Rabbo Pro 12 Final thread(Teams included)

First topic message reminder :

Right, now, we know the teams, we know the venue, how do we think this one will pan out ? Although there is less at stake, I think that this game will be a lot better than HC final, and with Leinster having home advantage, it is hard to look past a Leinster win, but the Ospreys have been to the RDS this season and won so they will not fear going to Dublin, also Tandy has come in and breathed fresh air into the squad, but I still think Leinster will win but it will be very close, probably just a score in it. So I am going for Leinster by 3pts.

LEINSTER:

15: Rob Kearney 14: Fergus McFadden 13: Brian O'Driscoll 12: Gordon D'Arcy 11: Isa Nacewa 10: Jonathan Sexton 9: Eoin Reddan

1: Heinke van der Merwe 2: Sean Cronin 3: Mike Ross 4: Leo Cullen CAPTAIN 5: Devin Toner 6: Kevin McLaughlin 7: Shane Jennings 8: Jamie Heaslip

REPLACEMENTS:

16: Richardt Strauss 17: Cian Healy/Jack McGrath 18: Nathan White 19: Brad Thorn 20: Dominic Ryan 21: John Cooney 22: Ian Madigan 23: David Kearney

OSPREYS:

15 Richard Fussell
14 Hanno Dirksen
13 Andrew Bishop
12 Ashley Beck
11 Shane Williams
10 Dan Biggar
9 Rhys Webb
1 Paul James
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 Ryan Bevington
18 Aaron Jarvis
19 James King
20 Tom Smith
21 Kahn Fotuali'i
22 Matthew Morgan
23 Tom Isaacs[/quote]

Sorry Pete, never heard of the place. Is it near the city center?

Wow- has it just sold out? I got a ticket for me auld Dad yesterday and I must say it did appear to be the last one in the stand !!

This looks an absolute cracker and I can't wait for Sunday at 4 pm. I'd be interested in your thoughts on how this game will go. I've a feeling it will be better than the HC Final and of course a lot closer - if Leinster can hang in there

You might have to merge this post with mine.

There's nothing like build up to a big match is there? And this is NOTHING like build up to a big match?

Is having the final to the domestic season after the final to the ERC kind of like having a chicken chat starter after your vindaloo main?

Shoot me down if i'm wrong (at least that'll get us talking about it anyway!)

Good point George, i think the season would be better if the European cup was the last game, like in soccer ball.

Still, I'm really looking forward to this one, it's sold out and I didn't make it to London. A good few Leinster players were back in training last Sunday for this, make no mistake we let all the good work in the league this season go to waste. Have the O's got any injury concerns?

None that i'm aware of. Suspect we'll have the same starting line up as the Munster game. I hear that Leinster have already sold 11500 season tickets for next season? that's impressive. Hopefully we wont destroy you to such an extent that they will demand refunds! Haha. Only kidding. Hoping for victory but expecting a good performance from us. Should be a great game.

Yeah, we sold out of ST’s last year so with the HC at least in the bag I think we can expect to do the same this year, hopefully we will have a couple more sellouts during the season, but attendances have been fairly good this year. 15k average or there abouts.

Our only new injury is Isaac Boss, so I would expect this 23 to be picked but I’m guessing on who’s going to start and who’s going to bench.

VDM – Strauss – Ross
Toner – Thorn
O’Brien – Heaslip – Jennings
Reddan – Sexton
Nacewa – Darcy – O’Driscoll – McFadden
R.Kearney

Cronin – Healy – White – Cullen – McLaughlin – Cooney – Madigan – D.Kearney

Leinster made mistakes last year - they wont make the same mistakes this year.

I dont think motivation will be a problem for either Leinster or Ospreys.

Cant wait for this game!! Should be a cracker. So many good match ups. Tipuric is just outstanding at the moment and the backrow clashes on the weekend should be immense.

I have to say in the front 5 I think the Ospreys may have the edge on Leinster, only just. They have been in great form the last few weeks.

Leinster are no doubt favourites for this match given the sheer quality of their team and HC success. That said if there is one bogey side Leinster have its the Ospreys.

Ospreys by a narrow score to snatch the cup.

