Ospreys on a silverware hunt
The Ospreys have hit good form recently with four consecutive wins vaulting them to second place on the Pro12 log, but centre Ashley Beck knows that the tough rugby starts now as they hunt for silverware.
Beck admitted that the last few games have given the side plenty of confidence, but added that the key is to maintain that form over the crucial play-off phase of the season.
He commented: “To beat Leinster away first game back really gave the boys some confidence and we’ve kicked on from there.
“People have self-belief and we can’t wait for each game to come. We’ve put in some good performances over the last few weeks of the season to get us a home semifinal, but we need to keep that going until the end of May to make sure the hard work isn’t wasted.
“It looks as though we’ll be the only Welsh team to get through to the play-offs again, that’s the third season in a row. We’re proud of that record. We won the final two years ago but we were disappointed at the way we played out in Munster last year in the semi.
“I guess that the Ospreys get judged on silverware so there’ll be pressure on us in the play-offs. People do expect us to win things and there’s pressure on us every time we go on the field but that’s good as we know we can’t afford to let our standards drop,” said Beck.
It has been a breakthrough year for Beck who once became the youngest player ever to feature in the league when he came off the bench to face Brian O’Driscoll and his Leinster team at the Liberty Stadium back in November 2007, aged just 17 years and 222 days, a record that was only surpassed last month.
Having scored the 2010/11 Magners League try of the season at the Liberty Stadium in a game against Glasgow last March, Beck has gone on to establish himself as a first team regular this season and hasn’t looked back, making 21 appearances and scoring six tries.
Beck explained that although he got some exposure at a very young age, he has had to show plenty of patience in the last few years as there are so many established players at the Ospreys.
“I did get some game time at a really young age which was a fantastic experience for me but when you’ve got international boys, experienced players, in front of you in the team then you have to be patient,” said Beck.
“I had to bide my time but working with players like that every day in training helped to improve my game, to become a better player, and at the end of last season going into this one it’s been good to get a real run of games in the starting fifteen.
His form in an Ospreys shirt this season saw him named in the Wales squad for this year’s Six Nations campaign, and although he is still waiting for his international cap, he insists that it was a great experience:
“It’s all about picking up new experiences at this stage of my career, and always learning. It was good to get a call-up at the start of the year. I never expected it, and just to be in the environment was good, especially when they won the Grand Slam. I didn’t play but I was 23rd man a few times so I got to experience so many things.
“Everyone wants to play for their country and I’ve had a real taste during the Six Nations, but I know that if I want to get the cap then I’ve got to earn it through what I do week-in, week-out back at the Ospreys. This is my main focus, and it has to be,” he added.
