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.

[wales606]

Game over

[eirebilly]

I would like to see that again...

[gowales]

For god's sake how is that a yellow

[jay_welsh]

Tip tackle? really?

[Gibson]

Just trying to give the Welsh some balance and prospective Billy.
14 men now. Time for us to twist the knife.

[gowales]

Good kick by Madigan there

[glamorganalun]

Well done ref having great game MOTM I think, nothing in that tackle.

[Scoped]

God lord he even stated that he put him on his back! Absurd reffing so far

[Golden]

Bit rediculous giving a yellow for that.

[wales606]

Some of these "tip tackle" decisions are getting ridiculous after the WC. Penalties if you like, but not YCs.

Webb is on

[eirebilly]

Just trying to give the Welsh some balance and prospective Billy.
14 men now. Time for us to twist the knife.

I am a Munsterman but i am in here supporting your boys Gibbo.

[eirebilly]

For god's sake how is that a yellow

I havent a clue anymore, i really dont.

[thebluesmancometh]

That is possibly the worst yellow I have ever seen! Tip tackle my backside!

The game is getting softer and softer, time to do away with the contested scrum, then the ruck ala league, then it'll be time to put the flags on your belt and play touch only!

GARBAGE!

[glamorganalun]

Biggar kicking away possession again with players outside him

[Golden]

Anyone watching on rte?

What the feck was that?

[eirebilly]

Jones knew what he was doing there

[Gibson]

Just trying to give the Welsh some balance and prospective Billy.
14 men now. Time for us to twist the knife.

I am a Munsterman but i am in here supporting your boys Gibbo.

I know Billy. I know. Just joshin.

[wales606]

Jones knew what he was doing there

Just a wrap around ref...honest.

[Morgannwg]

Alyn, agree with you there. Ospreys were totally dominant in that game.

This yellow card and that call for 'crossing' then were both ridiculous. The league is suffering due to these awful refs. With regards to getting Irish refs in Irish fixtures, they also give us James Jones to officiate games between Irish and Welsh teams. Nigel Owens has done in the past too. I guess it's the lack of Scottish officials letting us down.

[Golden]

Leinster have really dropped the intensity levels.

Get BOD back on!

[eirebilly]

Fair dues to the O's, they are not being out done whilst being a man down.

[wales606]

Ospreys still in this if they get back to 15.

Webb is speeding the game up - He really should be first choice for the O's. Hopefully Tandy will realise what Holley never did.

[wales606]

What the F was that penalty for!?!?!?

[gowales]

O's should bring on Morgan, we need someone to create something

[wales606]

O's back to 15

Ian Evans on

[eirebilly]

Good effort from the O's. Game very much still on

[gowales]

Bloody hell, Cronin's got some gas!

[Gibson]

Not bad for a Hooker Gowales.

[wales606]

Cronin is the Hooker equivalent of Gethin - should be challenging Best in the future.

[eirebilly]

Jaysus, and a good kick as well

[Shifty]

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.

Actually I think the Irish refs are the worsed, most biased and incompetent of the lot.
Fitzgibbon? Dangerous Dudley? Wilkinson?
Jesus christ...

The best referee and I have seen this season is Italian Marius Mitrea

[gowales]

Good scrum by the O's there

[wales606]

Adam Jones is beasting

[Scoped]

Adam Jones makes it seem so easy

[Shifty]

Good effort from the O's. Game very much still on

I can assure you there is no way in hell the Ospreys will be allowed to win this game.

Though to be fair the boys are giving it a go, a lot better than the pathetic home effort against Glasgow.

[wales606]

Beautiful angle by Beck

[Guest]

with that much of an overlap, if the O's haven't scored......I don't know what to say.

[wales606]

I think Hibbard made that?!

[Gibson]

Held up.

[eirebilly]

That will be close

[Golden]

No Try? looks held up

[gowales]

Charging run by Hibbard there

[eirebilly]

Held up

[glamorganalun]

Scrum will do if not given, the ball is down

[wales606]

Ref obstructing the camera angle

Looks like it hits the line to me.

[Golden]

Or not. Pressure kick here though

[gowales]

Ooh i think it hit the ground straight away then bounced up from the impact

[Gibson]

Bollix!

[gowales]

Try!

[eirebilly]

Try

Big kick now

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