The Woodside band, complicit in causing my hangover.

Well my hangover has finally cleared from Friday. From what I remember it was a good night (and the pictures seem to back that up). It was the usual plan: Bus through to Firhill for kickoff and a couple of beers after at the local.

It was a good first half for Warriors who headed into the changing rooms 16-6 up. The Ospreys soon changed this finishing the game 26-16 tanks to Tommy Bowe, Nikki Walker and the boot of Dan Biggar. Wales and Ospreys captain Ryan Jones was back on form with a man of the match performance but my man of the match was Alun Wyn Jones for his moment of genius. He was clearing Warriors Flanker John Barclay from the ruck when he found himself stumbling backwards with Barlays boot in his hands. A quick check showed that Barclay was not attatched to the boot so he promptly discarded the boot into the stand .

We departed Firhill, and started the short work to The Woodside (the Scary local in Maryhill). We met up with a couple of Ospreys fans on the walk (both in the RAF stationed up North but from Swansea)and dragged them kicking and screaming into the pub…. Joined by a short and slightly the worse for wear Warriors fan called Rickey! (yes we did the Ricky! Bianca joke all night) who, as it turns out, lives around the corner from us, we headed to the bar.

We discovered that I shared first and second names with one of the RAF boys, Gareth John. Strangely this is the second Gareth John Something I have met whilst following a Welsh team. Even more strange was the similarity in our Fathers names, John Richard Something and Richard John Something. We celebrated with more beer.

With the help of the resident guitarist, Rickey! and a few more Ospreys fans, we gave an award-winning rendition of Delilah. None of us knew all the but between us we managed enough of them in vaguely the right order to scrape through. My namesake, had recently returned to playing rugby after a stint reffing. In fact, he was playing in the morning. Good luck.

Talking of playing rugby, in my quest to play I’ve contacted a few local clubs to try and find out where and when is best to train. I haven’t heard back yet but, fingers crossed, someone will want me or rather not mind me coming along and making a tit of myself.

The guys from Swansea explained the phrase ‘Tidy’ to us. I had heard it before but didn’t realise how flexible it was.  For example a woman can be Tidy which not only means attractive but also a good laugh. Your Best mate could be ‘Tidy’ because he’s a decent guy. Your local could be ‘half tidy’ because it’s  a semi pleasant pub. Tidy.

We did the usual Facebookmobilenumberemailaddress exchanging and said we’d meet up for the next Ospreys game etc and jumped in a taxi home. I think it was a taxi, either way we gave the driver an exorbitant amount of cash and I woke up in my own bed the next day.

I couldn’t raise my head above 3 1/2 foot in the morning without it feeling like my eyes were being pulled out through my ears. This meant I had no choice to put a dent in the sofa. A great night at the rugby and day on the sofa. What more could you want?

Os Lions fizeram a sua segunda partida contra os atuais campeões do mundo, em Pretória, com o objetivo de empatar a série de 3 jogos e levar a decisão para o sábado que vem. Só não contaram para os Springboks, que não deixaram de acreditar na vitória por nenhum minuto e buscaram a vitória no último lance do jogo.

Infelizmente, a rede wifi do O’Malleys me deixou na mão, aí não consegui fazer a descrição da partida pelo Twitter, como havia prometido. Fica para a próxima. O pessoal do Bagatelle Rugby compareceu ao bar para conferir a partida, antes de um amistoso contra o time do Alto Tietê Rugby. Bom jeito de se aquecer para um jogo.

O jogo começou muito pegado, com os Lions pressionando bastante, e conseguindo um penalty, convertido por Stephen Jones, logo aos 3 minutos de jogo. Menos de cinco minutos depois, Rob Kearney fez o primeiro try do jogo, após grande jogada de Stephen Jones, que converteu um difícil chute. Kearney recebeu o passe e enfrentou o o tackle de 2 jogadores adversários, antes de apoiar no ingoal adversário.

Os Lions tinham que vencer, e não deram descanso. O placar de 10 a zero em menos de dez minutos mostrou que estavam no caminho certo.

Menos de 5 minutos depois, os Springboks responderam em grande estilo, com um belo try de JP Petersen, após jogada que surpreendeu a linha adversária. Petersen veio de trás da linha dos Boks, recebeu passe e passou pelo meio da linha adversária, apoiando sem problemas. A conversão, apesar de fácil, quase no centro, foi desperdiçada pelos Boks, apenas o começo da má jornada do jogador Pienaar.

