By Graham Thomas
New Ospreys head coach Mark Jones insists his team have one last debt to repay to Toby Booth this weekend – a derby day victory over the Scarlets.
The Ospreys began the week with Booth in charge, but will end it with Jones at the helm after the region opted to change horses in midstream.
It was a handover of power that was meant to happen at the end of the season, but was brought forward by six months after last week’s record European defeat, 59-15 at Montpellier.
Cyhoeddiad Tîm | Team Announcement ⚔️
Our Scarlets team to face @ospreys_official on Saturday at https://t.co/3vg6RJYsSX stadium
BKT URC Round 8
⏰ 17:15Tîm y Scarlets i wynebu’r Gweilch ar ddydd Sadwrn yn Stadiwm https://t.co/3vg6RJYsSX #OSPvSCA #BKTURC pic.twitter.com/UK9Men0JOo
— Scarlets Rugby (@scarlets_rugby) December 20, 2024
Booth was credited for turning around an under-achieving Ospreys team when he took charge in 2020, but this season they have fallen off a cliff.
They will welcome their fierce rivals on the back of just two wins in seven United Rugby Championship matches this season.
But former Wales wing Jones believes the respect the players have for Booth’s previous accomplishments – including reaching the URC play-offs last season – means supporters can be hopeful of a derby victory.
“I know he’ll be behind the boys on the weekend,” said Jones of Booth.
“He’ll be disappointed he’s not there, prowling the terraces. All we can do as a playing group is represent his effort and time he’s given to the badge.
“We’ll do our very best on the weekend. Then my job is to try and grow the environment to the next level, hopefully.”
Update from our press conference ahead of the big West Wales derby in Swansea on Saturday
Y newyddion o’r gynhadledd heddi o flaen darbi fawr Orllewin Cymru yn Abertawe ar ddydd Sadwrnhttps://t.co/fRL4ufLi0j#OSPvSCA #BKTURC #YmaOHyd pic.twitter.com/0Tvo2k7PfD
— Scarlets Rugby (@scarlets_rugby) December 18, 2024
In a nice coincidence, Jones’ first game in charge is against the Scarlets – the team in which he made his name as a player before cutting his teeth as a coach.
In his heyday, there was no better sight in Welsh rugby than Jones fielding a loose ball near his own line at Stradey Park, and then setting off, knees pumping high, ball pressed against his shirt, and defenders struggling to get near him as he went through the gears.
Injuries brought his playing career to a premature end, but he turned to coaching and was not afraid to leave Wales to further his experience.
Jones has coached in England, Namibia and New Zealand, before a spell in charge of Wales U20s.
Now, half a year ahead of schedule, he gets his opportunity in charge of Wales’ most successful region.
“I’m excited about the role and it’s a good opportunity to experience something different,” adds Jones.
Another neat twist to Saturday’s derby at the Swansea.Com Stadium is the fact that Jones will go head-to-head with his former Scarlets and Wales teammate, Dwayne Peel.
“What Mark will bring is energy and enthusiasm and he will get them emotionally ready for this game,” said Peel.
“Knowing him as well as I have over the last 30 years, he will definitely bring those elements to their team and I wish him all the best in the role.
“He is a rugby man through and through and I am sure he will do a good job there.”
Scarlets centre Johnny Williams echoed those thoughts in terms of what he is anticipating from the Ospreys.
“I think they’ll be revved up,” he said. “When you go through tough times, I think it will only galvanise them and they’ll come hard in that regard.
“They are at home as well and they’ve got a good record against us there. We are aware of that and we know we need to put that right.”
The Scarlets haven not won an away league game in Swansea for seven years, but they have been going well of late, with four victories in their last six matches in all competitions, while the Ospreys have only won three out of nine so far this term.
Dwayne Peel Says Scarlets Are Growing Up Fast As They And Dragons Back Up Cardiff’s Win
Peel added: “Derbies bring a different type of intensity. There is always an emotion to these games and a lot riding on it in terms of local bragging rights.
“There have been some games in Swansea where we’ve not been as good as we would have liked. This year we are determined to go there and do well.”
In the handicap, the Scarlets are given a three-point start.