Leinster vs Ospreys match thread

[pete (buachaill on eirne)]

First topic message reminder :

Hey all,

Thanks god club rugby is back (from an Irish perspective!) needed this.

Seems to be a lot happening Leinster's side of things, with BOD looking like he will come back into the team and the same being said for Cullen. Huge experience re-entering the team after youth has been keeping us more than just a float for a number of months. Very healthy to see. It will interesting to see where they slot in and (if they are on the bench as I imagine they will) who they will be paired with.

Thorn also looks set to make his Leinster debut giving the 3 players mentioned a run up of this game and the Munster derby in Thomond to the HCup 1/4 final.

From an Ospreys side of things, munster losing to Aironi a week back has given them a huge lifeline and they now have a chance to fight for 2nd place and a home semifinal which would prove invaluable I am sure. Bowe has decided he is leaving and there does seem to be an exodus of sorts coming from the Wlesh clubs who together have created a fantastic Grand slam winning team? Will anyone come back from that squad and play a part on Friday.

What are your score perdictions?
What team would you like to see?
If Ospreys were to win how big an impact could it have on the top 3?
Where can either team win it?

LEINSTER:

15: Isa Nacewa
14: David Kearney
13: Brian O'Driscoll
12: Fergus McFadden
11: Luke Fitzgerald
10: Ian Madigan
9: Isaac Boss

1: Heinke van der Merwe
2: Richardt Strauss
3: Nathan White
4: Leo Cullen CAPTAIN
5: Brad Thorn
6: Rhys Ruddock
7: Dominic Ryan
8: Leo Auva'a

REPLACEMENTS:

16: Sean Cronin
17: Jack McGrath
18: Jamie Hagan
19: Damian Browne
20: Kevin McLaughlin
21: John Cooney
22: Eoin O'Malley
23: Fionn Carr

OSPREYS:

15: Richard Fussell
14: Hanno Dirksen
13: Andrew Bishop
12: Ashley Beck
11: Eli Walker
10: Dan Biggar
9: Kahn Fotuali'i

1: Paul James
2: Richard Hibbard
3: Aaron Jarvis
4: Ryan Jones
5: Alun Wyn Jones CAPTAIN
6: Tom Smith
7: Justin Tipuric
8: George Stowers

REPLACEMENTS:

16: Scott Baldwin
17: Ryan Bevington
18: Adam Jones
19: Ian Evans
20: James King
21: Rhys Webb
22: Matthew Morgan
23: Tom Isaacs

As an aside: I have 1 southstand ticket to the game for sale. €22. PM if you're interested.

[gowales]

Walker did score a try against Ulster. But Dirksen's against Edinburgh was much better

[wales606]

I think the pack has given up on giving it out to the backs

So would I if Fotuali, Biggar, Bishop, Fussell and Walker were all in the backline.

[eirebilly]

I will take the three points there but Leinsters scrum was under som pressure.

[gowales]

Forwards are chipping away at the scoreboard so that's a positive... i guess?

[jay_welsh]

Beck and Hano doing brilliantly there.

[eirebilly]

I tell you what, that was a nice try

[wales606]

Brilliant try,

unsurprisingly it was from the 2 backs I didn't mention - Beck and Dirksen - Class.

[gowales]

They should give it to Beck and Hano every time, they always create something. The rest are useless

[Gibson]

Good try by O's.

[mckay1402]

that was a great score. about time too

[gowales]

The one thing Biggar is good at is kicking at goal though. Ole Ospreys!

[Shifty]

Sure that wasn't Dirksen?

I haven't see Walker score any tries, and ive seen most O's games.

Dirksen scored a great try a few weeks ago (can't remember who)

Dirksen scored a cracker away in Edinbrugh I think.

Eli got one a few weeks ago too, he knocked it on but the tmo gave it anyway from memory.

Great try by the Ospreys, at least we might make a fight of it in the second half.

[eirebilly]

10 points in a few minutes... The O's are not playing that bad

[eirebilly]

Silly play by the O's there.

[gowales]

To be honest both teams aren't playing well

[wales606]

The Ospreys really needed a quality OC a few years ago (and still do)

With Bowe and Williams on the wing - they never got them the ball enough.