Na sequência, um penalty foi convertido por Stephen Jones, prontamente retribuído pela África do Sul após mais uma infração dos Lions. 13 a 8 era o placar. Ainda no primeiro tempo, Rob Kearney, grande destaque do jogo ao lado de Stephen Jones, tentou um drop, mas acabou saindo muito fraco, e errou o alvo. Os Lions à essa altura, jogavam bem melhor que os Springboks, dando muito trabalho para a defesa adversária. Contudo alguns erros impediram a equipe de converter essa vantagem em pontos.

Perto do fim do primeiro tempo, os Lions avançaram após grande jogada de Brian O’Driscoll, passando a bola para Rob Kearney, David Wallace e Mike Phillips. A defesa do time da casa conseguiu se recompor a tempo de evitar o try, mas não o drop goal, facilmente convertido por Stephen Jones. 16 a 8 para os visitantes.

No último lance do primeiro tempo, Francois Stew teve a chance de acertar um último penal, mas novamente não foi convertido. Fim do primeiro tempo 16 a 8 para os visitantes

O início do segundo tempo começou mais morno do que o primeiro. O time da África do Sul encontrava muita dificuldade para atravessar o paredão vermelho. Nem Habana escapava dos tackle precisos da defesa.

Na sequência, dois primeiras linhas saíram machucados, pelo lado dos Lions, Gethin Jenkins e Alun Jones. Não podia ser bom sinal para os visitantes. Os scrums passsaram a ser realizados sem disputa.

Aos 10 minutos, os Lions se atrapalharam em um ruck e deixaram a bola livre para os Boks avançarem. Ao chutar porém, os Lions conseguiram bloquear o chute e quase marcaram um try. No entanto, o offside de um jogador dos Lions foi marcado, e a jogada não teve sequência.

Aos 12 minutos, Ruan Penaar teve a chance de se redimir com um penal a 45 metros do in goal, após tackle alto, mas errou novamente, e na sequência, perdeu mais um. A essa altura do jogo eram erros que poderiam comprometer o resultado dos Boks, e assim o jogador foi substituído por Morne Steyn.

A pressão dos Lions não reusltava em mais pontos, e abriu espaço para a África do Sul crescer na partida. Bryan Habana fez grande corrida, e acabou parado por Mike Wallace. Na sequência, um knock on pôs  perder mais um bom momento do time da casa. Nasequência, stephen Jones manteve seu 100% de aproveitamento, mandando mais um penalty no meio dos paus. 19 a 8 para os Lions.

Depois da reposição, um grande tackle de Brian O’Driscoll deixou a torcida preocupada. Após o tackle, o Driscoll ficou no chão e a vítima, Danie Rossouw se levantou, para desabar no chão, segundos depois. O jogo é paralisado. O’Driscoll continua na partida, mas Rossouw é substituído.

 Aos 25 minutos, Bryan Habana faz grande try, ao passar pelo meio da linha adversária, após scrum vencido pelos Boks. Os Lions ainda conseguem o tackle, mas é tarde demais. Com a conversão de Morne Steyn, a diferença cai para 4 pontos, e os Boks estão de volta no jogo. Um try decide o jogo.

Os Boks avançaram com tudo em busca da vitória. O jogo que estava morno a essa altura do jogo, pegou fogo de vez. Sem dúvida era o melhor momento deles na partida. E ficaria ainda melhor para o time da casa. Mais um penal para Morne Steyn, que acerta, e deixa o palcar em 19 a 18, faltando menos de 10 minutos para o fim do jogo.

Minutos depois, Stephen Jones converte mais um penal, dentro dos 22m adversário, aumentando a pressão sobre os Boks. Com o placar de 22 a 18, eles continuavam a precisar de um try para a vitória.

Ao 33 minutos, a virada. Try do Springboks, através das mãos de Jaque Fourie, que entrou no segundo tempo, faz o try após encarar dois tackles, antes de mergulhar no canto, proximo à linha de touch e apoiar a bola. A jogada foi para o vídeo! A jogada vai para o vídeo! O pé do jogador dos boks está na linha de touch (lateral do campo) aparentemente, o que invalidaria o try. Mas o arbitro valida o try. 25 a 22 para boks após a conversão. irada espetacular e a certeza de muita emoção até o fim do jogo.

Os Lions tem 5 minutos para empatarem a série.

