Liberty Stadium, Swansea - (11/05/2012, 19:35)
Ref: Alain Rolland
TV: BBCW/RTE
Find TRF at:
Liberty Stadium, Swansea - (11/05/2012, 19:35)
Ref: Alain Rolland
TV: BBCW/RTE
Last edited by TRF_Olyy; 09-05-12 at 06:36 PM.
I always ready to post a confident-sounding message until I saw the two words I dread the most written next to 'Ref'. It's going to be a long Friday night.
Originally Posted by DuncTheDoodle
Can't say I blame him tbh...
Nooooo! Munster have definitly won Alain Rolland is reffing !
ss
I'd take Alain Rolland over George "Mr Mustwhistle" Clancy
I swear the Ospreys had a home semi? so its a at the Liberty not Thomand?
Sort is out Feic
This should be a good match, one which the Ospreys could/should win. They've been in fantastic form since Tandy took over, with the front five in phenomenal form, and that's where I expect the game to be won by the Ospreys.
There is an injury doubt to Tipuric, but he should be fit by all accounts.
I just hope the name Tom Smith isn't in the starting 15...... or on the bench tbh.
Ospreys didn't play well last week against Aironi though, that was the worst performance for a while
I can't agree more with this
True, but hopefully that was just a case of taking their foot off the pedal like Alun-Wyn said, and it acted as the kick up the backside they needed before this match.
Don't worry, they might have Jonathan Thomas.
6. Ryan, 7. Tips, 8. Stowers, 19. Goffie, 20. Bearman please. I would accept seeing James King in a bench slot. I don't have the level of hatred for Tom Smith some do (He's a decent squad player, sort of name I want to see when the internationals are away but not too often), but would rather he didn't play all the same. Team otherwise picks itself, although Webb surely must start above Fotuali'i at 9, even though chances are he won't.
What's worse is I went 'Oh, better remember Ospreys are at home for this one, they'll be favourites then.' Moral of the story, I'm a moron.Sort is out Feic
This should be a good match, one which the Ospreys could/should win. They've been in fantastic form since Tandy took over, with the front five in phenomenal form, and that's where I expect the game to be won by the Ospreys.
There is an injury doubt to Tipuric, but he should be fit by all accounts.
I just hope the name Tom Smith isn't in the starting 15...... or on the bench tbh.
Stowers was poor off the bench against Aironi and did a horrible hospital pass, and to be honest I've not been that impressed with him all season, he seems to just want to carry, he never hits rucks and when he does concedes a penalty
Bearman was poor at first but now has improved lately to be okay, still would like a new signing at 8 for next season, not that it is likely to happen
I don't hate Tom Smith, it's just infuriating how he gets in the team so often and has even captained whilst being so average and anonymous, he's not the worst player as in he drops the ball all the time and runs backwards, but he doesn't go forwards much either and isn't a real tackle machine like Lydiate either
and people keep saying how King is going to be good player in the future, but he's not getting any chances behind a player who will probably never improve beyond the level he is right now
Read this preview of it yesterday:
http://dementedmole.com/2012/05/09/p...ys-vs-munster/
Good read - and a point of view I can't argue with.
Ospreys to out-Munster Munster.
Ospreys:
15 Richard Fussell, 14 Hanno Dirksen, 13 Andrew Bishop, 12 Ashley Beck, 11 Shane Williams; 10 Dan Biggar, 9 Kahn Fotuali'i; 1 Paul James, 2 Richard Hibbard, 3 Adam Jones; 4 Alun Wyn Jones, 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 Rhys Webb, 22 Matthew Morgan, 23 Tom Isaacs
Munster:
15 Felix Jones, 14 Johne Murphy, 13 Keith Earls, 12 Lifeimi Mafi, 11 Simon Zebo; 10 Ian Keatley, 9 Conor Murray; 1 Wian du Preez, 2 Mike Sherry, 3 BJ Botha; 4 Donncha O'Callaghan, 5 Mick O'Driscoll; 6 Donnacha Ryan, 7 Tommy O'Donnell, 8 Peter O'Mahony
Replacements:
16 Denis Fogarty, 17 Dave Kilcoyne, 18 Stephen Archer; 19 Dave O'Callaghan, 20 Paddy Butler; 21 Tomás O'Leary, 22 Ronan O'Gara, 23 Ivan Dineen
...
what an underwhelming Munster side, I reckon only three or four of that starting lineup would make the Ospreys side
Which will make it all the more irritating when they inevitably beat the Ospreys.