Pity Beck and Hook never got to play together (although Hook isn't really a 13 either)

They need a creative 13 - Like Laulaula or Davies, Bishop is very average and a terrible try-scorer.

[gowales]

The Ospreys are like the England of old. Even though we play terribly we still manage to stay in the game!

[glamorganalun]

Where are the back row supporting the Osprey runners, twice Ryan has made a run with no support.

[Gibson]

Heave them over lads.....

[eirebilly]

Big few minutes for the O's now

[gowales]

Where are the back row supporting the Osprey runners, twice Ryan has made a run with no support.

Stowers has been an absolutely terrible signing. We might as well have signed a cheap Eastern European or American

[eirebilly]

Surely a try?

[wales606]

Where are the back row supporting the Osprey runners, twice Ryan has made a run with no support.

Tipuric is good, but Smith and Stowers are really poor - the worst backrow in Wales these days.

Ospreys tight 5 keep them in games.

Good to see Aaron Jarvis doing well - Adam Jones' future replacement?

[gowales]

What did Ryan say to the reff?

[eirebilly]

Held up

[glamorganalun]

Ospreys should have had a turn over but the ref inconveniently does not blow and then the scrum is ripped apart again no penalty!

[Gibson]

That ball was down.

[eirebilly]

What did Ryan say to the reff?

He claimed the ref blocked him, and he is right

[wales606]

Brilliant by Beck - I think he kept his arm under that.

Adam Jones comes on for the 5m scrum

[gowales]

The hairbear's on! Scrum time baby

[glamorganalun]

This injury does not look good

[eirebilly]

What happened? I didnt see it

[Shifty]

This is the same clown of a ref that was at the Liberty earlier in the season for the revere fixture and out right refused the Ospreys to dominate in the game ain the second half and did everything he could to help Leinster. It was only when he caused a near riot he eventually gave up and stopped helping them.

I'm not really suprised 50/50 calls go their way, I am annoyed that the Ospreys have Irish refs in Wales and Irish refs in Ireland though, it is very unfair.

[gowales]

Stowers off for James King. Should've taken off Tom Smith instead IMO, hes so crap its unreal

[glamorganalun]

Alyn: That was the point I made earlier i.e., a home ref again

[Gibson]

O Malley on? Now for shome shex.

[gowales]

I agree Alyn. But pretty much all the refs in the Pro 12 are terrible, so at least it's consistant

Yes that is strange about the Irish refs in Wales and Irish refs in Ireland, we better get the same thing next time

[wales606]

BOD is being sexually assaulted by some kids

[glamorganalun]

BOD had a good game for his come back, well done.

[gowales]

Who was the injured guy?

[Golden]

Sad to see Hagan go off. Hopefully its not too serious.

[gowales]

Oh Jamie Hagan, that's a real shame hes young for a prop

[wales606]

,

[Gibson]

This is the same clown of a ref that was at the Liberty earlier in the season for the revere fixture and out right refused the Ospreys to dominate in the game ain the second half and did everything he could to help Leinster. It was only when he caused a near riot he eventually gave up and stopped helping them.

I'm not really suprised 50/50 calls go their way, I am annoyed that the Ospreys have Irish refs in Wales and Irish refs in Ireland though, it is very unfair.

Well, time for Wales to get some quality refs then Alyn. Nige is brillliant but then a huge gap. Clancy is crrrap for both sides. And he's from Limerick, They HATE Leinster with a vengence.

[gowales]

Tighthead 606

[eirebilly]

They are some big points there

[wales606]

Tighthead 606

Yep, just realised, - 23 man bench in the Pro12

[eirebilly]

This is the same clown of a ref that was at the Liberty earlier in the season for the revere fixture and out right refused the Ospreys to dominate in the game ain the second half and did everything he could to help Leinster. It was only when he caused a near riot he eventually gave up and stopped helping them.

I'm not really suprised 50/50 calls go their way, I am annoyed that the Ospreys have Irish refs in Wales and Irish refs in Ireland though, it is very unfair.

Well, time for Wales to get some quality refs then Alyn. Nige is brillliant but then a huge gap. Clancy is crrrap for both sides. And he's from Limerick, They HATE Leinster with a vengence.

Steady on Gibbo...

[wales606]

YC for Tipuric

[gowales]

Eli Walker gives away a penalty for going around the side of the maul

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