Ospreys v Leicester

First topic message reminder :

Venue: Liberty Stadium, Swansea
Date: Sunday, 13 January
Kick-off: 15:00 GMT

TEAMS

Ospreys:
15 Richard Fussell
14 Ross Jones
13 Tom Isaacs
12 Andrew Bishop
11 Eli Walker
10 Dan Biggar
9 Kahn Fotuali'i (Capt)
1 Ryan Bevington
2 Richard Hibbard
3 Adam Jones
4 Ian Gough
5 James King
6 Ryan Jones
7 Justin Tipuric
8 Joe Bearman

REPLACEMENTS
16 Scott Baldwin
17 Duncan Jones
18 Campbell Johnstone
19 Lloyd Peers
20 Sam Lewis/Jonathan Thomas
21 Rhys Webb
22 Matthew Morgan
23 Jonathan Spratt

Leicester Tigers:

15 Mathew Tait
14 Niall Morris
13 Manusamoa Tuilagi
12 Anthony Allen
11 Adam Thompstone
10 Toby Flood
9 Ben Youngs
1 Marcos Ayerza
2 Tom Youngs
3 Dan Cole
4 Louis Deacon (c)
5 Geoff Parling
6 Steve Mafi
7 Julian Salvi
8 Jordan Crane

Replacements
16 Rob Hawkins
17 Logovi'i Mulipola
18 Martin Castrogiovanni
19 Ed Slater
20 Thomas Waldrom
21 Sam Harrison
22 George Ford
23 Matt Smith

Referee: John Lacey (Ireland)

League as it stands;

1 Leicester 4 3 0 1 95 83 2 14
2 Toulouse 4 3 0 1 92 61 1 13
3 Ospreys 4 2 0 2 91 92 1 9
4 Treviso 4 0 0 4 76 118 1 1

Potentially the game of the weekend. Discuss here any pre match, live match and post match chat. Please don't duplicate any topics already discussed on other threads! You know what I'm talking about.

Teams will be updated when available.

Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler wrote:

maestegmafia wrote:

Casartelli wrote:I'd love to see an Ospreys win, but even if they match Leicester 'up front', Tuilagi is the standout player on the pitch and chances are he'll rip the O's backline to shreds.

Can't see any way that the Ospreys can contain him. Then heads will drop and the Tiger's juggernaut will gain momentum.

Blimey, I'm depressing myself now.

Don't the ospreys have one of the best defences in the RP12, lowest points conceded and Tuilagi a pretty average try scoring rate this season? Tuilagi has only scored two tries.

5 in 13 games ...above average for a center. Hes only got two against the Ospreys so far though.

But yes its silly to think any single player is certain to score in a specific game, and in general Tigers havent been a big scoring team so far this season. That follows a general pattern for them where they get going and hit form after Christmas.

How many penalty tries have you had, There has been a good number... All from scrum penalties awarded...?

maestegmafia wrote:

Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler wrote:

maestegmafia wrote:

Casartelli wrote:I'd love to see an Ospreys win, but even if they match Leicester 'up front', Tuilagi is the standout player on the pitch and chances are he'll rip the O's backline to shreds.

Can't see any way that the Ospreys can contain him. Then heads will drop and the Tiger's juggernaut will gain momentum.

Blimey, I'm depressing myself now.

Don't the ospreys have one of the best defences in the RP12, lowest points conceded and Tuilagi a pretty average try scoring rate this season? Tuilagi has only scored two tries.

5 in 13 games ...above average for a center. Hes only got two against the Ospreys so far though.

But yes its silly to think any single player is certain to score in a specific game, and in general Tigers havent been a big scoring team so far this season. That follows a general pattern for them where they get going and hit form after Christmas.

How many penalty tries have you had, There has been a good number... All from scrum penalties awarded...?

