Edinburgh V Ospreys

First topic message reminder :

Well unfortunately for us Edinburgh fans it's back to club rugby after a few weeks respite! The phrase 'surely it can't get any worse??' has been used about 18 times now in the past 6 weeks, so hell I'm going to say it again - surely it can't get any worse??

Hopefully the break will have done Edinburgh good and made them remind themselves that they are actually good rugby players, or at least know how to tackle and catch a ball.

Injury wise Edinburgh probably don't have a number 8, with Talei and Basalaia injured and Denton and McInally on Scotland duty. So looks like it will be the ginger midget at number 8, with a very lightweight backrow of Hamish Watson and Sean Cox at 6.

Ospreys aren't having much fun with injuries either, with half of Wales currently injured!

So could either be a cracker and Edinburgh finally click and run riot, or could lead to us saying next week - 'surely it can't get any worse!!!!!'

Ha - thanks!

From the O's site


Andrew Bishop makes his 181st Ospreys appearance, setting a new record for the region

Owen Williams makes his RaboDirect PRO12 debut

Nicky Thomas and Sam Davies will make their RaboDirect PRO12 debuts if they come off the bench

The following players were not considered because of injury:

Alun Wyn Jones - Shoulder

Hanno Dirksen - Knee

Joe Rees - Neck

Jonathan Thomas - Groin

Adam Jones - Knee

Tom Smith - Groin

Richard Hibbard, Aaron Jarvis, Ian Evans, Justin Tipuric, Ryan Jones, Dan Biggar, Ashley Beck and Kahn Fotuali'i are all unavailable on international duty.

Head Coach, Steve Tandy, said:

"This is the first of two big PRO12 games over the next couple of weeks that will really test us. Edinburgh away and then Cardiff Blues home are always tough games, and there's no doubt that we are going to have to show plenty of spirit, commitment and desire on and off the pitch if we are going to get what we want from these matches.

"There's a lot of responsibility on some young shoulders during international periods and it's been pleasing to see players stepping up to the mark and really taking their chances. What equally important to us is the input of senior guys like Duncan, Bearman, Gough and Fussell. We've kept hold of a group of experienced players who have the right attitude, knowing that we can mould younger players around them.

"International commitments and injuries mean that our resources are being pushed to the limit but there's a great spirit in the group going into this game. Like us, Edinburgh will be hit by national call-ups as well, but I think that makes these periods all the more exciting. We get to see what strength in depth there is out there, we unearth a few hidden gems, and we get to see some young Ospreys making their mark. We've got some boys involved who have come through the age-grade system but we've also had to dig deep into the Premiership as well, and it's a great opportunity for those guys."

BBC covering themselves on glory as always - not showing it on the red button til half time!

You can watch it online RDW.

Yeah that's what I'm doing - a laptops just not the same as a big plasma Tv!

Crowd looks pretty low. Not surprised - it's a mingin night, easy excuse to not pay 20 quid to watch a losing team!

Hell of an ankle tap from Rees. ArwelShane Morgan unlucky.

Why did mcinally pass it??

Worst penalty decision I've ever seen - holding onto the ball when they're scrapping in touch?? So soft!

Can I have a purple hyperlink user name?

God what a dull game I would be devastated if I'd paid good money to watch. I know both sides have international duty but god... Both have youngsters playing, they should be full of beans

Glorious try!!

Rhys Webb looks sharp - What on earth is Lloyd Williams doing in the Wales squad (or Knoyle for that matter)

Morgs in under the posts!!!

Evening All.

8-13 coming up to HT.

As soon as Edinburgh make a mistake I know they're gonna lose points - story of the season!

Think they're 9 was offside but Rees has had far too many charge downs this season

What a game, what an Atmos!!!!!

good evening hersh

Doesn't come tgrough well on tv - it'll be a riot there Hersh, trust me!

RDW_Scotland wrote:

Think they're 9 was offside but Rees has had far too many charge downs this season

Obvious not getting protected enough from his forwards !

Williams in the bin. Pillock.

Edinburgh penalty missed though. 8-13.

Ospreys got any tightheads left??

well i think the one that is on now is 5th choice

Welcome to the Big Bad World of Pro12 rugby Nicky Thomas! How old is he? 12?! Poor buggger...no wonder our scrums are cack!

11-13 at 48 minutes.

hey cari at least you know you have two very good and one excellent th to come back! the dragons first choice scrum is that cack!

HERSH wrote:What a game, what an Atmos!!!!!

Don't watch too much. 6 Ospreys wins in a row may give you an aneurysm and send you on a serial killing spree.

Ospreys in all sorts of trouble at scrum time.

Webb is stupid the scrum under pressure and he delays the put in 3 points.

Balls. Edinburgh edge ahead after a penalty. 14-13 at 55 minutes.

Why does Murrayfield have a trigger-happy DJ working there? At every opportunity the music comes on...just when we need to hear what the ref is saying to the players too. It's annoying.

Another penalty. 17-13 at 59 minutes.

I've never heard of any of these players so I have no idea what to expect.

Basic skills lacking with the Ospreys Walker is great going forward but can't catch the ball or attackers.

Duncan murdering his opposite number.

Walker is rubbish, lack of a brain again.

Argh no. The O's need a converted try at least now. Another Edinburgh penalty.

20-13. Edinburgh won't tries at this rate! O's discipline is cack as per...

Smart move taking the wrong wing off.

Ooooh, Matthew Morgan so close to the tryline after that charge down.

Really unlucky, stupid by King to give away the penalty though.

I think the Ospreys have blow a good chance, Morgan cocks up again.

Oh blydi nora. Another binning. Sam Lewis in the bin. O's are fecked now methinks.

20-13 with 12 minutes to go.

Stupid by Sam Lewis - YC

Edinburgh have been absolutely all over this team this half - yet I'm still expecting us to lose!

The Ospreys have gone from having one of the strongest scrums in the Rabo last season to have a very weak scrum (certainly without Adam Jones) this season.

Can anyone tell me why Duncan Jones pushing early without the ball isn't penalised?

Scott Baldwin - the most intelligent Ospreys on the pitch?

2nd half territory:-

Edinburgh 81% - 19% Ospreys

If Edinburgh are so gash... What does that make the ospreys?

We haven't even looked as if we wanted to win? Is it just inexperience (less the odd scrum)?

Ospreys are dire.

Would be a tragedy if the Os got anything from this!

Tonks showing why murchie being picked for Scotland was ridiculous

Turned over soon as i saw who was the ref, i imagine the breakdown has been a real lottery,
seen this ref destroy many Rabo/Magners games over the years

Well the O's could still scrape a LBP after the Edinburgh penalty miss.

20-13 with less than three minutes to go.

Sean Cox MOTM.