Edinburgh vs Ospreys 13th Feb

                  
Edinburgh Rugby v Ospreys
13th February 2015
At Myreside, 8.05pm.

Live on BBC ALBA and BBC Wales

Referee: Gary Conway (IRFU, 7th competition game)
Assistant Referees: Graeme Wells, Stephen Hart (both SRU)
Citing Commissioner: John Kirk (SRU)
TMO: Iain Ramage (SRU)

TEAMS:
Edinburgh
15 Jack Cuthbert
14 Tom Brown
13 Sam Beard
12 Phil Burleigh
11 Damien Hoyland
10 Jade Te Rure
09 Grayson Hart

01 Rory Sutherland
02 Neil Cochrane
03 Willem Nel
04 Anton Bresler
05 Ollie Atkins
06 Roddy Grant
07 Hugh Blake
08 Mike Coman

16 Stuart McInally
17 Grant Shiells
18 John Andress
19 Fraser McKenzie
20 Tomas Leonardi
21 Alex Glashan
22 Tom Heathcote
23 Andries Strauss

Ospreys
15 Dan Evans
14 Tom Grabham
13 Ashley Beck
12 Josh Matavesi
11 Richard Fussell
10 Sam Davies
09 Martin Roberts

01 Marc Thomas
02 Scott Otten
03 Dmitri Arhip
04 Tevita Cavubati
05 Rory Thornton
06 Joe Bearman
07 Sam Lewis
08 Tyler Ardron (Capt)

16 Matthew Dwyer
17 Duncan Jones
18 Daniel Suter
19 James King
20 Ieuan Jones
21 Dan Baker
22 Tom Habberfield
23 Jonathan Spratt

Previous Meetings
Date Home Score Away Att
21/9/14 Ospreys 62 - 13 Edinburgh Rugby 6,340
28/2/14 Edinburgh Rugby 31 - 25 Ospreys 3,000
21/9/13 Ospreys 44 - 10 Edinburgh Rugby 8,356

Form Guide
Date Team Score Team Att
23/1/15 Edinburgh 38 - 20 Bordeaux 4,817
17/1/15 Lyon 21 - 19 Edinburgh 10,935
9/1/15 Connacht 13 - 16 Edinburgh 5,267

Form Guide
Date Team Score Team Att
7/2/15 Bath 10 - 13 Ospreys 13,349
31/1/15 Gloucester 32 - 25 Ospreys 12,225
24/1/15 Treviso 23 - 20 Ospreys 2,780

Team announced later today

I don’t think we’re going to be too badly affected by international call ups, given how big our squad is.

At a guess I would assume our team will look something like this

1. Sutherland
2. Cochrane/McInally
3. Nel
4. Bresler
5. Toolis (if released)/McKenzie
6. Coman
7. Grant
8. Lenoardi
9. Hart
10. Heathcote
11. Brown
12. Strauss (I really don’t want him to play, but I suspect he will)
13. Burleigh
14. Cuthbert (again would rather him at FB, but I fear Solly will play him here)
15. McLennan – would rather Cuthbert here, but I suspect this is how we will line up

I presume our team will look something like this
15 Evans
14 Grabham
13 Beck
12 Matavesi
11 Natoga/ Dirksen
10 Davies
9 Roberts
8 Ardron
7 Lewis
6 Cracknell
5 Thornton or Hughes
4 Cavubati
3 Arhip
2 Otten
1 Thomas
Rory Thornton has been released from the captaincy of Wales U20s back to us, according to Tandy in his Press Conference earlier in the week, a few of the long term injured, Bevington and Baker have started training again, yet it will be towards the end of this block of fixtures before they are available for first team selection, in the same interview Tandy said we are missing around 20 to 22 players through injury, U20s and Team Wales commitments, with Edinburgh's improved form since they last played us, if we get anything more than a point up there I'll be very pleased.

EWT Spoons wrote:I don’t think we’re going to be too badly affected by international call ups, given how big our squad is.

