Pro12 Semi 2 - Munster Rugby v Ospreys, 23 May

First topic message reminder :

                              
Munster Rugby v Ospreys
Saturday 23 May 2015
KO: 14:30
Thomond Park, Limerick

Live on Sky Sports / TG4 / S4C

Referee: Nigel Owens (WRU, 126th competition game)
Assistant Referees: Leighton Hodges, Ian Davies (both WRU)
Citing Commissioner: TBC (SRU)
TMO: Gareth Simmonds (WRU)

A. Head to Head - Aggregate

26 Played 26
11 Wins 14
14 Losses 11
1 Draws 1
41 Tries 42
30 Conversions 29
58 Penalties 70
1 Drop Goals 3
442 Points 487
27 Avg. Age 24

B. Head to Head - Recently

Sat 7 March 2015 - Ospreys 26 - 12 Munster Rugby

Sat 27 Sept 2014 - Munster Rugby 14 - 19 Ospreys

Sun 23 Feb 2014 - Ospreys 11 - 25 Munster Rugby

Sat 2 Nov 2013 - Munster Rugby 12 - 6 Ospreys

C. Run-In

Munster Rugby

16/05/15 - Munster 50 - 27 Dragons

09/05/15 - Ulster 23 - 23 Munster

25/04/15 - Munster 30 - 19 Treviso

Ospreys

16/5/15 - Connacht 20 - 24 Ospreys

08/05/15 - Ospreys 21 - 10 Glasgow

25/04/15 - Blues 23 - 31 Ospreys

D. Teams

Munster Rugby

[tbc]

Ospreys

[tbc]

All the best Ospreys. Glad matavesi is fit for yous

Munster team. Only TOD missing.

Munster: Felix Jones; Keith Earls, Andrew Smith, Denis Hurley, Simon Zebo; Ian Keatley, Conor Murray; Dave Kilcoyne, Eusebio Guinazu, Stephen Archer; Donnacha Ryan, Paul O'Connell; Peter O'Mahony - capt., Paddy Butler, CJ Stander.

Replacements: Duncan Casey, John Ryan, BJ Botha, Billy Holland, Jack O'Donoghue, Duncan Williams, JJ Hanrahan, Ronan O'Mahony.

ME-109 wrote:Munster team. Only TOD missing.

Munster: Felix Jones; Keith Earls, Andrew Smith, Denis Hurley, Simon Zebo; Ian Keatley, Conor Murray; Dave Kilcoyne, Eusebio Guinazu, Stephen Archer; Donnacha Ryan, Paul O'Connell; Peter O'Mahony - capt., Paddy Butler, CJ Stander.

Replacements: Duncan Casey, John Ryan, BJ Botha, Billy Holland, Jack O'Donoghue, Duncan Williams, JJ Hanrahan, Ronan O'Mahony.

ME, this is my estimation of our team for tomorrow compared to the corresponding fixture in the League last September, just to add AWJ was 4 then but is 5 tomorrow.
Smith Smith
Baldwin Baldwin
Arhip Arhip
AWJ AWJ
Bernardo + Ardron
Bearman Lydiate +
Tipuric Tipuric
Baker Baker
Webb Webb
Biggar Biggar
Walker Walker
Matavesi Matavesi
Bishop John +
Hassler Hassler
Evans Evans
So IMO we are slightly stronger overall because of Lydiate being in instead of Bearman, but at that time that basically was our best team
Kilcoyne Kilcoyne
Casey Guinazou +
Botha Archer +
DOC Ryan +
POC POC
Butler POM +
Dougall Butler +
Stander Stander
Murray Murray
Keatley Keatley
Heever Zebo +
Hurley Hurley
Dineen Smith +
Conway Earls +
Murphy Jones +
I don't know if you agree with my estimation? is Butler a better 6 than 7, is Felix Jones better than Johne Murphy?, please feel free to alter my opinions, I would say from that day back in September you have the most scope for improvement, with your changes, I honestly think it will be a tough day at the office for us tomorrow. With us only winning by 5 back then 19-14. Personally really looking forward to the back row battle, could go a long way to settling this match.

