Aironi v Ospreys

Before you start i know this game may seem like a bit of a dead rubber but i'm expecting a good game Saturday night. I think Aironi will be desperate to go out with a bang and give their loyal fans something to smile about. Also, many players will want to advertise themselves in the hope of gaining future employment i'm sure. The Ospreys will want to maintain momentum in the run up to a home semi against Munster or Glasgow as well. Interested to see what kind of team they'll put out. They could stick with the team they put out against Dragons;

15 Ross Jones
14 Hanno Dirksen
13 Tom Isaacs
12 Andrew Bishop
11 Shane Williams
10 Dan Biggar
9 Rhys Webb
1 Ryan Bevington
2 Richard Hibbard
3 Adam Jones
4 Alun Wyn Jones (Capt)
5 Ian Evans
6 Ryan Jones
7 Justin Tipuric
8 Joe Bearman

Replacements:
16 Scott Baldwin
17 Paul James
18 Joe Rees
19 James King
20 Tom Smith
21 Kahn Fotuali'i
22 Matthew Morgan
23 Ashley Beck

OR they could go for a totally different line up and breed some up and coming talent(with a few exceptions before you say anything);

15 Ross Jones
14 Kristian Phillips
13 Hanno Dirksen
12 Steffan Watermeyer
11 Luke Morgan
10 Matthew Morgan
9 Rhys Webb
8 Morgan Allen
7 Justin Tipuric
6 James King
5 Ian Gough
4 Ian Evans
3 Joe Rees
2 Scott Baldwin
1 Duncan Jones

16 Ryan Bevington
17 Richard Hibbard
18 Adam Jones
19 Alun Wyn Jones
20 Ryan Jones
21 Kahn Fotuali'i
22 Dan Biggar
23 Ashley Beck

(The above selection i plagiarised from a forum on the O's website by the way, I think it's a good selection)

With the Semi final being played a week tomorrow they'll be mindful of injuries i'm sure so maybe a mix of both selections will be best. What do you think?

P.S the game is on the box. BBC2 saturday night at 19.10pm.

Actual team announced. very strong. Let's hope for an injury free tie.

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 Adam Jones
4 Alun Wyn Jones (Capt)
5 Ian Evans
6 Tom Smith
7 Sam Lewis
8 Joe Bearman

Replacements:

16 Scott Baldwin
17 Ryan Bevington
18 Joe Rees
19 James King
20 George Stowers
21 Rhys Webb
22 Matthew Morgan
23 Tom Isaacs

I would expect the Ospreys to go with a more or less second string side, but have a few bigger names on the bench to come on and win the game if required. However Tandy may want to set out a stall, and say look we will put a full strength side out here, and hopefully, put a big score on Aironi, letting everyone know that the Ospreys have turned the corner and are ready for the fun of the play-offs.

P.S Is this really the game that the Beeb are putting on? Thats pretty poor considering that the Scarlets V Blues is the same time.

Thanks for the comment spiderman! Was worried i'd be out for a duck. I agree on your points raised. I'd like to see a strong side but maybe resting a couple like maybe Joe Rees in for Adam Jones and MM in for Biggar.

Good old S4c are showing the Scarlets Blues game at the same time.

It is one of those awkward ballencing tricks because you want to rest up your better players ready for Munster (i assume) at home in the play-off, however you need to ensure that you don't go into the play-off with undercooked players and a lose against Aironi too. Good luck for your boys anyway.

As for the TV I assume that Glasgow with be on Alba, and Munster/Ulster on NI, leaving only the matches with nothing riding on them untelevised.

georgestowersbiceps wrote:15 Ross Jones
14 Kristian Phillips
13 Hanno Dirksen
12 Steffan Watermeyer
11 Luke Morgan
10 Matthew Morgan
9 Rhys Webb
8 Morgan Allen
7 Justin Tipuric
6 James King
5 Ian Gough
4 Ian Evans
3 Joe Rees
2 Scott Baldwin
1 Duncan Jones

16 Ryan Bevington
17 Richard Hibbard
18 Adam Jones
19 Alun Wyn Jones
20 Ryan Jones
21 Kahn Fotuali'i
22 Dan Biggar
23 Ashley Beck

(The above selection i plagiarised from a forum on the O's website by the way, I think it's a good selection)

With the Semi final being played a week tomorrow they'll be mindful of injuries i'm sure so maybe a mix of both selections will be best. What do you think?

P.S the game is on the box. BBC2 saturday night at 19.10pm.

Any thoughts on this game or anything else related please share.

I think it's a fantastic selection, in fact I think the bloke that picked that team is simply a genius!

I think the Ospreys should treat this as an LV Cup game, nothing can prevent us for finishing second so why risk anyone who we would miss badly in the Play off game?

Give fringe players a chance, many of them will need to step up next season, so let them get a chance in a place like Italy in an emotially charged game, and the last Aironi will ever play.

Good selection especially luke morgan... Very exciting player

Ross Jones looks like the palyer with the brightest future for me, the Bridgend fullback has not looked out of his depth at all when he has stepped up to regional level, and I suppose he can thank Tandy for that.

Aye Ross Jones has been in good form.

Luke Morgan I had seen for the U20s and looks a great runner, a bit of "meat on his bat" too, so I don't think he will struggle stepping up to adult rugby at a young age.