At a guess I would assume our team will look something like this

1. Sutherland
2. Cochrane/McInally
3. Nel
4. Bresler
5. Toolis (if released)/McKenzie
6. Coman
7. Grant
8. Lenoardi
9. Hart
10. Heathcote
11. Brown
12. Strauss (I really don’t want him to play, but I suspect he will)
13. Burleigh
14. Cuthbert (again would rather him at FB, but I fear Solly will play him here)
15. McLennan – would rather Cuthbert here, but I suspect this is how we will line up

I wonder if Matt Scott will be released to his club if he's not passed fit enough for a full international (or just not preferred to Dunbar, Bennett, Lamont)?

If you aren't match fit, then you aren't match fit? That's a very good Edinburgh tight five for this time of year.

James King has also been released back to us, so could fill back in either in the 2nd row or blind side flanker or more probably put on the bench as Tandy alluded to in this weeks PC.

7 Ospreys in Wales starting 23 this weekend.

Wayne, is there a Welsh franchise that suffers worse than you during the international window?

Doesn't look like it.

Ospreys by 20 Conway is reffing, the ref who let Connacht away with everything earlier in the season and refused to talk to our Captain.

I do think Edinburgh should win this game. We have better depth to the squad than previously and have pretty decent cover for the missing Scotland players (perhaps Ford and Visser aside).

George Carlin wrote:7 Ospreys in Wales starting 23 this weekend.

Wayne, is there a Welsh franchise that suffers worse than you during the international window?

Doesn't look like it.

George, the Scarlets, Blues and ourselves are pretty even these days in the actual numbers selected for Team Wales, this has changed dramatically in the last few years, we only need the Dragons to do their fair share now, we've had an inordinate number of injuries in some particular positions 2nd Row and prop in particular and we have a few away with the U20s, even though we've had the captain back for at least this game, if as someone said earlier you have a potent front 5, this is where you should try to strangle us out of this game, our 2 looseheads will be 5th and 6th choices, the hookers 3rd and 4th and the second row will be at best 5th and 6th, more probably 6th and 7th, even though by all accounts Cavubati and Hughes had decent games against Bath last weekend.

wayne wrote:

George Carlin wrote:7 Ospreys in Wales starting 23 this weekend.

Wayne, is there a Welsh franchise that suffers worse than you during the international window?

Doesn't look like it.

George, the Scarlets, Blues and ourselves are pretty even these days in the actual numbers selected for Team Wales, this has changed dramatically in the last few years, we only need the Dragons to do their fair share now, we've had an inordinate number of injuries in some particular positions 2nd Row and prop in particular and we have a few away with the U20s, even though we've had the captain back for at least this game, if as someone said earlier you have a potent front 5, this is where you should try to strangle us out of this game, our 2 looseheads will be 5th and 6th choices, the hookers 3rd and 4th and the second row will be at best 5th and 6th, more probably 6th and 7th, even though by all accounts Cavubati and Hughes had decent games against Bath last weekend.  

They were doing ok until Charteris and Lydiate left, and it's not their fault that the Osprey poached Lydiate upon his return.

funnyExiledScot wrote:

wayne wrote:

George Carlin wrote:7 Ospreys in Wales starting 23 this weekend.

Wayne, is there a Welsh franchise that suffers worse than you during the international window?

Doesn't look like it.

George, the Scarlets, Blues and ourselves are pretty even these days in the actual numbers selected for Team Wales, this has changed dramatically in the last few years, we only need the Dragons to do their fair share now, we've had an inordinate number of injuries in some particular positions 2nd Row and prop in particular and we have a few away with the U20s, even though we've had the captain back for at least this game, if as someone said earlier you have a potent front 5, this is where you should try to strangle us out of this game, our 2 looseheads will be 5th and 6th choices, the hookers 3rd and 4th and the second row will be at best 5th and 6th, more probably 6th and 7th, even though by all accounts Cavubati and Hughes had decent games against Bath last weekend.  

They were doing ok until Charteris and Lydiate left, and it's not their fault that the Osprey poached Lydiate upon his return.

FES, I hope you're wumming, they only supplied them 2 and Faletau for years, now it's the 2 youngsters Amos and Morgan with Faletau, as for us poaching Dan, he didn't want to go there as he wanted to be close to his partners family, they live in West Wales and the real reason is he wanted a chance to win some decent silverware and play with a decent team.

Also on BBC 2 WALES - http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b052qq92

I wonder if Matt Scott will get a game? He could probably use 80 minutes and if Dunbar is fit to play for Scotland he may be released.