Either way though this should be a great game and I'm just happy to see the Ospreys finally start to play rugby like I always thought they could. Tandy has made a massive difference even though he has only simplified things for the players by allowing them to play heads up rugby in attack.

This will be a cracker. Ospreys are in fantastic form and it will take a monumental effort from Leinster to do the double I think.

However I think Leinster really want this bad, they aren't satisfied with just the HEC, so I'm backing them to go to the well once more and beat a very strong and dangerous Ospreys side.

Sorry Dowlais didn't know there was one out there

Found it

Leinster at home and burning for the double after blowing it last year should be favourites and I's go for a win for them by a score .

However the Ospreys front five seem to be in form to match just about any NH non international side at the moment and with a blistering back three and having done the double over Leinster already clearly have the game to upset them so I'm half convincing myself the other way.

Good one to scrub the barbeque off afternoon in the garden a few cans and settle down for methinks.

This looks an absolute cracker and I can't wait for Sunday at 4 pm. I've a feeling it will be better than the HC Final and of course a lot closer - if Leinster can hang in there

Not sure the O’s scrum will dominate. Didn’t James and Jones start against Ireland in the 6nations? There was at best parity in the scrums that day. The last time we played the Ospreys our scrum was in serious trouble, but Ross and Hagan were injured and we played a very inexperienced loosehead at tighthead. And they only won by a point.

This time round we’ll have White and Healy or VDM on the bench, so our scrummaging will be fine no matter what front row combo we play.

I think the Ospreys will give Leinster a much tougher fight than Ulster, they'll punish them physically and steal more turnover ball. BUT, I think Leinster will hold out and win, but it will be close.

Go Ospreys

munkian wrote:I think the Ospreys will give Leinster a much tougher fight than Ulster

I think this will be closer than the HEC final but mainly because I don't think Leinster will be able to replicate the performance they produced last weekend. Ulster pushed them a lot closer than the scoreline suggests but they were just ruthlessly clinical and took every point on offer whereas Ulster weren't able to take enough of their chances.

The question for me is can Leinster pull out a win here even if they are not 100%? I think they can but it will be very close. Either side could win this.

Hmmmm.... didn't seem that one coming...


Healey is a great forward, I suspect he'd like to be a back row player. Is he a decent scrumager though ?

Mickado wrote:Not sure the O’s scrum will dominate. Didn’t James and Jones start against Ireland in the 6nations? There was at best parity in the scrums that day. The last time we played the Ospreys our scrum was in serious trouble, but Ross and Hagan were injured and we played a very inexperienced loosehead at tighthead. And they only won by a point.

This time round we’ll have White and Healy or VDM on the bench, so our scrummaging will be fine no matter what front row combo we play.

Paul James didn't play that game it was the young and inexperienced Rhys Gill.

rodders wrote:

munkian wrote:I think the Ospreys will give Leinster a much tougher fight than Ulster

I think this will be closer than the HEC final but mainly because I don't think Leinster will be able to replicate the performance they produced last weekend. Ulster pushed them a lot closer than the scoreline suggests but they were just ruthlessly clinical and took every point on offer whereas Ulster weren't able to take enough of their chances.

The question for me is can Leinster pull out a win here even if they are not 100%? I think they can but it will be very close. Either side could win this.

Sorry, I meant no disrespect to Ulster. I thought Ulster were goign to really push Leinster to begin with but as you said, Leisnter were very clinical. Ospreys have are a very physical side and have a weeks rest. They also have a very good ball stealer in Tipuric.

Munkian ... this is a very good Ospreys side so you have every reason to be optimistic.

Last season showed how hard it is to do the double but I think this Leinster side is much stronger than last years and they have the 8 day turn around. Ospreys are in a rich vain of form, will be fresher, and look to have tremendous team spirit so this is very hard to call! Can't wait .

I'll be in Dublin for it, visiting girlfriend's relatives, hopefuly more than a couple of them will want to watch it too

munkian wrote:Hmmmm.... didn't seem that one coming...


Healey is a great forward, I suspect he'd like to be a back row player. Is he a decent scrumager though ?

For his try against Ulster, he won us a scrum turnover 2 phases before hand. And he was up against John Afoa.

Lord - fair enough, forgot Gill started. Still don't think the O's are going to have dominance in the scrum.