[QUOTE=psychic duck;500755]Ospreys:
15 Richard Fussell, 14 Hanno Dirksen, 13 Andrew Bishop, 12 Ashley Beck, 11 Shane Williams; 10 Dan Biggar, 9 Kahn Fotuali'i; 1 Paul James, 2 Richard Hibbard, 3 Adam Jones; 4 Alun Wyn Jones, 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 Rhys Webb, 22 Matthew Morgan, 23 Tom Isaacs
Munster:
15 Felix Jones, 14 Johne Murphy, 13 Keith Earls, 12 Lifeimi Mafi, 11 Simon Zebo; 10 Ian Keatley, 9 Conor Murray; 1 Wian du Preez, 2 Mike Sherry, 3 BJ Botha; 4 Donncha O'Callaghan, 5 Mick O'Driscoll; 6 Donnacha Ryan, 7 Tommy O'Donnell, 8 Peter O'Mahony
Replacements:
16 Denis Fogarty, 17 Dave Kilcoyne, 18 Stephen Archer; 19 Dave O'Callaghan, 20 Paddy Butler; 21 Tomás O'Leary, 22 Ronan O'Gara, 23 Ivan Dineen
...
what an underwhelming Munster side, I reckon only three or four of that starting lineup would make the Ospreys side[/QUOTE
Simon Zebo for Shane...
Archer for Adam Jones
Mick O'Driscoll for Biggar
Sounds about right
ss
Ha I'd have Donnacha Ryan ahead of both O's locks and O'Mahony ahead of Bearman and Sherry over Hibbard also Jones on form is a far superior 15. Think it fair even in alot of spots .
Well, he did say 3 or 4. And that is only 4...
The scrum will be fun. Personally I think the O's should have a slight edge, as while Botha and Jones are both top class tightheads, I'm inclined to think that James is a better player and Du Preez. Also, if i were given the choice between being able to call on Stephen Archer or Ryan Bevington, it's not a toughie.
The respective second rows are quite evenly matched as well. Evans and Wyn-Jones are both proven internationals class, and Evans is in top form this season. The Munster pairing also have their fair share of caps and you'd imagine that O'Driscoll will be giving it absolutely everything in what may be his last game. They're helped out by having Ryan in the back row, who is obviously a very good operator as well.
In the back row I'd fancy Tipuric to be too good for O'Donnell, Jones to be about a match for Ryan (although I think the Munster man might shade it) and it to be pretty even in the 8 slot. It's the greater talent of O'Mahony against the greater experience of Bearman, which always makes for a fascinating contest. I reckon this is the one area of the pack where Munster could really be on top, but an awful lot of that comes down to how well Tipuric is dealt with.
Both sets of half backs are a bit meh. Munster probably have the better scrum half, Ospreys the better out half. Munster do have the luxury of bringing ROG on at some point though. Ospreys probably have better centres (I've never been a fan of Mafi and Earls' best spot is on the wing) while Munster might shade it in the back three (I reckon they'd have two players in a combined team, but Shane is obviously a class above anyone else).
Could go either way really. Ospreys probably look the slightly stronger unit on paper, but one thing you learn about Munster over the years is that they just wont feck off and lose when they should. Should be a good game.
I'd have Jones and O'Mahony, but otherwise, no thanks. I'm very underwhelmed, as others have said, by the Munster side. Honestly, if we don't beat them relatively comfortably all the good will I'd built up over the past few weeks shall be blown.