No teams yet? Wonder if they're waiting on who's released from the national squads.

Well, fES is going to cream himself when he sees who's on the wing.

Tattie Scones RRN wrote:Well, fES is going to cream himself when he sees who's on the wing.

Which is beautifully presented on a scrap of primary school jotter paper as follows:

Hugh Blake at 7. Let's see what the kid's got.

He's better than John Barclay, apparently...

No Matt Scott. So does that mean......?

Ospreys Team:

15 Dan Evans
14 Tom Grabham
13 Ashley Beck
12 Josh Matavesi
11 Richard Fussell
10 Sam Davies
9 Martin Roberts
1 Marc Thomas
2 Scott Otten
3 Dmitri Arhip
4 Tevita Cavubati
5 Rory Thornton
6 Joe Bearman
7 Sam Lewis
8 Tyler Ardron (Capt)

Replacements
16 Matthew Dwyer
17 Duncan Jones
18 Daniel Suter
19 James King
20 Ieuan Jones
21 Dan Baker
22 Tom Habberfield
23 Jonathan Spratt

Not quite sure what Hanno has to do to get in the team. He's about the only back in the Ospreys line that attacks with any heart.

Keen to see how Hoyland and Blake get on.

How did I not notice this??

Great thread spoons!

RDW_Scotland wrote:How did I not notice this??

Great thread spoons!

Aye so good you didn't even know it existed.

Cheers for updating the OP whoever did.

EWT Spoons wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:How did I not notice this??

Great thread spoons!

Aye so good you didn't even know it existed.

Did you not read the 'V2 forum thread creation guidelines' page 3692 that states that all threads should be advertised on the on going banter thread??

Worryingly strong looking Os side.

Edinburgh's is a basket case. Lots of untried combinations but a hell of a lot of exciting players and I'm going to do everything possible to watch this.

Just so that O's fans understand:
- Te Rure is a very talented Kiwi who has a blue jumper and once ate a haggis (hence, he is SQ). We have no idea what he's like but he's potentially excellent.
- Damien Hoyland on the wing is a young blaster who is just coming off a hot streak in the 7s. Seriously, he's fast.
- Ollie Atkins - we get to remind ourselves who the hell he is.
- Hugh Blake - this is the Highlander (in the Super Rugby sense) who Vern Cotter thinks (by virtue of his selection for the 6N Scotland squad) is better than John Barclay, Kelly Brown or Roddy Grant. Let's see.

RDW_Scotland wrote:

EWT Spoons wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:How did I not notice this??

Great thread spoons!

Aye so good you didn't even know it existed.

Did you not read the 'V2 forum thread creation guidelines' page 3692 that states that all threads should be advertised on the on going banter thread??

Ah gutted, I stopped reading at page 3691.

Well totally my fault then.

I quite like the look of that Edinburgh team considering who is away for the 6N.

I agree it is definitely untested but you would like to think Blake is decent and Atkins should be if he's in ahead of McKenzie. I'm not Tom Brown's biggest fan from what I've seen but the rest of the backs look quite exciting (and Strauss not starting!)

Lets face it, it surely can't be worse than the game at the Liberty in the Autumn, can it??...

Just a word of warning to any Ospreys players looking to rough up Te Rure - Grayson is watching you!

I do actually think it is a very competitive team given the time of year.

Interesting that Atkins is starting over McKenzie given he's barely played for months, and McKenzie has always been on the bench.

I think we should hold our expectations on Hoyland for now though - it is brilliant that he's been picked, but this is his first proper game for Edinburgh and he'll be playing a big, physicaly Ospreys team on what is a relatively small pitch. He's on fire for the 7s just now but this is a completely different game. Edinburgh under Solomons haven't made particularly good use of the wingers either.

Blake on the other hand really has an opportunity to show what he's made of though - this game is right up his street.

So all in all, it could be a lot more exciting than games at this time of the year normally are!

We certainly need a win here, and could do with the Scarlets beating Connacht.

Very excited to see how Blake and particularly McInally get on at hooker. Stronger O's team than what i expected with 6 forwards on the bench but Dirksen non inclusion is baffling, he is by some distance their most dangerous back.

I'd say that was a pretty strong Edinburgh outfit. Very pleased that Pappy has not started Strauss!

