The world of football is a bizarre one, and one that I try not to take literally, for personal health reasons more than any with the risk of high blood pressure when premier league managers complain of “insufficient funds” (again, a discussion for another day). With no English teams reaching the semi-final stage of the premier European competition for the first time in 6 seasons, the first final without English presence since 2004. This has seen the column fillers of The Sun, The Daily Mirror, The Daily Star and the like scuttling with displeasure to condemn the English Premier League and its failings to prepare the teams for the Champions League.
“Whatever the sport, the British consider themselves to have a divine right to success.”
(http://dafpritch.blogspot.com/, 2010)
This statement is echoed around every corridor of English, Northern Irish, Scottish & Welsh sport, and if the desired trophy or medal isn't “brought home”, the individuals or teams are branded as underachievers. Predominantly, these labels are preposterous nonsense, such as the berating of the Premier League's sides failed conquests in Europe this term. Looking at the four semi-finalists in Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Inter Milan & Lyon,with the possible exception of Lyon, they are all European Footballing Super-Powers, and unfortunately for Arsenal and Manchester United, they weren't drawn against the French outfit, were outplayed by their opponents over the two legs, and that should be the end of it, better luck next year.
However, sometimes the label of an underachiever is just. The sporting equivalent of a 14 year old not submitting his homework and playing up to the teachers to fit in with the cool kids at school are to be found in abundance in the world of rugby union. The New Zealand national team have had arguably the best crop of players to choose from in the professional era than any other nation (albeit done by raping South-Sea Islands of all their rugby talent to all intents and purposes) yet their solitary World Cup success came in the inaugural tournament in 1987. They are a dominant force in world rugby, but by their own standards, 2 unsuccessful finals in 6 attempts is nothing to write home about.
Yet, there is a side in the domestic world that blow the All Blacks out of the water as far as receiving C-'s when they are more than capable of A+'s across the board; The Ospreys. Much has been made in South Wales of the Regional system, but the 2 Grand Slams in 2005 and 2008 have answered all critics, still, the Regions themselves have achieved very little since their formation in 2003. The Cardiff Blues reached the semi-final or the Heineken Cup in 2008/9 losing in the most inhumane of fashions in a penalty shoot-out to the Leicester Tigers. The Scarlets were Wales' European flag-bearers once upon a time but since their move away from the Strade, the West Wales club have lost their panache. The Dragons have always been the “lesser economically developed club” and their results and honours reflect that, but on the other side of the coin are the Ospreys who are very much in rugby's “more economically developed clubs”. A squad packed full of internationals and quality overseas players and that have never reached even the semi-finals of the prized European tournament and the quarter-finals only twice in their brief history. Two Celtic League winners medals and an Anglo-Welsh cup medal is all the franchise have to boast which can be found in an embarrassingly empty trophy cabinet in Swansea.
The squad of 47 produced 8 Lions for the 2009 tour to South Africa, and is made up of a staggering 32 full internationals, 8 U21 internationals and 7 uncapped players. The region is an absolute hotbed of talent, yet this has yet to be utilized on the field with any significant results. The club could put out two competitive teams on the same day if injuries allowed:
15. Lee Byrne / Barry Davies
14. Tommy Bowe / Nikki Walker
13. Sonny Parker / Gareth Owen
12. Andrew Bishop / Gavin Henson
11. Shane Williams / Tom Prydie
10 . James Hook / Dan Biggar
9. Mike Phillips / Ricki Januarie
8. Filo Tiatia / Ryan Jones
7. Marty Holah / Steve Tandy
6. Jerry Collins / Tom Smith
5. Alun Wyn-Jones / Ian Gough
4. Jonathan Thomas / Ian Evans
3. Adam Jones / Cai Griffiths
2. Richard Hibbard / Huw Bennett
1. Paul James / Duncan Jones
With the exception of French giants Toulouse, no other side in Europe plays home to the sheer amount of international rugby players, not even the ever-dominant Leicester Tigers, London Wasps or Munster who since the Ospreys' formation in 2003 have won 8 domestic titles (Wasps 4, Leicester 2, Munster 2) and 4 European titles (Wasps 2, Munster 2). This makes Ospreys' conquests even more minuscule.
Something has been a permanent thorn in supporters' sides since the beginning of the South Wales regional era, and that is the inept coaching and the “cosy” atmosphere created by owners such as Peter Thomas of the Blues and Mike Cuddy of the Ospreys. With popular Aussie Scott Johnson now at the helm, it's left everyone scratching their heads as to where the problem lies. Unfortunately, ex-England fly-half and full time Susan Boyle lookalike Stuart Barnes has hit the nail on the head. The Welsh Gallacticos are a star-studded team of individuals, and this is exactly how they play. There isn't the bolstering presence of a Munster or Leicester pack or the cohesive flair of a Wasps unit. The Ospreys players seemingly are out for themselves, as harsh and unfair as it may sound. Although, “as a team” they want to achieve things, but not for the right reasons. They want to do it to boost their credentials, to hang a medal in their personal trophy cabinet, not fill the clubs and create an aura or atmosphere of that of Thomond Park or Welford Road.
Shane Williams' interview prior to the epic encounter with Biarritz summed everything up perfectly:
“It's nice having guys like Tommy Bowe and James Hook in the side because instead of trying to create something yourself, you can give those guys the ball and let them do their thing.”
Hardly screams “we are one” does it?