Happy enough with our team, but I'd rather see Webb start at 9. Fotuali'i's looked slightly more like it recently, but I still think we're better of playing with the pace Webb gives us. Perhaps Stowers would be a better man to come on and make an impact than Tom Smith, but hey ho, we should have the game won by the time the benches are emptied. Hopefully, anyway, as I don't want O'Gara on with 2 points in it...
In Munster games the better team on paper doesn't always win.
Ian Evans and Alun Wyn Jones are probable Lions tourists, and both are in great form, so I'd have both over Dannacha Ryan (who's not even playing at lock). I know Ryan is underrated, including by myself (Kidney's insistence of playing DOC ahead of him at international level doesn't help), but I'd still say the O's pairing are better.
Not sure about O'Mahony v Bearman. Bearman's struggled to get going with the Ospreys, but has picked it up in recent weeks, while O'Mahony is inexperienced. About even would be fair.
Serry v Hibbard, I'd choose Hibbard on recent form (although his throwing was a little amiss last week). Habbards impact around the field is immense though.
Agree with you about Felix Jones though. Not a fan of Fussell at fullback.
As I said above, I'd have the Ospreys locks ahead of the Munster boys every day of the week. I've never been the biggest fan of Mick O'Driscoll, solid player, but nothing special. DOC is a waning force. Evans and Jones are in fine form. In the backrow, I'd have Ryan Jones waay ahead of an out of position Donnacha Ryan. Jones has been in the form of his life for the Ospreys and Wales this season, and is unlucky to be behind a special player in Lydiate for country.
Gotta admit that I'm also not a fan of Conor Murray. He's a poor man's Mike Phillips. In Fotuali'i and Webb, the O's have two players who are game changers. I'd have personally started Webb, because I feel he's in better form, but I'm not upset to see Fotuali'i there.
I'd say that Beck is a class above the Munster centres. But Bishop isn't the player he was, so I'd possibly have Earls over him.
Out wide, Shane is the obvious standout of both teams. Zebo and Dirksen are two young talented players, I think it'd be hard to separate them, so either team could have two in a combined team.
I'm really getting the feeling Munster will win this now. When people start writing them off it's a dangerous time to play them.
Lol.
OSPREYS CALL TO ARMS: "As the Good Lord said, love thy neighbour as thyself. Unless he's a Turk, in which case KILL THE BASTARD!!!"
Nah I'd rather a partnership of Ryan-O'Connell over Evans-Wyn Jones. Evans has been excellent this year but I haven't been overly impressed with Wyn Jones for a while. Don't really think I need to explain PO'C. Ryan's transformation has been incredible before and during the W.C. I thought he was pretty shit but since then he has completely upped his game is now an excellent 4. Great at clearing out, decent carrier, comes up with the odd steal at the lineout, always secure on his ball and a strong defender.
Alun-Wyn Jones is a workhorse, and is quality, he does a lot of the unflashy stuff at rucks that goes unnoticed, and his penalty count is very low
also Munster don't have either O'Connell or Ryan at lock this match, I was comparing the starting lineups and both the Ospreys locks are better than the Munster ones
I'm not only impressed by the flashy stuff if someone's good at the unflashy stuff it's easy enough to notice. He does it but not to as high a standard as Hines or Thorn though maybe your point about his penalty count is better than those two.
I wasn't replying to you but cyRil.
Of course you would.
OSPREYS CALL TO ARMS: "As the Good Lord said, love thy neighbour as thyself. Unless he's a Turk, in which case KILL THE BASTARD!!!"
Well think Ryan has great chance of making Lions if he continues as he's going. But best players wont win it it'll be team units and spirit. People outside Munster won't know much about Sherry but he will be Irish 2 in next few years I feel. Players like Zebo and O'Donnell can be brilliant on their day or very bad and just need to find that level of consistency. Also our bench excites me
Reply With Quote