Mickado wrote:

munkian wrote:Hmmmm.... didn't seem that one coming...


Healey is a great forward, I suspect he'd like to be a back row player. Is he a decent scrumager though ?

For his try against Ulster, he won us a scrum turnover 2 phases before hand. And he was up against John Afoa.

Lord - fair enough, forgot Gill started. Still don't think the O's are going to have dominance in the scrum.

Whose the ref ?

munkian wrote:I'll be in Dublin for it, visiting girlfriend's relatives, hopefuly more than a couple of them will want to watch it too

Have a good one . I'll be backing my Leinster muckers even though the shoitehawks beat us last week ( ) but I think this Ospreys side will be winning some Silverware in the near future, maybe on Sunday. The way they demolished Munster was frightening and they've had a strong league campaign. If theres one Rabo team that have a shot here it's the Ospreys.

munkian wrote:

Mickado wrote:

munkian wrote:Hmmmm.... didn't seem that one coming...


Healey is a great forward, I suspect he'd like to be a back row player. Is he a decent scrumager though ?

For his try against Ulster, he won us a scrum turnover 2 phases before hand. And he was up against John Afoa.

Lord - fair enough, forgot Gill started. Still don't think the O's are going to have dominance in the scrum.

Whose the ref ?

Poite.

Is it a contradiction to say that I think the O's will have the upper hand in the scrum but wont dominate? That's how I see it.

Mickado wrote:

munkian wrote:

Mickado wrote:

munkian wrote:Hmmmm.... didn't seem that one coming...


Healey is a great forward, I suspect he'd like to be a back row player. Is he a decent scrumager though ?

For his try against Ulster, he won us a scrum turnover 2 phases before hand. And he was up against John Afoa.

Lord - fair enough, forgot Gill started. Still don't think the O's are going to have dominance in the scrum.

Whose the ref ?

Poite.

Although I was joking, I don't know if Poite is good for either team.

He’ll benefit the team that likes to scrummage illegally.

No comment

Go Ospreys

There!

Now you all see the evidence. Leinster winning yet again HAS done the world some good. Hersh rooting for a Welsh side.... now that has to be applauded as Leinster working in divine ways for the betterment of humanity.....

I'll tell you what if the Ospreys win I'll buy one of their lovely shirts.

SecretFly wrote:There!

Now you all see the evidence. Leinster winning yet again HAS done the world some good. Hersh rooting for a Welsh side.... now that has to be applauded as Leinster working in divine ways for the betterment of humanity.....

The poor lad is in danger of developing schizophrenia

On the pro12 website Tandy states there is 1 injury/fitness concern for the game. A player involved in the match day 23 apparantly but he doesn't want to disclose who. I started think who the worst case scenario is but ended up with about 10 players! Teams and everything will be announced tomorrow so we'll have to see then.

http://www.rabodirectpro12.com/news/14126.php

georgestowersbiceps wrote:Is it a contradiction to say that I think the O's will have the upper hand in the scrum but wont dominate? That's how I see it.

Thats a fair point. To be honest the scrum will come down to how the ref interprets it. Total Lotto these days. In the tight 5 though I think Ospreys will still provide better go forward ball.

But the real battle will be can the Ospreys backrow secure the ball quickly that the front 5 provide. Leinster have an outstanding backrow no question about that. Tipuric identified this earlier in the week. On the plus side Tipuric is out of this World, Ryan Jones is playing probably his best rugby at the minute sine the famous Lions series in New Zealand. Bearman will have to play the game of his life though.

Line defence for both sides is outstanding so any slow ball wont be able to be attacked from unless we see some magic. There is no question both backlines will create under current form if they get quick ball so both sides are likely to focus on slowing down where they can.

Leinster remind me of the All Blacks in the way they are converting ruthlessly whereas the Ospreys are devastating at the moment at using turnover ball.

Welshmushroom wrote:

georgestowersbiceps wrote:Is it a contradiction to say that I think the O's will have the upper hand in the scrum but wont dominate? That's how I see it.

Thats a fair point. To be honest the scrum will come down to how the ref interprets it. Total Lotto these days. In the tight 5 though I think Ospreys will still provide better go forward ball.