Interestingly, Glashan is on the bench over Kennedy - is he injured?

Would you? If I was Edinburgh, I would want Connacht to win I think.

Scarlets have Connacht then Munster so could quite easily be out of the running in a few weeks. As long as you win this, it will be a lot easier to compete with just Connacht, even if they are 4 or 5pts ahead of you.

Weegie Wizard wrote:Would you? If I was Edinburgh, I would want Connacht to win I think.

Scarlets have Connacht then Munster so could quite easily be out of the running in a few weeks. As long as you win this, it will be a lot easier to compete with just Connacht, even if they are 4 or 5pts ahead of you.

The problem is, Connacht are 5 points ahead of us.  Doesn't sound like much, but could be a lot to make up.

If both us and the Scarlets win we will all be within a point of each other, leaving it a straight dog fight.

If we win and Connacht beat the Scarlets we will overtake 7th spot but still be 5 points behind Connacht.

If we lose and Connact win they will be 9 points ahead of us, if Scarlets win they both teams will be only 4/5 points ahead.

Connacht have the Dragons, Blues and Treviso coming up next and you could see them winning all 3 of those.

Basically I think we need to catch them up, even if it means Scarlets do as well!

Clear?

RDW_Scotland wrote:

Weegie Wizard wrote:Would you? If I was Edinburgh, I would want Connacht to win I think.

Scarlets have Connacht then Munster so could quite easily be out of the running in a few weeks. As long as you win this, it will be a lot easier to compete with just Connacht, even if they are 4 or 5pts ahead of you.

The problem is, Connacht are 5 points ahead of us.  Doesn't sound like much, but could be a lot to make up.

If both us and the Scarlets win we will all be within a point of each other, leaving it a straight dog fight.

If we win and Connacht beat the Scarlets we will overtake 7th spot but still be 5 points behind Connacht.

If we lose and Connact win they will be 9 points ahead of us, if Scarlets win they both teams will be only 4/5 points ahead.

Connacht have the Dragons, Blues and Treviso coming up next and you could see them winning all 3 of those.

Basically I think we need to catch them up, even if it means Scarlets do as well!

Clear?

My head hurts

RDW_Scotland wrote:

Weegie Wizard wrote:Would you? If I was Edinburgh, I would want Connacht to win I think.

Scarlets have Connacht then Munster so could quite easily be out of the running in a few weeks. As long as you win this, it will be a lot easier to compete with just Connacht, even if they are 4 or 5pts ahead of you.

The problem is, Connacht are 5 points ahead of us.  Doesn't sound like much, but could be a lot to make up.

If both us and the Scarlets win we will all be within a point of each other, leaving it a straight dog fight.

If we win and Connacht beat the Scarlets we will overtake 7th spot but still be 5 points behind Connacht.

If we lose and Connact win they will be 9 points ahead of us, if Scarlets win they both teams will be only 4/5 points ahead.

Connacht have the Dragons, Blues and Treviso coming up next and you could see them winning all 3 of those.

Basically I think we need to catch them up, even if it means Scarlets do as well!

Clear?

Er. I think that winning this game would be a Good Thing for Edinburgh.


There. I done said it.

Keep up people!

In summary, both Edinburgh and Scarlets are on the same points and Connacht 5 points ahead.

I'd rather Scarlets win so all 3 of us are on the same points (if we win), as opposed to Connacht winning and staying 5 points ahead still, especially given their run of games coming up.

Tattie Scones RRN wrote:Well, fES is going to cream himself when he sees who's on the wing.

Very excited by this line-up, and delighted that Strauss is on the bench with Burleigh and Beard in the centres. That's pretty much exactly the team I wanted to see, albeit I had McKenzie in mind ahead of Atkins and Heathcote starting (although I'm eager to see what Te Rure can do).

I think we'll win this.

So. As a Leinster fan I want Ospreys to lose this one (C'maaan Embra) but as an Irish Rugby fan I want Ospreys (and Connacht) to win.

Conflict Alert!

Also Your Strauss is the brother of our Strauss (Richardt of Leinster and Ireland fame) So a little bit of me gets angry when you slag him off.

wayne wrote:

funnyExiledScot wrote:

wayne wrote:

George Carlin wrote:7 Ospreys in Wales starting 23 this weekend.

