucial breathing room, and while Ospreys did come back into it, it was the difference between the sides.
Discipline kills
Ospreys will certainly be heading back to West Wales with a sense of ‘what if’ tonight, as their ill-discipline cost them dearly.
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It was just relentless at times for the visitors, conceding penalty after penalty after penalty and just handing Cardiff easy-outs, ending the night with 14 to their name. Twice, penalties also cost them precious scoring chances as well.
As a result, they were also brandished with a flurry of cards as well, with Kasende copping a 20-minute red while Watkin and Edwards were both handed a yellow card as well. These periods ultimately came back to bite them, too, with Cardiff scoring all of their 24 points in those respective blocks.
What’s even more frustrating is that the Ospreys were really good when they strung play together. Their tries were all delicious, coming from clever strike moves or attacking reads, while they also looked steady in the tight as well. They also managed to win the discipline battle – if that’s the right way to describe it – in the latter stages as Cardiff started to get on the wrong side of the whistle. That’s when they looked at their most dangerous, and that’s when they scored the bulk of their points.
There was so much to like about the Ospreys’ play, but they couldn’t quite get over their ill-discipline.
Test watch
The aforementioned pairing of Sheedy and Thomas will have certainly caught the attention of Steve Tandy, who is looking for attacking minds like them moving forward.
Powerhouse hooker Belcher also made a notable dent on proceedings, atoning for his yellow card with a barnstorming effort in the tight. Man of the match Dan Thomas also went well, and could have pricked the ears as well.
It was a good night for fly-halves at the Arms Park, with Edwards also going well for Ospreys with his creativity key to their resurgence. Jac Morgan also continues to build a base of minutes after making his comeback from a lengthy absence, which is always a good sight.
READ MORE: URC round 16: Predictions, teams, kick-off times, how to watch and referee appointments