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.

[Shifty]

Fair play ospreys, leinster and munster away is something unheard of and the osprey fans still moan

What's the point of beating them away if we still lose to Glasgow (home and away), the Dragons and the Scarlets?

[Morgannwg]

That's a front 5 to dominate Europe you have, it's a shame you don't. Seeing as none of them are leaving how about strengthening the backline?

[Shifty]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/tv/bbc_alba/watchlive

the last 10 minutes of glasgow and aironi is on if anyone is interested.

[wales606]

The scrum won that game, the Ospreys should use their power more often, the ref saved Leinster in the first half but the Ospreys blew them apart at the end of the game. Good to see BOD back, Ireland will need him in the summer. Lots of mistakes but enjoyable game.

All the Ospreys do is scrum, we play for scrums! We have 3 front rows of internationals just to scrum!

Just wish the Blues could borrow one

Bevington
Bennett
Jarvis

Is better than what we will have next season

Heck, ill take

D.Jones
M.Davies
J.Rees

or Griffiths if you want!

Please!?

[wales606]

That's a front 5 to dominate Europe you have, it's a shame you don't. Seeing as none of them are leaving how about strengthening the backline?

With Ian Evans starting and R.Jones at 6 - all they need is a no8....

And a 11, 13 and 15 (and probably a 10 and a second SH would isnt Fotuali)

[Guest]

No shame losing to the scarlet

[Shifty]

Loose head = Paul James, Duncan Jones, Ryan Bevington (All Welsh internationals)

Hookers = Richard Hibbard, Huw Bennett, Mefin Davies (All Welsh internationals)

Tight heads = Adam Jones, Jarvis, Jo Rees = Only Adam is capped, but Jo Rees will be soon.

We also lost Craig Mitchell to Exeter, the Welsh 2nd choice tight head.

[wales606]

Fair play ospreys, leinster and munster away is something unheard of and the osprey fans still moan

What's the point of beating them away if we still lose to Glasgow (home and away), the Dragons and the Scarlets?

Very true

Its those every week games that have put Munster and Leinster at the top year after year.

[wales606]

Loose head = Paul James, Duncan Jones, Ryan Bevington (All Welsh internationals)

Hookers = Richard Hibbard, Huw Bennett, Mefin Davies (All Welsh internationals)

Tight heads = Adam Jones, Jarvis, Jo Rees = Only Adam is capped, but Jo Rees will be soon.

We also lost Craig Mitchell to Exeter, the Welsh 2nd choice tight head.

STOP SHOWING OFF AND GIVE THE BLUES ONE!

[Shifty]

No shame losing to the scarlet

Don't go there!

If those bloody turks come to the Liberty again and start sospaning and Pophething us for hours on end, we'll sit there and sulk like we did last time!

[gowales]

That's a front 5 to dominate Europe you have, it's a shame you don't. Seeing as none of them are leaving how about strengthening the backline?

With Ian Evans starting and R.Jones at 6 - all they need is a no8....

And a 11, 13 and 15 (and probably a 10 and a second SH would isnt Fotuali)

^^ This

[Shifty]

STOP SHOWING OFF AND GIVE THE BLUES ONE!

You couldn't afford them.

[gowales]

Won't be too long before we're called the Galacticos again...

[wales606]

STOP SHOWING OFF AND GIVE THE BLUES ONE!

You couldn't afford them.

Sad but true...

[Guest]

No shame losing to the scarlet

Don't go there!

If those bloody turks come to the Liberty again and start sospaning and Pophething us for hours on end, we'll sit there and sulk like we did last time!

ah sure just watch the Blues fans sulk as we out sing them tomorrow instead

aaah man, nervous about that one, shame we can't have a 4/4 Welsh regions winning this weekend, but kudos, the O's and Dragons have got us off to a great start!

[eirebilly]

Well, i am away lads. Thanks for the banter tonight, its been grand

[Shifty]

With Ian Evans starting and R.Jones at 6 - all they need is a no8....

And a 11, 13 and 15 (and probably a 10 and a second SH would isnt Fotuali)

The problem is not the Ospreys team the problem is having our players available to play because they rarely play for us, if you look at the amount of games in a club season and the amount of games our internationals actually play it's plain silly.

Take Adam Jones as an example, we have played 18 league games this season, Adam Jones has made 2 starts and come off the bench twice so far. 2 starts in 18 games!

Alun-Wyn Jones is the same, 2 starts and 2 sub appearances!