Wayne, is there a Welsh franchise that suffers worse than you during the international window?

Doesn't look like it.

George, the Scarlets, Blues and ourselves are pretty even these days in the actual numbers selected for Team Wales, this has changed dramatically in the last few years, we only need the Dragons to do their fair share now, we've had an inordinate number of injuries in some particular positions 2nd Row and prop in particular and we have a few away with the U20s, even though we've had the captain back for at least this game, if as someone said earlier you have a potent front 5, this is where you should try to strangle us out of this game, our 2 looseheads will be 5th and 6th choices, the hookers 3rd and 4th and the second row will be at best 5th and 6th, more probably 6th and 7th, even though by all accounts Cavubati and Hughes had decent games against Bath last weekend.  

They were doing ok until Charteris and Lydiate left, and it's not their fault that the Osprey poached Lydiate upon his return.

FES, I hope you're wumming, they only supplied them 2 and Faletau for years, now it's the 2 youngsters Amos and Morgan with Faletau, as for us poaching Dan, he didn't want to go there as he wanted to be close to his partners family, they live in West Wales and the real reason is he wanted a chance to win some decent silverware and play with a decent team.

You're forgetting Lloyd Burns, who had to retire due to a heart defect. Also, Tovey and Lewis Evans should have been capped 4 years ago, each of them should also have been prominent figures in the tour to Japan and would have probably helped stop us from losing. Considering the current squad you could argue that Rees, Prydie and new boy Thomas (who would definitely be there if he wore a different colour regional jersey) should be there instead of the off-form rubbish currently knocking around and losing to england. Hooker Elliot Dee isn't far off either but we are pretty strong in that position.

Ospreys poached Lydiate like they did with our other former back-row players Bearman, Allen and Jones. As for the apparent reason Lydiate joined you, well the games in Europe against Saints and Treviso surely prove you aren't a decent team - we'll see what you have to say at the end of the season when Ospreys probably don't have any silverware.

Jenifer McLadyboy wrote:So. As a Leinster fan I want Ospreys to lose this one (C'maaan Embra) but as an Irish Rugby fan I want Ospreys (and Connacht) to win.

Conflict Alert!

Also Your Strauss is the brother of our Strauss (Richardt of Leinster and Ireland fame) So a little bit of me gets angry when you slag him off.

Jen, it is clear that O'Strauss is the talented one of the two.

Ours must have been off sick the day that they taught 'inventiveness' at rugby school.

Jenifer McLadyboy wrote:

Also Your Strauss is the brother of our Strauss (Richardt of Leinster and Ireland fame) So a little bit of me gets angry when you slag him off.

If you saw him play you'd completely understand!

I would stay well clear of the Edinburgh boards if negative remarks about Strauss will make you angry!!

I had no idea they were related, however it makes sense that his brother is a forward (similar to Gordon and Alan Bulloch).

I really hope Hoyland has the chance to show his stuff, and isn't just consigned to chasing down box kicks. With Te Rure and Burleigh in the key 10/12 positions and Beard at 13 there's plenty of creative talent in this line-up.

Oh sh!tting hell - it's on at 8pm.

That is fundementally inconsiderate for those people whose time zone might be 4 hours ahead of GMT.

Er, for instance.

George Carlin wrote:Oh sh!tting hell - it's on at 8pm.

That is fundementally inconsiderate for those people whose time zone might be 4 hours ahead of GMT.

Er, for instance.

You need to complain - it's completely unacceptable that they don't consider the middle east market when scheduling!

You did say you'd do everything possible to watch it..

RDW_Scotland wrote:

George Carlin wrote:Oh sh!tting hell - it's on at 8pm.

That is fundementally inconsiderate for those people whose time zone might be 4 hours ahead of GMT.

Er, for instance.

You need to complain - it's completely unacceptable that they don't consider the middle east market when scheduling!

You did say you'd do everything possible to watch it..

Ohh FFS. I hope Roger **** Lewis doesn't read this forum, he'll be getting more ideas for stupid times to schedule Wales' games !!

The Saint wrote:

wayne wrote:

funnyExiledScot wrote:

wayne wrote:

George Carlin wrote:7 Ospreys in Wales starting 23 this weekend.

Wayne, is there a Welsh franchise that suffers worse than you during the international window?

