Record not a burden – Rees

Editor

Ospreys backs coach Gruff Rees insists their impressive record against the Welsh regions is “not a burden” ahead of facing the Scarlets.

The squad is enjoying an unbeaten run of sixteen PRO12 matches against their three local rivals and could make it eighteen by January 3.

But Rees is not over-thinking the streak as the Ospreys, currently top of the table after a 31-20 victory against Ulster, prepare for Saturday.

“The record is not a burden,” he told walesonline.co.uk.

“It’s generally not something we talk about. It’s not a case of us saying because we are playing a Welsh team we have to do this or this.

“We would like to go 16 games unbeaten against Irish sides because we would win the championship then.

“It’s about preparing every week. It’s not whether it is Cardiff Blues or the Scarlets, it’s about winning rugby games.”

He added: “Emotionally we tend to get to a good level around these games.”

“They are intense and you have to manage the perceived stress of the occasion and we have done that.

“Early in the week it’s about 100 per cent being confident about what your rugby messages are and how you are going to play the game.

“The intensity of game will take over at certain points but it’s understanding about being ruthlessly efficient in these matches.”