I would say thats a fair assessment. The big plus for us is Guinazou even though he is a hooker he has made a huge difference to our scrummaging. Also the backrow with POM in it is a lot stronger. Butler is really an 8 so expect to see POM do the scavenging work on the ground. Jones is better than Murphy at FB but I feel the O's can make ground in midfield against our centres. I wouldnt say there will be more than a score in it either way. Could depend on whether the crowd are up for it.

Backrow battle will be huge but looking forward to Webb v Murray as well. While Keatley is playing ok I think the O's halfbacks are a better combination. I think if our set piece is as good as it was against Ulster we should shade it.

Good to see POM back. I think this is going to be a difficult game for Munster. They finished level on points in the league and the Ospreys' backline is a more dangerous unit.

Plus Biggar is a top class kicker and doesn't miss much.

One thing in Munsters favour is experience. Ospreys are lacking experience IMO and Munster have no shortage of it.

I think Ospreys have almost no chance to win this. Their pack isn't good enough to stand up to that Munster pack. We could see a reverse scoreline of the 2012 semi.

What a tackle from Connor Murray, and a typical turnover by Paul O'Connell. Legend.

Ladies and gentlemen, we have a real game on our hands here.

Breathless stuff so far. Can't help but think whoever wins this will be champions - really can't see Glasgow coping with either team's power.

where can i watch this?

Sky Sports 1

That looked like a complete cheap shot on Murray on first glance?

thx notch. saints sarries on BT is on my other screen. good luck to both teams.

quinsforever wrote:where can i watch this?

PM'd you.

What did Murray go off with?

Golden wrote:What did Murray go off with?

Unfortunately it looks like ligament damage. Lydiate came in with a late tackle, possibly no arms, into his knee. I imagine it is going to be looked at after the game. Murray did manage to walk off though.

Golden wrote:What did Murray go off with?

Knee injury. Coach has just said he thinks it is medial ligaments and he will be out for a few weeks.

RDW_Scotland wrote:

quinsforever wrote:where can i watch this?

PM'd you.

Could I get one as well please?

Got one now, thanks anyway.

Ospreys need to look out wide more, zero and Earls look like easy targets in defence

Bad defence there from O's

Excellent try from Munster, Joe Schmidt would be proud of that!

maestegmafia wrote:Ospreys need to look out wide more, zero and Earls look like easy targets in defence

Zebo is a very good defender.

If Keatley could kick then Munster would be out of sight by now!

Still a long way back for Ospreys, that home semi record still looking safe!

"the Kingspan Ravenhill stadium"

Lovely try from Munster. Good game so far.

Good game so far Munster's defence is proving the difference so far, O's kicking off target still all to play for.

Another crap kick not helping O's

Awful defence from Eli Walker, he will never play for Wales until that improves a lot.

Rubbish tackle by Walker lets the game slip not doing his Wales chances any good.

If Keatley could kick, this game would be out of reach.

Very harsh forward pass call if you ask me

That was absolutely awful stuff from Stander..

12 tries in 13 games for Webb, ridiculous

Oh, Stander will have nightmares about that one!

Very unusual miss from Biggar, they needed that too

Jesus, unstoppable Munster.

Ospreys need something special now

Great play by Munster this second half, the ospreys look rattled... Need to get the ball worked wide and well.

No one can kick today!

Rory_Gallagher wrote:

maestegmafia wrote:Ospreys need to look out wide more, zero and Earls look like easy targets in defence

Zebo is a very good defender.

He is good, but he is also struggling with Hassler, and the ospreys need to exploit that more often. Hassler is very powerfull with the ball in hand

As that try shows

Passive defence by the Ospreys is suiting Munster, good try again by Munster.

Now a great try by Hasler

Hassler is quite a player

Magic form Hassler! Ospreys are back in it. One score game

Blimey, the Ospreys are not giving up. Kick this one and the game is still alive!

Both kickers are struggling... Doesn't look windy, maybe gusty and flakey wind direction?

Keatley is having a mare, will they sub him?

Osprey scrum getting on top but had no reward from Nigel

Needed Matevisi to straighten up then after Evans break

Zebo knocked it on Nig got that correct

Ben John has really impressed me in the last few games. Not just brawn but has a decent rugby game too