Doesn't look like it.

George, the Scarlets, Blues and ourselves are pretty even these days in the actual numbers selected for Team Wales, this has changed dramatically in the last few years, we only need the Dragons to do their fair share now, we've had an inordinate number of injuries in some particular positions 2nd Row and prop in particular and we have a few away with the U20s, even though we've had the captain back for at least this game, if as someone said earlier you have a potent front 5, this is where you should try to strangle us out of this game, our 2 looseheads will be 5th and 6th choices, the hookers 3rd and 4th and the second row will be at best 5th and 6th, more probably 6th and 7th, even though by all accounts Cavubati and Hughes had decent games against Bath last weekend.  

They were doing ok until Charteris and Lydiate left, and it's not their fault that the Osprey poached Lydiate upon his return.

FES, I hope you're wumming, they only supplied them 2 and Faletau for years, now it's the 2 youngsters Amos and Morgan with Faletau, as for us poaching Dan, he didn't want to go there as he wanted to be close to his partners family, they live in West Wales and the real reason is he wanted a chance to win some decent silverware and play with a decent team.

You're forgetting Lloyd Burns, who had to retire due to a heart defect. Also, Tovey and Lewis Evans should have been capped 4 years ago, each of them should also have been prominent figures in the tour to Japan and would have probably helped stop us from losing. Considering the current squad you could argue that Rees, Prydie and new boy Thomas (who would definitely be there if he wore a different colour regional jersey) should be there instead of the off-form rubbish currently knocking around and losing to england. Hooker Elliot Dee isn't far off either but we are pretty strong in that position.

Ospreys poached Lydiate like they did with our other former back-row players Bearman, Allen and Jones. As for the apparent reason Lydiate joined you, well the games in Europe against Saints and Treviso surely prove you aren't a decent team - we'll see what you have to say at the end of the season when Ospreys probably don't have any silverware.

If, would, could, should etc the point is they were not considered good enough, as for Burns I felt sorry for him when his heart problems showed up as I've had those problems myself and has had a tragic effect on my family for years, but as for his contribution to Wales I had forgotten him, and no wonder if you'd blinked you'ld have missed him. Missed Tovey against Japan? you're having a laugh, the only Welsh player who won the 6N in the last match against England, who didn't go with the Lions was Biggar, Tovey is nowhere near his class, never has and never will, your infatuation with Evans is commendable, on that tour in the game we lost James King was the 6, just to let you know for the game last week against England, Wales keep an extra forward and back in camp as reserves on top of the chosen 23, I don't know who the extra back was, yet the extra forward was King, much as you dislike him the Welsh coaching staff rate him. Morgan Allen was very similar to Craig Mitchell he didn't think he was getting the right opportunities to further his career, he was leaving you lot, it didn't matter to him where he went, we just gave him the opportunity, if it is Ieuan Jones you're talking about, he wasn't even with you, he's with the Blues and he came on loan to us and we extended the loan period, as for Bearman, I remember you lot saying he was injured all the time and he wouldn't be missed. As for Lydiate it's not our fault that ANY players that want to improve will not go back to you and want to play for a decent team, even though he would be getting more from you than he is from us, which I have heard from a very reliable source.
As for winning silverware I've never thought we would win anything this season and that still applies, the only thing I've been certain of all season is that we would finish above you shower and that will be proved right, and that you'd be the WORST WELSH REGION AGAIN. Yes we are a terrible team we drew with and should have won against Racing Metro at home and should have beaten them away, on the balance of that game we should have won.

wayne not really wanting to drag this off topic but surely you aren't as biased as the rest of Ospreylia? Sometimes that IS what I'm actually lead to believe. Andries Pretorious was capped FFS, Shingler has never been international standard despite getting double figures in caps! So whether they were considered good enough or not by McBryde, Gatland or Howley is not always particularly relevant when you're judging the capabilities of a player. I think the ship may have sailed for Tovey and Evans now anyway as they are not performing as well as before, but I've no doubt they'd have developed after more time with TW. I'm not saying Tovey would have started ahead of Biggar, he'd probably have been on the bench. I think Evans was a definite starter going by his abilities. Ah, King... The only fans in Wales that rate him as a TW player are.....Ospreys fans (surprise surprise). Phillips, Priestland and Cuthbert shouldn't be in the current squad either; North, Tipuric are also lucky and that's just some names. Rees and Prydie could have been in there. Let's just face it we'll always be the most disliked region.
No you seemed to suggest you'd be winning silverware this season, I can't see it. Nor can I see Lydiate improving with you. I think we have better back-row options that him now, but I would have preferred us to bring him in than the Kiwi's. Ah, back to shoulda woulda coulda now is it. Only an idiot of your calibre would criticise someone for doing that and then do it themselves in the same post! That's as bad as what you were saying about how you would beat Treviso the other week after having just lost to them!

