Fussell Ready to Go
Richard Fussell of Ospreys says he is ready and raring to go ahead of the new Magners League season.
Fussell signed for the Welsh club with a developing and exciting reputation. Some were surprised by the move but it's clear he doesn't lack any ambition or drive and just wants to play rugby.
The Magners League looks as though it will be one of the most intensely fought leagues in Europe this season and the winger seems genuinely happy to be a part of it.
He has a number of playing attributes that will mean he can start the season in proper shape and with the best possible chance of making an impression. However, it's important he does not get carried away because over excitement can lead to injuries early on in a campaign.
The Player
Fussell's biggest asset is his pace and this is something he is feared for. He is not a big man by any means and relies on his speed across the turf to get out of trouble on different occasions.
His pace can allow him to do two things. Firstly, he can use it to break through a gap that he sees in the opposition defence and secondly, he can use it to cut back inside or get out of the way of a bigger player trying to tackle him.
He has a great deal of experience having made just under 100 appearances for the Dragons who also play in the Magners League. This would have helped him to settle in much faster and allows him to be fully focused on the start of the season.
Fussell said: "It was a big decision to move but I think I needed the change. I want to settle in quickly here and hopefully, I can do well for the Ospreys. I want to be playing regularly, just doing what I love, which is playing rugby. I want to be playing well, being seen, and you never know where that can take you, we'll see what happens."
Level Head
It is vitally important to Ospreys that their new winger keeps a level head and does not let his excitement get the better of him. He is clearly very pumped up and ready to go and this has to stay as a positive thing.
The problem is that Fussell could let the adrenaline kick in during any pre-season matches that Ospreys have. This means he will be running that little bit faster or stretching that little bit further. This could lead to a muscle injury or something else that keeps him out of the start of the season.
He added: "It's a big challenge to force my way through that lot to get games, but I want to test myself, to prove what I'm capable of. I can only learn from working with the likes of top internationals, and hopefully I can progress as a player and really challenge for a place. I'm ambitious, which is why I've come to the Ospreys."
Betting Advice
Ospreys are always a decent bet in the Magners League but they have lost a great deal of consistency in recent times that has stopped the club being more successful. Don't be afraid to have a punt if you can get decent odds on them.
Fussell will be a try scoring candidate. However, the best approach here is to track him through pre-season and then wait one or two games to see how he starts the season. If he flies out of the traps like as expected then he'll be a candidate to score in any match.
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