E a oportunidade aparece, um minuto depois, com um penalty de difícil conversão, na lateral do campo. Stephen Jones chamou a responsabilidade para si, e converteu com perfeição. O melhor do jogo nessse momento, ofuscando até mesmo Rob Kearney.

Nos instantes finais, os Boks mantinham a posse de bola no campo de ataque, esperando a oportunidade apra um drop goal, mas não conseguem fazer os pontos.

Na sequência, o pior aconeceu, para os Lions. Ronan O’Gara comete um penalty infantil no fim do jogo e dá a chance dos boks de vencer a partida. 45m, de frente para os paus, no ultimo lance do jogo. Morne Steyn acerta o chute e garante a vitória. Vacilo absurdo de Ronan O’Gara.

Os jogadores sairam desolados da partida, enquanto os adversários comemoravam muito. O Lions foi superior em 90% do jogo, mas não conseguiu garantir o resultado quando tiveram a oportunidade, e pagaram por isso. Agora, terão que esperar até 2021 para tentar uma vitória sobre os Springboks.

I don’t think there is a stranger sight in sport than a uncontested scrum. Sixteen large men uniting to create an inert phalanx for no other purpose than to restart the game. I know little of the murky practices of the pack, but to insert one’s head up into your colleague’s groinal regions just to stand there apologetically seems like an unnecessary embarassment.

Sadly for the Lions it also disarmed them of one their most potent weapons against the Springboks. I am not completely familiar with the etiquette of the replacements for the uncontested scrum but I couldn’t help wonder as I watched Alun Wyn Jones tramp onto the pitch whether the Lions management hadn’t missed a tactical trick. The rigid laws in rugger don’t allow for too many subtle changes in formation, but a Ronan O’Gara or Shane Williams might have put a cat among the muscular pigeons in the front row.

And when Brian O’Driscoll and Jamie Roberts wandered dazed off the battlefield, the Lions must have hoped for an uncontested match, let alone an uncontested scrum. Just a bit of pass the parcel down the three-quarter line and some pat-a-cake among the forwards would have fitted the bill. That’s how I used to play rugger.

Personnel: Phil Vickery – 1st penalty, he wasn’t ready and got caught out of position. Tendai Mtawarira was caught out similarly in the 14th minute but stood up quickly so was not called out. Equally, in the 19th minute, with the ball at Heaslip’s feet, Vickery forced his opposite man up but the referee didn’t call it. The second penalty (and 3pts) did not seem like illegal scrummaging from my TV angle. Vickery was undoubtably second best here but I could not understand some of the ref’s calls. 3rd penalty – It looked like Vickery was boring in. However all those bulletin board experts are talking with uncertainty. Only an overhead camera could ‘prove’ a case. I suggest they read Brian Moore’s excellent analysis here: http://tinyurl.com/mb5dkj

Others: Stephen Jones – Some serious aimless kicking. With Steyn’s boot and the running of Habana and Pieterson, you cannot afford to kick badly. Ugo Moyne – A lot of bad press on the boards but I couldn’t fault him with the first failed try which was an excellent double tackle.

Coaches: Why not take Vickery off at half time? Once the ref is not on your side, there is no point talking interpretation.

Tactics for the second Test: Clearly Vickery must be replaced by Jones, who is a better scrum technician. I would also replace Alun Wyn Jones. He did not have a bad game but my opposition to this combination has been stated earlier. His replacement depends on what you want. I don’t think we need extra graft up front, more a question of continuity. This is why I would start with Simon Shaw.  But these are the only changes I would make. One must ask the right question. The question is not ‘did X have a bad game?’, it’s ‘Will his replacement fare any better?’  Only the two changes above would have a noticeable improvement. Mears, Heaslip and Wallace did not have great games but can anyone really say their alternative is an improvement? Rees cannot thrown in straight, Powell stands up too much and can be stripped of possession with ease and Williams is not good enough any more!

The Lions MUST improve the kicking . I feel that Steyn can be isolated and he is a liability. It’s obvious that our midfield is superior and I do not anticipate different personnel in the opposition this weekend, but they need the ball in hand. I would only consider replacing Moyne with Kearney which now looks unlikely given Byrne’s injury. Shane Williams has not shown any form on tour.

Despite the doomsayers, this test series is not over. The Lions can roar again. Remember 1989!

Tem início neste fim de semana o tradicional tour dos Lions, desta vez passando pela África do Sul, e por isso vou postar aqui no blog mais informações a respeito dessa equipe de enorme tradição no Rugby mundial, e porque é obrigação assistir aos jogos desse time. Grande parte das informações colhidas aqui são do site oficial dos Lions.

