Ospreys v Glasgow: Five takeaways as Jamie Dobie ‘alertness’ and Lions pick a ‘joy to watch’ in statement away win
Sione Tuipolotu and, inset, Jamie Dobie were immense for Glasgow at Ospreys
Here are our five takeaways from Brewery Field following a comfortable 42-17 win for Glasgow Warriors over Ospreys in their Saturday night United Rugby Championship fixture.
The top line
This URC encounter had a curious start with Ospreys having a penalty try ruled out following TMO intervention. Referee Andrea Piardi had awarded the hosts the score after a move that resulted in a yellow card for Kyle Rowe.
However, the examined footage convinced the Italian official to scratch the try and reverse the yellow card due to the obstruction caused by Morgan Morse.
Welsh frustration over that fifth-minute cancellation increased five minutes later when Glasgow took the lead from a lineout ball that Jamie Dobie transferred to the reprieved Steyn. This resulted in them getting near the line, from where Dobie successfully pounced.
Glasgow were only in front until the 14th minute, as Ospreys went to the corner from a penalty and their lineout resulted in several powerful carries before Reuben Morgan-Williams exploited a gap to score.
This seven-all parity didn’t last long, however, as Glasgow were back in front in the 17th minute – a lead they were never to lose – when some excellent handling skills were rewarded by Steyn getting over out wide.
A 23rd minute Dan Edwards penalty trimmed the margin to 10-14, but Glasgow had the final first half say with Johnny Matthews scoring a converted try from a maul for a 10-21 lead.
Ospreys had some early second-half encouragement when Luke Morgan dived in at the corner, but Glasgow pounced for the four-try bonus point on 51 minutes when the fleet-footed Dobie ran a smart line from the 22.
Eleven minutes later, it was back-rower Euan Ferrie going over and with Adam Hastings’ conversion kicking on point for the fifth time, the margin stretched out to 35-17 before Macenzzie Duncan’s try near the end was converted by Dan Lancaster.
Three Welsh sides in bottom four
It’s the hope that kills you. Despite the gloom surrounding the regional game in Wales coming into the 2025/26 season, there would have been optimism that a decent start would generate some confidence that it wouldn’t be a horrible campaign to forget.
However, after four rounds of fixtures, three Welsh sides are in the bottom four of the 16-team league. This grim outlook includes Ospreys’ 13th-place position, which is very wounding.
While Mark Jones’ side didn’t win on their two-match trip to South Africa, they travelled home with confidence after being competitive against the Bulls and the Stormers.
Then they ‘nilled’ Zebre at home, providing them with the chance to fly up the table if they could manage to pick off the visiting Glasgow.
There were nowhere near, however, in this six tries to two beating and that damaging blow leaves them down near the bottom instead of being up as high as sixth place.
Yes, pre-match injuries were a pest, unsettling their best-laid preparations, but they were too easily outplayed when it came to the crunch. They now face a dogfight next weekend at Dragons, their fellow Welsh strugglers.
Jamie Dobie ‘alertness’
Used as a sub in three Six Nations appearances earlier this year, scrum-half Dobie finished the 2024/25 season in the Scotland No.9 jersey with Ben White having been called to the British and Irish Lions following injury to Tomos Williams.
Those rare Test starts, where he managed to get the nod ahead of Glasgow clubmate George Horne, looked to have done him the world of good as he was excellent in this latest win with the Warriors in Bridgend and was within a fingertip of registering a hat-trick.
Alertness was his classy calling card. There was typical scrum-half support play for the game’s opening try, and he then probed beautifully to grab his second 11 minutes into the second half, fooling the whole Ospreys defence with a deceptive run from the back of a ruck.
That was a lovely execution that was nearly eclipsed by his kick chase that had him competing with two opposition players in a 57th-minute race to the line. It ended with all three diving to try and get the decisive touch. Dobie didn’t, but it wasn’t for the lack of trying and his display augurs well for Test-level duty next month.
‘Class’ Sione Tuipulotu
Returning to the club scene can be tricky, having had the time of your life on tour with the British and Irish Lions, but Sione Tuipulotu has made that transition look very easy in recent weeks.
There were 80 solid minutes against both Benetton and Dragons, but he took things up a notch at Ospreys with a performance that showcased his international class.
His passing was a joy to watch, as was the quality of his collisions, and it kept stirring up trouble for the home team’s defence.
It is form that bodes well for the upcoming Test schedule with Scotland, a four-game campaign that includes the November 8 meeting with the All Blacks in Edinburgh.
Out-half Hastings also deserves a mention. He was a cool head when Ospreys were battling hard, but his contributions were on the money when Glasgow needed him. Check out his excellent aerial catch and 50/22 kick on 53 minutes. Lovely.
Always stay on your toes
This round four URC fixture at Brewery Field reminded players not selected to stay on their toes and not get caught up in any selection disappointment.
Ospreys were forced into several late changes with Morgan replacing Keelan Giles on the wing, Tom Florence coming into the midfield, and Max Nagy getting promoted to the bench.
Being a good squad man and keeping the faith had eventually paid dividends for the 33-year-old Morgan.
He doesn’t play much, but he lit up his first appearance of this season with a well-finished try, diving in at the corner early in the second half to give his team fleeting hope of a comeback.