But the real battle will be can the Ospreys backrow secure the ball quickly that the front 5 provide. Leinster have an outstanding backrow no question about that. Tipuric identified this earlier in the week. On the plus side Tipuric is out of this World, Ryan Jones is playing probably his best rugby at the minute sine the famous Lions series in New Zealand. Bearman will have to play the game of his life though.

Line defence for both sides is outstanding so any slow ball wont be able to be attacked from unless we see some magic. There is no question both backlines will create under current form if they get quick ball so both sides are likely to focus on slowing down where they can.

Leinster remind me of the All Blacks in the way they are converting ruthlessly whereas the Ospreys are devastating at the moment at using turnover ball.

Very well said. Was 70% looking forward to the game but after reading that i'm at about 99%. I'm hungry see so the 1% belongs to food.

I have a terrible feeling the injured player might be Adam Jones- he's been struggling with his ankle in the last two games. Losing Adam will take our one area of supremacy

O'Brien and Healy are out of the final. Both still in contention for the Irish tour but looking pretty certain to miss this match. VDM and Jennings will start, our scrum is arguabley stronger with Hank in there but we're losing 2 big ball carriers.

Mickado wrote:O'Brien and Healy are out of the final. Both still in contention for the Irish tour but looking pretty certain to miss this match. VDM and Jennings will start, our scrum is arguabley stronger with Hank in there but we're losing 2 big ball carriers.

No SOB? Thank fudge for that. Big fan of his but only when he's not playing against my team!

Rats. Even if they'd been on the bench that would have been a huge boost!

What's wrong with them Mick?

O'Brien, Man of the Match in Leinster's Heineken Cup final triumph over Ulster, is understood to have undergone emergency surgery after injuring his knee. It looks set to rule the Tullow flanker out of today's team announcement to face the Welsh side, while Ireland will be hoping O'Brien can make as swift a recovery as team-mate Brian O'Driscoll, who underwent a similar operation eight days before playing a crucial role in that Twickenham victory.

Meanwhile, loose-head prop Healy is believed to have sustained a leg injury which should see South African Heinke van der Merwe come into the front-row.

Here's the link Pete.

http://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/Rabodirect-PRO12/double-blow-for-leinster-as-obrien-and-healy-in-doubt-for-final-3118567.html

Its a shame that both sides are likely to have some injuries, hopefully it wont detract from what promises to be an absolute cracker between the 2 best teams in the Rabo. Leinster have the edge in the backs and out wide for me but this O's team is now only starting to develop and this will be a good measure of where they are. For me Sexton holds the key here as his game management is generally very good, however I know no one in Ireland is udnerestiamting the Ospreys who appear to have gone back to basic welsh traditional values without the galacticos. They now look a team, organised and exciting to watch with a great pack. Can't wait and may the best team win of course

Nice to see a team not playing well, getting rid of the toxic personalities and then start playing hard and honest rugby for each other without taking up column inches.

Good stuff Ospreys

Goliath team announced
LEINSTER:

15: Rob Kearney 14: Fergus McFadden 13: Brian O'Driscoll 12: Gordon D'Arcy 11: Isa Nacewa 10: Jonathan Sexton 9: Eoin Reddan

1: Heinke van der Merwe 2: Sean Cronin 3: Mike Ross 4: Leo Cullen CAPTAIN 5: Devin Toner 6: Kevin McLaughlin 7: Shane Jennings 8: Jamie Heaslip

REPLACEMENTS:

16: Richardt Strauss 17: Cian Healy/Jack McGrath 18: Nathan White 19: Brad Thorn 20: Dominic Ryan 21: John Cooney 22: Ian Madigan 23: David Kearney

Lovely stuff.

Great Leinster side with only 2 real weaknesses in Reddan and Toner - Great backline from 10 onwards

And David;
15 Richard Fussell
14 Hanno Dirksen
13 Andrew Bishop
12 Ashley Beck
11 Shane Williams
10 Dan Biggar
9 Rhys Webb
1 Paul James
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 Ryan Bevington
18 Aaron Jarvis
19 James King
20 Tom Smith
21 Kahn Fotuali'i
22 Matthew Morgan
23 Tom Isaacs