Guess how many games Ryan Jones has played? 3 starts and 2 sub appearances!

And what about old hard grafter Huw Bennett? 1 start and 2 sub appearances in the league!

Paul James has only started 1 game and 1 sub appearance in the league.

Do you guys see a pattern here, we pay these guys hundreds of thousands and they never play for us!

[Knowsit17]

Isn't Bennett leaving next season?

[Shifty]

Isn't Bennett leaving next season?

Well he may as well of if that's all we can use him for, who pay him £200k a season to start one league game?

Yes he is going to Lyon because he wasn't happy with the deal we offered him, but can you blame us if that's all the value for money the Ospreys get because of team Wales?

I'd rather win a grand slam than any club trophy but it's silly employing these Wales guys to never play for us.

[gowales]

True Alyn it is a major problem and one of many reasons why the crowds aren't going to the Liberty.

The only options i can think of are
1. let the internationals go to France/England
2. central contracts.

[Breadvan]

No shame losing to the scarlet

Don't go there!

If those bloody turks come to the Liberty again and start sospaning and Pophething us for hours on end, we'll sit there and sulk like we did last time!

Oh Yeh. Sitting and sulking is what we do best....

[ME-109]

Well played the O's despite the referee. Where are all the leinster supporters? Worrying that they looked quite ordinary tonight....maybe Schmidt isnt the messiah after all ....

[Morgannwg]

I think it's a one off dod, they are still 11 points ahead of 2nd place.

Alyn, the way I see it is if you played more games in Europe by getting out of the group stages then you'd get your moneysworth. I think this season is the only example you can use though seeing as it's post world cup.

EDIT - I think central contracts is the only way. We need a stronger game at this level and it will only get better if we have our top players available. Question is, how do the WRU find the money whilst trying to give the Regions their 3.5 million? Would likely be around 2-3 million to contract some of our top players.

[Liam]

Ref was pretty poor tonight, Ryan wasn't happy when he got in his way for the held up try in the second half. Adam Jones got the Leinster pack going backwards, and you don't see that often. AWJ, Ryan and Ianto were outstanding, as was Dirksen, Hibbard and Tipuric. Well played Osprey's, the feel good feeling of the grandslam obviously transmitted to the Osprey's tonight, could have easily folded when 19-9 down.

[SecretFly]

Well played Ospreys. Deserved the win for the second half punch back. Yes, the ref was poor - especially the sending off. There was nothing in the tackle that required even a strong warning.

Leinster - lacklustre - on and off; and the on wasn't even ON if you get my drift. Nacewa stayed at home in his 22 for most of the night so it kinda tells you..................well, not much. In waiting? Riding casually until big games? Throwing deceptive shapes to lower future opponent's guard - or just rapidly losing form?

I think they'll push up the pace now again though with their International contingent coming back into training. Still, not taking away from Osprey's win. They kept at it and got what was always coming the further the second half progressed.

[Rava]

Great result for Ospreys. Definitely wanted it more in the second half.
Agree Tupuric should not have been binned.
Leinster too much in the comfort zone. Their players didn't really gel tonight like they normally do. Will need to be better in the next two games.

[The Great Aukster]

Potato head lived up to his reputation again as a dreadful referee but his bad decisions cost both teams. The yellow was daft although considering he penalised the Os about 3:1 maybe he thought it was due? Can't understand the inconsistency of the TMO either who seems to be determining more and more games on little evidence. Neither team were impressive tonight and the difference was that the Os had a bit more quality in the pack with the returning Test players, so deserved to shade it.

Thought Schmidt's decision to contest the scrums with McGrath at tighthead was ridiculous and a tiny bit cynical. He obviously did it to see if McGrath would be an option there should White or Hagan be laid up for the bigger games coming up.

Madigan continues to impress in attack but not really as a controlling 10. Watching him and McFadden, the obvious conclusion was that they should have been wearing each others shirts.

[wales606]

Potato head lived up to his reputation again as a dreadful referee but his bad decisions cost both teams. The yellow was daft although considering he penalised the Os about 3:1 maybe he thought it was due? Can't understand the inconsistency of the TMO either who seems to be determining more and more games on little evidence. Neither team were impressive tonight and the difference was that the Os had a bit more quality in the pack with the returning Test players, so deserved to shade it.

Thought Schmidt's decision to contest the scrums with McGrath at tighthead was ridiculous and a tiny bit cynical. He obviously did it to see if McGrath would be an option there should White or Hagan be laid up for the bigger games coming up.