Tigers to scorer with 8 ... mostly from the scrum. Tigers issue has, as with previous seasons since Varndell left, been a lack of tries from the outside backs. This may also partly be down to Manu being a ball hog as well (see also England where hes had 4 in 4 games only one less than the fullbacks and wings combined in the same matches)

How do you think Ospreys will approach this, are they going to go all out attack to try and get 5 points or keep it tight trying to sneak a win hoping 4 turns out to be enough?
I guess playing defensively is the most likley. It could be a pretty dour game in terms of the rugby played, but it'll be riveting all the same.

Ospreys have pace out wide and can use it but we are missing Beck who has been the most creative player other than Khan at 9.

Khan has been in fantastic form recently, Biggar playing well off the back of him. Issacs and Bishop is a very pragmatic midfield, wont do much wrong but would surprise us all to see them create too much themselves.

We don't have the pack to beat Tigers up front either.

I am not sure how we'll play, a dogged defence, hopefully less stupid mistakes than in the last ten minutes last time.

Ospreys have more belief since beating Toulouse and playing so well out there, not sure whether belief will be enough though.

Absolutely, its easy to look at the players and number of caps Tigers are carrying and say they should win this. But Ospreys have shown they are capable of beating the big teams, and are on a roll.
What state Flood is in could have a big impact on how this goes. I wouldnt be surprised to see him targeted for some "love and affection" early on. Youngs also is a risk for Tigers, hes been prone to trying too hard and getting over excited recently ... obviously he needs big performances to oust care for the England spot but sometimes that drive can take a player over the edge and hes always been a spikey character.

Good luck rugby fans of both teams.

Bloody satalite dish is out so won't see the game. Yes, I'm a little bit peed off. But what can you do?

Will be checking in for updates online if anyone is posting about the match.

If the bookies are to be believed, this game is on paper the closest contest of the weekend. http://www.oddschecker.com/rugby-union/heineken-cup/ospreys-v-leicester/winner

Maes,

Will be checking in for updates online if anyone is posting about the match.

No promises, but I'll try to stay online during the game, but the mother-in-law is due round and she can be irritable bowel syndrome incarnate.

maestegmafia wrote:Good luck rugby fans of both teams.

Bloody satalite dish is out so won't see the game. Yes, I'm a little bit peed off. But what can you do?

Will be checking in for updates online if anyone is posting about the match.

You wouldnt want to look for a website with a "grey legal" stream of the game, I wouldnt condone that kind of action. However if you were to google something like frontrowsports you mights find one. I believe 606v2 as a website does not support that kind of action, and you should consider the consequences of internet piracy (like funding terrorists or something) if you were to do that.

Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler wrote:

maestegmafia wrote:Good luck rugby fans of both teams.

Bloody satalite dish is out so won't see the game. Yes, I'm a little bit peed off. But what can you do?

Will be checking in for updates online if anyone is posting about the match.

You wouldnt want to look for a website with a "grey legal" stream of the game, I wouldnt condone that kind of action. However if you were to google something like frontrowsports you mights find one. I believe 606v2 as a website does not support that kind of action, and you should consider the consequences of internet piracy (like funding terrorists or something) if you were to do that.

As a Sky customer, can't you watch entirely legitimately on their website?

Or, if you're within a couple of hours of the Liberty, there's plenty of time to get down there in person.

I believe Sky Sports 1 and 2 can be streamed. I tried it once and it went ok but you'll want a good internet connection and a computer with a decent spec.

As a Leinster fan I am hoping Ospreys win this to make out qualification prospects a bit better.

And they are our Celtic cousins (albeit boggey team!)

The HCup needs Welsh representation badly, pity it has not happened this year

I use Sky Sports online all the time it#s great

pete (buachaill on eirne) wrote:As a Leinster fan I am hoping Ospreys win this to make out qualification prospects a bit better.

And they are our Celtic cousins (albeit boggey team!)

The HCup needs Welsh representation badly, pity it has not happened this year

screw that, i want Tigers representation!! it's been a while!

+1 on that Nathan. We haven't had a fit team at this time of year for a while it would be nice to get out of the group and have some knock out action.

