Tandy doesn't fear change with new-look Ospreys

Back-to-back fifth place finishes in the competition have left Ospreys fans, players and coaches frustrated.

And after seeing experienced internationals Adam Jones, Richard Hibbard and Ian Evans leave the club this summer, onlookers may fear that elusive play-off spot is not forthcoming.

For Tandy, however, regeneration is ideal and with the old guard leaving the Liberty Stadium it is time for youthful exuberance to lead the way.

In Wales internationals Dan Biggar, Justin Tipuric and Alun Wyn Jones they still possess an experienced core, but it is his squad depth that has Tandy quietly confident.

"We feel we have got an outstanding academy, where we bring a lot of talent through, as has shown for the whole time we have been here," said the head coach. "It's something that we are really excited about.

"Even though Biggs (Biggar), Becks (Ashley Beck) and Tips (Tipuric) are still young men, it is their time to lead the team and move forward.

"We have still got Alun Wyn (Jones) and Joe Bearman so there is plenty of experience to feed off for these younger guys but I think with a lot of these kids coming through now there is no fear.

"They just come in and they are maybe a little naïve but that's up to us as coaches to iron that out."

Those two fifth-place finishes followed Ospreys' fourth PRO12 title in 2012 - a record that can only be matched by Leinster after their back-to-back titles in the intervening years.

And Tandy expects the early stages of the season to play an important role in defining whether the Welsh outfit can recreate their previous success.

"Last year we fell down around the autumn time, when we only won one out of our six games, but I think we have got a little bit more strength in some areas," he added.

"More people are writing us off than giving us any positives but that's sport and that's something you've got to contend with.

"Whether you're front-runners or underdogs - whatever you want to call it - we believe in ourselves, we believe in our coaches and people we have got coming through.

"We are realistic in the fact that there will be one or two blips during the season but you learn and you get experience to make sure those blips don't happen again."

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