Joe Rees is going well at TH, Adam Jones rates him very highly as a decent prospect for the future for the Os and Wales.

I think probably a mixture of both is what will be named, that's certainly what I'd look to do.

I have to admit, I've not seen a game since September, only highlights. Being down here, I am completely out of the loop.

How are the younger guys looking under Tandy? Has there been any talk of recruitment or departures?

The Ospreys team to play Aironi on Saturday 5th May 2012 at Stadio Luigi Zaffanella, kick off at 7.30pm (UK), will be as follows:

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 Adam Jones

4 Alun Wyn Jones (Capt)

5 Ian Evans

6 Tom Smith

7 Sam Lewis

8 Joe Bearman

Replacements:

16 Scott Baldwin

17 Ryan Bevington

18 Joe Rees

19 James King

20 George Stowers

21 Rhys Webb

22 Matthew Morgan

23 Tom Isaacs

The following players were not considered because of injury:

Justin Tipuric - Back spasm

Aaron Jarvis - Hamstring

Tommy Bowe - Haematoma

Kristian Phillips - Abdomen

Huw Bennett - Achilles

Will Price - ACL

Cai Griffiths - Arm

Ben John - Groin

Gareth Owen - ACL

Nikki Walker - ACL

Head Coach, Steve Tandy, commented:

"It's important that we keep the momentum of the last couple of months going and we'll expect the team to maintain the standards that they've set in the last few games. It's easy for players to get distracted with a semi-final on the horizon, but the group has worked very hard this week and we've ensured that the focus has been firmly on Aironi and what will be a very difficult evening for us.

"The attitude of the team has been spot on over the last couple of months and they've got their reward for that with a home semi-final. It's important moving on from here that we make sure that hard work isn't wasted, and we kick on over the closing weeks of the season. What we've done before now won't matter, what we'll be judged on is how we perform in these do or die games at the end of the season and we want to ensure that we give our supporters something to be proud of.

"We'll have a short turnaround given that we are traveling back on Sunday then at home in the semi-final on Friday night, but there is a real buzz about the place ahead of that game and we'll all be looking forward to getting back to the Liberty. After the atmosphere at the last home game it'll be good to be back in front of our fans who'll be getting behind us in the push for the final."


The team is minus Ryan Jones, he is not injured.

still can't unserstand why Webb starts from the bench???? Fotuali'i slows the game down and loses us our ability to recycle quickly and brake the gain line!!!

TBJ9625 wrote:still can't unserstand why Webb starts from the bench???? Fotuali'i slows the game down and loses us our ability to recycle quickly and brake the gain line!!!

How long does Kahn have left on his contract? Is it just a case of 'heck we gotta pay him, may as well use him'?

but they have to pay webb to!! I'd rather give our local lad time than a NWQ. Unfortunately I believe he has another season on his contract

LordDowlais wrote:Ross Jones looks like the palyer with the brightest future for me, the Bridgend fullback has not looked out of his depth at all when he has stepped up to regional level, and I suppose he can thank Tandy for that.

Yes he has.

Better than Fussell though, how long does he and Fotuali'i have left on their contracts?

TBJ - I fully agree, I was just wondering if Cuddy has had a bit of a say in the matter, as IMO he is to blame for any and all weird goings on with the Ospreys.

he might now, I know when Johnson was there he would always argue the toss with him!!! Like the Henson issue for example. I just wish we would off load the journeymen and concentrate on developing welsh talent. I'm not against NWQ players, but lets have ones that add value another Holah or Tiatia or Terblance would be great

Must admit that I am not happy that Fussell is constantly tried at fullback, he looks out of his depth and is a liability. I think most people feel the same

maestegmafia wrote:Must admit that I am not happy that Fussell is constantly tried at fullback, he looks out of his depth and is a liability. I think most people feel the same

Yup and what's worse were almost certain to lose with that back row. That's the formation we used when we scraped past Aironi at home and then lost to Glasgow at home.

Resting the stars for the big game?

maestegmafia wrote:Resting the stars for the big game?

Well Ryan Jones is on the form of his life and we have no chance in either play off without him, so resting him is a good idea. I am interested to know why we signed Stowers as we seldom use him.

Because Joe Bearman is also in fantastic form by the looks of it.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/welsh/

Looking forward to this

Scotish ref, no idea what is going on in the scrum

Alyn:

Ryan is hoping to be a Dad again this weekend, hope it is a boy

glamorganalun wrote:Alyn:

Ryan is hoping to be a Dad again this weekend, hope it is a boy

Yup I read on the Ospreys forum he is on parental leave.

aaran javis is expecting in the next couple of weeks. They've been going to the same antinatal as me and the wife

They said on Scrum V that R-Jo is on paternity leave.

I was a bit disappointed with last night's game. Should've been an ideal opportunity for a bonus point win. O's started really well, and then...I don't know what happened. Still, we've the big semi now against Munster next weekend. Hope we can stuff them.

Who was MOTM after? I had to turn over straight after the game to watch Russell Howard...

Ryan's partner had a girl last night, best wishes to him.

AlynDavies wrote:Ryan's partner had a girl last night, best wishes to him.

I believe he's a married man now Alyn. But yes congratulations to Mr and Mrs J.