Madigan continues to impress in attack but not really as a controlling 10. Watching him and McFadden, the obvious conclusion was that they should have been wearing each others shirts.

They had 2 props on the field - they had to contest the scrums?

[Rava]

Yea, Schmidt's decision was strange.

Don't agree though re; the TMO. Thought he got it absolutely right on both occasions.

[Rava]

Wales, they had two looseheads on the field and Leinster were offered no contest scrums. Schmidt declined.

[ME-109]

Schmidt should be sacked immediately. Losing to a last minute score against a welsh team at home. Poor attacking play, poor decision making, looked clueless when camped on the other teams line, poor scrum. Clearly his coaching is very poor, look at players of the calibre of O'Malley and Kearney...looking completely useless...even BODs return was underwhelming....should be got rid of immediately

[wales606]

Wales, they had two looseheads on the field and Leinster were offered no contest scrums. Schmidt declined.

I didn't think they were allowed to go to uncontested it they have 2 props on the field - same as internationals when there is only a LH on the bench. I thought that was why they expanded it to 23, so uncontested scrums wouldn't happen.

If they were offered it, but didn't accept then I think that was the non-cynical decision and more inkeeping with good sportsmanship - especially when Adam Jones and Bevington had just come onto the field.

[Liam]

Yea, Schmidt's decision was strange.

Don't agree though re; the TMO. Thought he got it absolutely right on both occasions.

Completely agree, I thought the ref got in the way for the disallowed try, and play should have been stopped, ryan jones wasn't to happy about it. The second one was clear, Hibbard touched the tip of the ball down, try.

[SecretFly]

Why sack him now? Just wait for him to take over from Kidney and then the IRFU can kill two bird with one stone. One Provincial, one National. Quits.

[Rava]

Well unless you saw the slow motion replay for the Hibbard try then you couldn't be sure. Only on the last showing on TV was it clear.

[ME-109]

Fush an chups fly....

[SecretFly]

You must have met a lot of Aussies and New Zealanders who ask for the old "fush and chups", DOD. You're fixated on that one. Do you own a chipper van out on the Ring of Kerry?

[The Great Aukster]

Well unless you saw the slow motion replay for the Hibbard try then you couldn't be sure. Only on the last showing on TV was it clear.

Perhaps it is just my tv then, but on it there was considerable doubt whether the tip of the ball touched the ground, and if it did whether that was actually over the line. Certainly on the broadcast evidence it was inconclusive but maybe the TMO has more or different views so fair enough. I don't think it is up to the TMO to make 50-50 calls, as he has only a 2D view of a 3D situation, therefore the evidence has to be crystal clear.

[ME-109]

Ring of Kerry me arse. More like outside The Spaniard in Kinsale - its called Man Fridays...

[maestegmafia]

Well played Leinster.

Great victory for the Ospreys.

[Cari]

WOO HOO!

That's all.

[westisbest]

How did BOD play on his return?

[Breadvan]

Great win for us. Excelent 2nd half. Our backs are slightly getting better, slowly but surely! This game reminded me of O's home games. Expecting to win, be in a winning position but eventually lose and everyone's pished off with the ref.

[pete (buachaill on eirne)]

Poor Leinster performance well done o's.

Our scrum really did get mullered a bit when White went off.

I disagreed with the tmo on both occasions I was the in south stand for both tries so didn't get a great look at that try but the Leinster try should have been awarded if there had been a camera with the view I had. Oh well. Great kick biggar

[maestegmafia]

Watching the game, I think the Ospreys could do with getting Henson back. Blues don't seem to want him.

[GunsGerms]

How did Brad Thorn play?

[maestegmafia]

How did Brad Thorn play?

Good, nothing outstanding and off early in the second half.

[wales606]

Watching the game, I think the Ospreys could do with getting Henson back. Blues don't seem to want him.

The Blues do want him - cant afford him

[maestegmafia]

Watching the game, I think the Ospreys could do with getting Henson back. Blues don't seem to want him.

The Blues do want him - cant afford him

Let's hope central contracting is PCWs main conclusion from their investigations...

[Rory_Gallagher]

Wasn't the greatest of games - both teams looked very rusty I thought. Well done to the Ospreys for grinding out the win though. Tipuric once again looked a menace, he is really going to be challenging Warburton for the 7 shirt their entire careers it seems. As for Leinster, Fitzgerald has to get his chance at 13. He is a smart player, and needs to be more involved. Seems he will not get a chance there with BOD back though.

[Sponsored content]