Ulster Rugby vs Ospreys

TANDY WANTS POSITIVE RESPONSE

After watching the Ospreys go down fighting at the RDS on Friday night, Steve Tandy says that the team will be ‘positive’ coming to Belfast to face Ulster. Following a cagey opening at the RDS, Leinster were able to roar into a 24-0 interval lead and Tandy’s frustration was evident. “It was bitterly disappointing,” he said. “The first half performance wasn’t what we wanted. There was indiscipline, we didn’t look after the ball and that meant we were inviting Leinster on to us. We couldn’t get any respite and the pressure told. We gave ourselves too much to claw back. “I know that people will ask about complacency but that wasn’t a factor. We knew that we weren’t world-beaters after three games. If anyone did think that, then they’ve had the answer. You can’t come to the RDS and give away possession, cheap turnovers and penalties, and expect to get anything. “Leinster are a decent team, they grind you down if you let them and it takes its toll. We didn’t deal with the game as it was playing out, we didn’t understand where we were at times and the outcome was pretty clear. “Ultimately, we are bitterly disappointed. We felt that we were going there to perform but, in that first half, we didn’t. It was more or less dead by half time, then they scored straight after half time. “If you look back at Connacht two weeks ago, we were in control right from the start, we kept the ball for long passages, we were disciplined in what we were doing and we were worthy winners. The exact opposite of how we started the game tonight against Leinster. “You know that you will always have a tough game when you come to the RDS, we’ve come here and played well but left with nothing. Tonight wasn’t one of those occasions, we were pretty big in our own downfall.” Ahead of tonight’s game against PRO12 leaders Ulster, Tandy said that there will need to be improvements: “It wasn’t about a lack of effort, that was there, but some of the detail was out, some of the discipline, and we made it difficult for ourselves. It doesn’t get any easier with Ulster. “We knew it was a strange start to the season with two home games and three away trips to Ireland. We’ve won one of the two Irish trips to go with the home games so we can’t be too downhearted. It’s still a solid start to the season but as we’ve said all along, that’s all it’s been, a start. We’ll be positive going to Ulster but well aware that we need to be much better right from the first whistle.”

CLUB STATS Location Swansea, Wales Founded 2003 Ground Liberty Stadium Capacity 20,570 Last Game

OPPOSITION

Leinster Rugby (A) 31 - 19 (L) Friday 23rd Sep 2016, 19:35 Next Game Cardiff Blues (A) Friday 7th Oct 2016, 19:35 Recent Form WWWL

STAFF Coach Steve Tandy Captain Alun Wyn Jones

CONTACT Liberty Stadium Landore Swansea Wales SA12FA T +44 1792 616 500 E info@ospreysrugby.com

TICKET OFFICE T +44 844 815 6665

www.ospreysrugby.com

@ospreys ospreysrugby ospreysTV

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