O time dos Lions é um combinado formado por jogadores das 4 Home Nations (nações fundadoras do Rugby – Inglaterra, Irlanda, Escócia e País e Gales), que realiza excursões a cada 4 anos no hemisfério sul, por África do Sul, Austrália e Nova Zelândia, sem uma ordem específica. A Argentina também já recebeu os Lions em 3 oportunidades (1910, 1927 e 1936). Outra exceção foi a partida entre os Lions e Argentina, realizada em Cardiff em 2005 antes da viagem para a Nova Zelândia, que acabou empatada em 25 pontos

O tour dos Lions, assim como o Rugby derivou do futebol, na verdade foi criado após um tour da equipe inglesa de cricket na Austrália, em 1888, que foi um grande sucesso, mostrando a oportunidade de também se fazer ma demonstração de Rugby naquele país e na vizinha Nova Zelândia. Os jogos dos Lions atraíam mais pessoas aos jogos do que partida entre equipes locais.

Nessa época, a equipe ainda tinha o nome de British Isles. O Lions só foi associado ao time depois de um tour pela África do Sul, em 1924, quando os jornalistas ingleses deram esse apelido em referência ao leão gravado em seus ternos e gravatas de viagem. Parece que os jornalistas ingleses tem forte influência na criação de mitos do Rugby mundial. 

É interessante notar também que os Lions não cantam um hino na abertura dos jogos já que não formam um único país, mas sim uma canção feita especialmente para a equipe, chamada The Power of Four, que não é muito popular.

Ao longo dos anos, os Lions tiveram disputas difíceis contra seus oponentes, mas sempre conseguiram sair bem sucedidos de seus tours, com exeção do último, em 2005, quando perdeu todos os 3 jogos para os All Blacks. Nesse fim de semana, enfrentam os atuais campeões do mundo com a tarefa de melhorar o histórico frente equipes sul africanas. Ao todo, foram 42 partidas e somente 16 vitórias e 6 empates O útimo tour em 1997 contudo, terminou com vitória dos Lions por 2 a 1.

Os Lions desse ano são (nome/país):

Mike Blair – Escócia

Tommy Bowe – Irlanda

Lee Byrne – País de Gales

Tom Croft – Inglaterra

Keith Earls – Irlanda

Harry Ellis – Inglaterra

Stephen Ferris – Irlanda

Luke Fitzgerald – Irlanda

Riki Flutey – Inglaterra

Ross Ford – Escócia

Leigh HalfPenny – País de Gales

Jamie Heaslip – Irlanda

Nathan Hines – Escócia

James Hook – País de Gales

Gethin Jenkins – País de Gales

Adam Jones – País de Gales

Alun-Wyn Jones – País de Gales

Stephen Jones – País de Gales

Rob Kearney – Irlanda

Lee Mears – Irlanda

Ugo Monye – Inglaterra

Euan Murray – Escócia

Donncha O’Callaghan – Irlanda

Paul O’Connell -  Irlanda

Brian O’Driscoll -  Irlanda

Ronan O’Gara -  Irlanda

Mike Phillips – País de Gales

Andy Powell – País de Gales

Matthew Rees – País de Gales

Jamie Roberts – País de Gales

Simon Shaw – Inglaterra

Andrew Sheridan – Inglaterra

Phil Vickery – Inglaterra

David Wallace – Irlanda

Martyn Williams – País de Gales 

Shane Williams – País de Gales

Joe Worsley – Inglaterra

Em 2013, os Lions fazem um tour pela Austrália.

Links relacionados:

British and Irish Lions

IRB

So after another Six Nations has come to a close who is in contention for the plane to South Africa.  Before the tournament we were all being told that the squad would most likely contain a huge number of Welsh players, Andy Powell could be the deadly weapon against the Springboks.  England would struggle to send anyone whilst Scotland would have the honour of supplying the test scrum half in Mike Blair.  Is all this still the case six weeks down the line?  Here’s what I think the Test side ought to look like after this year’s tournament.

Forwards:

1. Gethin Jenkins (Wales):

One of the few success of the 2005 Lions tour Jenkins has continued to perform for both region and country.  He may not have the same aura that Andrew Sheridan seems to have built around himself, but he is undoubtedly a more effective player, both in the scrum and in the loose.  Second only to Tom Shanklin for Wales ths year.

