Pro14: Ospreys and Dragons play out entertaining draw
After watching rugby return across the globe, the Pro14 has returned to Wales as Ospreys and Dragons resume their campaigns behind closed doors on BBC Radio Wales.
After watching rugby return across the globe, the Pro14 has returned to Wales as Ospreys and Dragons resume their campaigns behind closed doors on BBC Radio Wales.
Live Reporting
Dafydd Pritchard
All times stated are UK
Hewitt involved
Ospreys 10-7 Dragons
Gareth Griffiths
BBC Sport Wales at Liberty Stadium
Wing Ashton Hewitt has been very vocal during lockdown about the issues of racism in rugby and society.
And Hewitt has been heavily involved in the opening exchanges with his smart try before being upended by George North which resulted in a red card for Wales wing.
There was no malice in the challenge, North put his hands up straightaway and there was a moment of acknowledgement between Hewitt and North before the red card was brandished.
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Ospreys 10-7 Dragons
Ospreys will hope to fare better today than when they were reduced to 14 men in a match earlier this season.
Full-back Dan Evans saw red after just 37 seconds into their Champions Cup match at home to Racing 92 in December.
Ospreys lost 40-19 on that occasion.
Missed penalty
Ospreys 10-7 Dragons
That George North dismissal might well have turned this game on its head.
Sam Davies has an opportunity to bring the Dragons level with a penalty from 40 metres, but he pushes it just wide to the left.
How will the Ospreys cope with having to play the rest of the game with 14 men?
Red card - George North
Ospreys 10-7 Dragons
It is a red card for George North!
Referee Adam Jones explains his reasoning to the Wales wing and, while there might not have been any malice, it was a reckless challenge on Ashton Hewitt and Jones had no other option other than to send him off.
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Ospreys 10-7 Dragons
Ospreys wing George North could be in trouble here.
The Wales international takes out Ashton Hewitt in the air as the Dragons player tries to catch from kick-off following his try.
Referee Adam Jones is consulting with the TMO, Sean Brickell.
Could this be a red card?
Converted try - Ospreys 10-7 Dragons
Ashton Hewitt, con Sam Davies
A fine response from Dragons.
They hold on to possession for several phases, with the forwards trucking it up into contact.
The visitors then move the ball to a wide left channel, where centre Jack Dixon manages to free his arms and offload to Ashton Hewitt.
Hewitt then brushes off some weak tackles before speeding clear for a try, which Sam Davies converts.
Ospreys may be a little disappointed with their defence there, but the Dragons are back in the game.
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Ospreys 10-0 Dragons
A first foray into Ospreys territory for the Dragons, who have a lineout just outside the home 22.
It comes to nothing, however, as Wales number eight Ross Moriarty knocks on in contact.
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Ospreys 10-0 Dragons
It's all Ospreys at the moment, though Stephen Myler has just missed touch with a penalty, allowing the Dragons to clear up to the halfway line.
That's about the only thing that's gone wrong for the hosts so far.
Converted try - Ospreys 10-0 Dragons
George North, con Stephen Myler
It's been an impressive start from the Ospreys, and they fully deserve that early try.
Alun Wyn Jones gets involved twice, showing a deftness of touch with his passing, while Rhys Webb keeps the move going at a brisk pace.
Having punched holes in the Dragons midfield, the Ospreys move the ball out to George North, and the big wing biffs his way over in the right corner for a try which Stephen Myler does well to convert from the touchline.
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Ospreys 3-0 Dragons
A heartening sight for the Ospreys - and a worrying one for the Dragons - as the home side pulverise their opponents in a scrum on the halfway line.
Penalty to the Ospreys, which they kick into the Dragons 22 for a good attacking opportunity.
Second helpings
Ospreys 3-0 Dragons
Gareth Griffiths
BBC Sport Wales at Liberty Stadium
Here we at the second match of the weekend and Dragons and Ospreys will follow the Scarlets and Cardiff Blues.
Some of the differences between the two occasions have been that there is a crowd announcer at the Liberty Stadium speaking to the empty stadium.
And crowd noises is being piped into the Swansea arena which takes some getting used to!
Penalty - Ospreys 3-0 Dragons
Stephen Myler
Easy start for Stephen Myler in an Ospreys shirt, as he strokes over a simple penalty from close range.
Good of the sound system operators to turn the crowd noise off for the kicker. How very respectful.
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Ospreys 0-0 Dragons
Ospreys are on the attack early, with Wales scrum-half Rhys Webb setting a quick tempo on his return to the side.
Dragons infringe at a ruck and it will be a penalty in front of the posts for Ospreys debutant Stephen Myler.
Players take a knee - apart from two
Ospreys 0-0 Dragons
We saw Scarlets and Cardiff Blues players take a knee yesterday to show their support for the Black Lives Matter movement and other anti-racism initiatives.
Today the Ospreys and Dragons did the same just before kick-off at the Liberty Stadium, apart from Dragons front-rowers Richard Hibbard and Brok Harris.
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Ospreys 0-0 Dragons
A bit of a malfunction from the person in charge of the public address system, as music blares out during the first phase of play.
We've now got fake crowd noise pumped into the Liberty Stadium, which is a bit strange.
Kick-off
Ospreys 0-0 Dragons
It's the Ospreys who get us started.
Referee Adam Jones blows his whistle and we're off!
Tipuric targets 'fresh start' for Ospreys
Ospreys v Dragons (14:15 BST)
One man who is excited about the Ospreys' new dawn under Toby Booth is the region's captain, Justin Tipuric.
The Wales flanker has been speaking to BBC Sport Wales about his hopes for the Ospreys under a new regime.
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Hibbard on Pro14, Dragons and 'steaming' on Zoom
Ospreys v Dragons (14:15 BST)
Dragons hooker Richard Hibbard is certainly excited for the return of Pro14 rugby after almost six months away.
The Wales international has also been telling BBC Sport Wales about the Dragons' new signings, the 25% pay cut the whole squad have agreed to take, and how they spent their time during lockdown.
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Jones back to boost Ospreys
Ospreys v Dragons (14:15 BST)
One of the names that stands out in that Ospreys team is Alun Wyn Jones.
A giant of the global game, the inspirational Wales captain will be making his first Pro14 appearance in 463 days this afternoon.
Jones' most recent Ospreys outing was the Champions Cup play-off match against Scarlets on 18 May, 2019, while his last regular league appearance was against Cardiff Blues in April 2019.
International commitments have limited the lock's regional availability since then, and his return to the starting line-up will be an enormous boost for the Ospreys.
After a torrid season for his home region, Jones will hope to help the Ospreys turn a corner under new head coach Toby Booth.
Dragons team news - debut for Wales centre Tompkins
Ospreys v Dragons (14:15 BST)
Wales centre Nick Tompkins will make his Dragons debut after signing for a year on loan from Saracens.
He will partner Jack Dixon in the Dragons midfield rather than Jamie Roberts, who has tested positive for coronavirus.
Second row Joe Maksymiw will also make his regional debut after arriving from Connacht but Wales wing Jonah Holmes will have to wait for his first game.
Fly-half Sam Davies makes a first return to his former region and will captain the side.
Here's the Dragons team in full:
Dragons: D Howells; O Jenkins, N Tompkins, J Dixon, A Hewitt; S Davies (capt), T Knoyle; B Harris, R Hibbard, L Brown, J Maksymiw, M Screech, B Fry, R Moriarty, T Basham.
Replacements: E Shipp, C Maguire, C Coleman, J Davies, A Wainwright, L Baldwin, A Robson, A Warren.