Anyway as it is, I think Ospreys should win this game, by a single point/score.

Like the team, we'll get a good look at Blake, Hoyland and Te Rure.

Noticed that tickets are from £20 which seems a little high given so many 6N games are ongoing and Edinburgh isn't exactly star-studded. Am I being tight, or are SRU ticket prices too much?

For an adult to see Italy, they are expecting you to pay pretty much a minimum of £40 if you want to be able to see the game. If you book now, it's around £70 per adult.

You can go to Barcelona for two nights for £81.55. Just saying.

The Saint wrote:wayne not really wanting to drag this off topic but surely you aren't as biased as the rest of Ospreylia? Sometimes that IS what I'm actually lead to believe. Andries Pretorious was capped FFS, Shingler has never been international standard despite getting double figures in caps! So whether they were considered good enough or not by McBryde, Gatland or Howley is not always particularly relevant when you're judging the capabilities of a player. I think the ship may have sailed for Tovey and Evans now anyway as they are not performing as well as before, but I've no doubt they'd have developed after more time with TW. I'm not saying Tovey would have started ahead of Biggar, he'd probably have been on the bench. I think Evans was a definite starter going by his abilities. Ah, King... The only fans in Wales that rate him as a TW player are.....Ospreys fans (surprise surprise). Phillips, Priestland and Cuthbert shouldn't be in the current squad either; North, Tipuric are also lucky and that's just some names. Rees and Prydie could have been in there. Let's just face it we'll always be the most disliked region.
No you seemed to suggest you'd be winning silverware this season, I can't see it. Nor can I see Lydiate improving with you. I think we have better back-row options that him now, but I would have preferred us to bring him in than the Kiwi's. Ah, back to shoulda woulda coulda now is it. Only an idiot of your calibre would criticise someone for doing that and then do it themselves in the same post! That's as bad as what you were saying about how you would beat Treviso the other week after having just lost to them!

Pretorious was only picked for the 2nd match as McCusker went off injured in the first and Pretorious replaced him, when we played you lot in the LV and you played loads of your first team squad, who was No8 Evans that's who, and what was you saying about him that he wasn't a No 8, what are you on about Shingler he wasn't on the tour he was replaced by your golden boy of the minute Navidi.
As for this seasons squad you want Rees and Prydie in there (Ospreys Rejects), the only players we would have back that should be Ospreys are James, Halfpenny and Sanjay, if Walker wasn't so injury prone neither Prydie or Charge Down Amos would be anywhere near this Welsh Squad or DCs.
As for Lydiate there wasn't many of our forum members wanted him there in the beginning, and even fewer want him there now, Ardron is playing No 8 at the moment but with Baker on his way back and the same for Morgan Allen, King and Ardron would be battling for the 6 position, and we have the young North Walian Cracknell coming through, that is why we are NOT paying the full 40% of the DC
Just show me where I suggested we'd be winning silverware this season, another of your porkies methinks

Nematode wrote:Like the team, we'll get a good look at Blake, Hoyland and Te Rure.

Noticed that tickets are from £20 which seems a little high given so many 6N games are ongoing and Edinburgh isn't exactly star-studded. Am I being tight, or are SRU ticket prices too much?  

For an adult to see Italy, they are expecting you to pay pretty much a minimum of £40 if you want to be able to see the game. If you book now, it's around £70 per adult.

You can go to Barcelona for two nights for £81.55. Just saying.

The problem is they can't lower ticket prices as it causes problems with season ticket holders (all 42 of them) who bought their ST on the basis of tickets costing 20 quid for every game - that's what they sold them on.

20 quid to stand at myrseide is ridiculous though.