Ospreys v Scarlets thriller shows what pro rugby in Wales could be but two big changes are needed for apathy to stop

Saturday’s match between the Ospreys and Scarlets was one of the Welsh rugby events of the year.

It had everything you could want. A rivalry, something to play for – both teams are battling it out for a Champions Cup spot next season – 13 tries and a bumper crowd.

Fans were at the ground hours before kick-off thanks to the pre-match festival activities which the Ospreys had arranged at the Swansea.com Stadium and then they were treated to an absolute belter of a match.

Leaving the ground on Saturday night there were two feelings which were impossible to shift: the first was a general appreciation for what was a fantastic event, the United Rugby Championship at its best, and the second was to ponder why we can’t get that every week.

Is it reasonable to expect a crowd which was officially announced as 10,141 every week? Probably not. Welsh rugby just isn’t at that point yet. But Saturday is clear evidence of what is achievable when the league gets things right.

First was the kick-off time. As we saw at Cardiff for their game against the Scarlets recently, a favourable kick-off time which does not limit travel options or result in fans getting home beyond 11pm makes a huge difference. The 5.15pm Saturday afternoon kick-off slot, although not perfect, worked.

Second, and arguably most importantly, was the availability of Test match players. Barring injury, both teams had their Wales internationals available and on display. These are the kinds of players who fans want to see but their presence is all too infrequent.

When you get these two vital ingredients, you start to get a flavour of what the United Rugby Championship – a league which has struggled to capture the imagination in Wales – can be. Suddenly, with superstars on