2. Jerry Flannery (Ireland):

Lee Mears could consider himself unlucky but this is a problem position for the Lions as it was four years ago.  Flannery is solid at the lineout but needs to work on other apects of the game.  In because he’s part of the Grand Slam side.

3. Adam Jones (Wales);

For years Jones has been ridiculed due to a perceived lack of fitness, he used to only last 30 minutes in the eary days.  However there have been contenders to his throne at tight head over the last few seasons and no – one has knocked him off for long.  Enjoyed a fine tournament in the scrum.  Injury free permitting he should be 1st choice.

4. Paul O’Connell (Ireland – Captain):

Proved against Wales that he does have the inspirational qualities needed to take on the top job.  Along with Brian O’Driscoll was Ireland’s best player in the Championship.  Could have the same impact Martin Johnson had in 1997 in South Africa.

5. Alun Wyn Jones (Wales):

Known for his passionate recital of the Welsh national anthem and is developing into a world class second row.  His partnership with Ian Gough has been part of the bedrock of Wales’s recent success.

6. Jamie Heaslip (Ireland):

Had an outstanding tournament and was one of Ireland best carriers.  Has a tendency to push the laws of the game but against Southern Hemisphere sides this is no bad thing.

7. David Wallace (Ireland):

Many will argue Martyn Williams should be first choice but there can be no question that Wallace will board the plane (Should he be selected) as the form 7 in the northern hemisphere.  Brutal at times at the breakdown. 

8. Ryan Jones (Wales):

OK hasn’t had the best tournament but has for large parts been played at blind side flanker, where in my view he simply isn’t mobile enough to play.  Current form is critical during a Lions tour but Ian McGeechan would be well advised to remember the impact Jones had in 2005 in New Zealand as a late call up.  He can come close to that form he’s worth having in the starting XV.

Backs:

9. Dwayne Peel (Wales)

There was always going to be a wild card entry! Not been involved in the international set up for some time due to serious loss of form.  However none of his contemporaries have fully justified selection.  Mike Phillips still seems to be coming to terms with the pace of the game after a long injury lay off whilst Mike Blair performed below expectations with Scotland.  If he can find some form between now and the end of the season with Sale, Peel should be on the plane.  Was another who returned from New Zealand with an enhanced reputation in 2005 and would have a big point to prove.

10. Stephen Jones (Wales):

Many thought the battle would emerge between James Hook and Danny Ciprani for the coveted jersey.  Neither though are first choice for their respective countries and would probably be considered too great a risk.  Jones is still the best game manager in the Northern Hemisphere and continues to defy his critics who say he  isn’t flashy enough.  Defence will be key against South Africa and Jones really does put in the big hits when he needs to, unlike his Irish rival Ronan O’Gara.

11. Tommy Bowe (Ireland):

Has had a great year so far with Ireland and the Ospreys.  Has proven how good a finisher he is and was at the heart of everything good the Irish have done in attack this year.

12. Riki Flutey (England):

Amazingly the first Englsihman selected, honest there’s no bias here! On current form Flutey is shoo in.  Proved more than just a battering ram throughout the tournament, showing quick feet in attack and scoring 4 tries.  Sure to be picked due to the Wasps connection and will be pushing hard for a 1st team place.

13.  Brian O’Driscoll (Ireland):

The player of the 2009 Six Nations.  Impossible to leave him out of the side.  Will have a massive desire to prove himself on this stage again after the shennanigans of the 2005 tour.  Freed from the burden of captaincy he could excel as he did in 2001 against Australia.

14. Mark Cueto (England):

May not be the most creative of players but is an out and out try scorer.  One of England’s most potent backs who put simply will do a job for the Lions.  Shane Williams has largely played himself out of contention over the course of the tournament.

15. Lee Byrne (Wales):

Not as automatic a choice as he was prior to the tournament, both Rob Kearney and Delon Armitage are pushing him hard for selection.  His big boot though is a major point in his favour and, as we saw against France his angles of running can be potentially devastating.

I watched three different rugby sessions today.

And I cheated.

All the sessions were all online. Two were from Youtube and one was from an email I got sent by a rugby coaching business. As you know, I am a magpie for all things to do with rugby coaching, so I looked at them carefully. I came to one unfortunate conclusion.

But before I tell what the conclusion is, I want to tell you about something I observed last night at another training session.

The training session was for 14 and 15 year old boys who are aiming to get into the Osprey U16 squad. Just before the session split into rugby skills sections (I was doing decision making), the academy head man gathered the youngsters together.

