New head coach Allen Clarke hasn’t taken the easy route into the opening game against Edinburgh with games against top-flight English opposition in Northampton Saints and Saracens and he will have been delighted with the way his team shaped up at the Honourable Artillery Company in central London in a highly competitive friendly.
While he learned very little from the game against Saints that was played in a deluge at Bridgend two weeks ago, Clarke would have been hugely encouraged by the all round performance in London in a game in which he fielded almost two teams.
New boys George North, Scott Williams and Aled Davies all played in the first half and it was North who paved the way for the opening try for his side by international flanker Sam Cross. Having made the initial bust, the Wales and British & Irish Lions wing popped the ball out of the tackle to Cross, who sped the length of the 22 to score in the left corner.
If that was a great finish from Cross, the touchline conversion from Sam Davies was equally as good and that made it 14-7 after the home side had opened up with tries by Alex Lozowski and Richard Barrington, both of which were converted by Ben Spencer.
The only other score in the first half came in slightly bizarre circumstance when players from both sides stopped and waited from referee Matt Carley to blow for a penalty after Spencer had appeared to interfere with opposite number Davies as he tried to clear from a ruck in the shadow of his posts.
But while the world waited for the whistle, Aussie lock Will Skelton picked up the ball, raced for the line, bumped off Sam Davies and claimed a score that Spencer once again improved to make it 21-7 at the break.
The Ospreys got a flying start to the second half with a driving line-out try from replacement hooker Scott Otten. Luke Price added the extras and it was game on again at 21-14.
Saracens were obviously concerned because they took a penalty which Spencer converted to open up a 10 point gap. Then wrecking ball French hooker Chris Tolofua crossed from close range for a try that this time Lozowski converted to complete the scoring.