I don't think the HEC needs Welsh representation, I think it needs the best teams slogging it out to win the thing. If the Welsh, Scots and Italians earn their position in that then great, if not, too bad.

Given Leinster's recent record vs Tigers I thought you'd be routing for us.

formerly known as Sam wrote:I believe Sky Sports 1 and 2 can be streamed. I tried it once and it went ok but you'll want a good internet connection and a computer with a decent spec.

I'm in France so I don't think I can hook that up.

Ill give it a go though cheers for the advice.


GT sorry about the mother in law mate.

I'm nervous and excited. I have no idea how this match will end but I hope its a good one. Good luck all!

maestegmafia wrote:Good luck rugby fans of both teams.

Bloody satalite dish is out so won't see the game. Yes, I'm a little bit peed off. But what can you do?

Will be checking in for updates online if anyone is posting about the match.

want a link? YGPM

COME ON O'S!

Come on tigers!

"A good atmosphere at the Liberty as always". . . o.O Waaaaaaah?

Got away with that.

I hate that sort of cheating. can we do anything to stamp it out? Clear deliberate cheat

Ospreys flooding the breakdown, if tigers can get quick ball there could be trouble for the ospreys.

TJ wrote:I hate that sort of cheating. can we do anything to stamp it out? Clear deliberate cheat

Give it a rest tj.

Why do you condone cheating? It spoils the game and that was deliberate.

TJ wrote:Why do you condone cheating? It spoils the game and that was deliberate.

Who said I'm condoning it? Stop trying stir Poopie.

I really hope that the O's win.

If anyone has a link PM me please.

Come ON Ospreys! 4 pts to ye and nowt to Tigers ja? That would be the best possible result.... for errm... for us really.

Artful_Dodger wrote:If anyone has a link PM me please.

Pm coming.

Gibson wrote:Come ON Ospreys! 4 pts to ye and nowt to Tigers ja? That would be the best possible result.... for errm... for us really.

I thought there we're a few Irish fans in here hehe

Tigers are a bit quiet at the minute.

nathan wrote:

TJ wrote:Why do you condone cheating? It spoils the game and that was deliberate.

Who said I'm condoning it? Stop trying stir Poopie.

I am not. I merely expressed my frustration at a cheat. anything else is in your imagination.

PM sent to Dodge

fksake

TJ wrote:

nathan wrote:

TJ wrote:Why do you condone cheating? It spoils the game and that was deliberate.

Who said I'm condoning it? Stop trying stir Poopie.

I am not. I merely expressed my frustration at a cheat. anything else is in your imagination.

Yeah right, imagination...

Thanks for the links guys.

Oioi come on Treviso

The Ospreys should be 6 or 9 points up. Biggar having a very rare off day with the boot, just slightly off

v.annoying. no match coverage on bbcradiowales. technical problems. v.annoying

What's going on Biggar. Usually a good % kicker, but 0 from 3 now. Nerves? Wales talk unsettling him???

High tackle?

SO close twice.

O´s must take these pts. Tigers will have their blue patch before long

Dogtooth. Just PM´d you a link dude.

Yup - you won't get that many chances against tigers. 9 pts missed could hurt

The Beeb has Treviso one point ahead in Toulouse!

Griff wrote:What's going on Biggar. Usually a good % kicker, but 0 from 3 now. Nerves? Wales talk unsettling him???

2 have hit the posts. Just having a tough day getting his radar working. All kickers have an off day occasionally. I just bet the Ospreys don't want it to be today.

With Halfpenny's poor kicking yesterday it will either be a problem for Wales, or both with pick it up in training and we will have two 90% kickers on the field in the 6Ns.

MrsP wrote:The Beeb has Treviso one point ahead in Toulouse!

Its 7 - 11 apparently

Ooooh, Tipuric just short on the legs or the Ospreys would have had their first try.

Gibson wrote:O´s must take these pts. Tigers will have their blue patch before long

Dogtooth. Just PM´d you a link dude.

sweeeet. thanks Gibson :-D

Surely obstruction by Jones!