“We are working three nights a week at the moment and that is NOT excuse to not do your homework,” he said. “You need to manage your school work and rugby. If that means working more at weekends then do it.”

It sounded like a parent talking. Time to switch off?

No. The head man then said: “You know Alun Wyn Jones (Welsh International 2^nd row currently on tour in South Africa). He is a full time professional AND he is studying for law at Swansea University. He manages to do both to a very high standard”.

The use of a real life example was powerful, hammering home the sort of commitment these boys needed.

So, to my conclusion from the sessions.

I watched how the players started the exercises. They ran at each other from positions that they wouldn’t normally in a game. Either the rugby offside lines were incorrect, or the angles of entry into the grids were unlikely, or worse still, the players were passing the ball forwards because they were just running towards each other.

Don’t practice in the wrong environment

I spent the weekend reading and annotating a scientific paper on rugby decision-making. One of key conclusions was that players improve in realistic rugby environments. That is because they are making sometimes imperceptible decisions based on the information that they are facing. Skew this information away from normal game circumstances, then the players are practising under false pretences.

Yes, create different constraints on drills and exercises, but don’t allow players to enter into the exercise from positions they would never take up in the regular game.

It is subtle change perhaps to your coaching, but one you need to acutely aware of.

A superb all-round performance from James Hook inspired the Ospreys to a fine victory in the EDF Energy Cup final against Leicester at Twickenham.

The fly-half had a hand in both Ospreys tries, setting up Andy Bishop for the opening touchdown on 22 minutes before finding Alun Wyn Jones on 47 minutes.

Hook converted both scores, as well as kicking over three penalties.

Leicester never settled in the game, with all their six points coming in the first half from the boot of Andy Goode.

The victory avenged the Ospreys’s 2007 final defeat to Leicester, who lacked invention and verve so abundant in their Welsh opponents.

Tigers coach Marcelo Loffreda had played into the Ospreys hands, opting for centre Ollie Smith ahead of Tom Varndell on the right wing to counteract the potent threat Shane Williams.

The east Midland giants had dominated the early exchanges of the first half, taking the lead on four minutes when Goode kicked over a 25-metre penalty after a ruck infringement.

And the Premiership team’s forwards soon camped themselves deep inside Ospreys territory, but a fumble from centre Dan Hipkiss thwarted any hopes of a score.

But Goode – who had missed two earlier penalty efforts – doubled Leicester’s lead with a drop-goal on 16 minutes

But within six minutes the Ospreys were level – courtesy of Hook’s vision and Leicester’s lacksidasical defending.

The fly-half popped an inside pass for centre Bishop, who brushed off limp challenges from George Chuter and Goode before diving over for the first try of the game.

Hook added the extras and Leicester, after imposing their early authority, were beginning to lose the plot, with the Wales number 10 pulling the creative strings.

A wonderful, fleet-footed break from Hook required a full-stretch tackle from Ellis to prevent a certain try-scoring opportunity.

Indiscipline from the Tigers forwards resulted in captain Martin Corry receiving a stern lecture from referee Alain Rolland, warning any further discrepancies would lead to the sin-bin.

But despite their dominance, the Ospreys failed to capitalise on their advantage – Hook missed a 35th-minute penalty attempt, while Leicester just about cleared a Williams chip into the try area.

Instead, they had to make do with a slender one-point lead at the interval.

Tigers coach Marcelo Loffreda (right) watches on in disbelief

But that advantage was extended seven minutes after the break through Wyn Jones, courtesy of a scything break from the excellent Lee Byrne.

The Wales full-back was assisted by a missed tackle from Chuter in midfield, but quick recycling and change of direction from Jonny Vaughton found Hook, whose perfectly timed pass found the second row for a powerful five-metre touchdown.

Leicester, subdued and lacking any attacking threat, were soon chasing an 11-point deficit when a thumping Hook penalty from the right touchline sailed through the middle of the posts.

With Leicester’s beleaguered forwards looking increasingly forlorn, the Ospreys squeezed further penalties from their tired and dejected opponents, with Hook adding six points with two fine penalty strikes to seal the game and the trophy.

The Ospreys kept pushing forward and replacement Gareth Owen touched down in the corner after a dazzling Williams break, only for referee Rolland to overrule the score for an earlier forward pass.

The decision had little effect on the Ospreys as the celebrations began in earnest two minutes later when Rolland blew for full time.