Clermont Auvergne v Ospreys

[An Tarbh]

Clermont have given themselves a great chance of qualifying for the knockout stages for the first time in 10 years. 2 bonus point wins will get the job done but that's easier said than done when you factor the hit and miss aspect of the Ospreys into the equation, on the one hand they could turn over Clermont on Saturday or be given an absolute hiding.

Both sides should be fresh coming into this one with the Ospreys game cancelled last week and Cotter resting players for last Sunday's match.

By far the match of the weekend just a shame that Sky think the Blues against Sale is more worthy of showing than this one for us poor sods without interactive.

 

[Mr.cyclopede]

France 2 is bradcasting the match so free access here.
They will also broadcast it on their website but limited on french territory. This should be corrected using a proxy.

 

[An Tarbh]

bah I knew I should have stayed in France

 

[Mr.cyclopede]

Is the weather cause of you leaving ??

 

[An Tarbh]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Mr.cyclopede @ Jan 13 2010, 07:45 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Is the weather cause of you leaving ?? [/b]

nah I left 6 months ago cause I'd finished my contract.

 

[elgringoborracho]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (An Tarbh @ Jan 13 2010, 08:48 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Mr.cyclopede @ Jan 13 2010, 07:45 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Is the weather cause of you leaving ?? [/b]

nah I left 6 months ago cause I'd finished my contract.
[/b][/quote]

It should be a cracker, I think I've never seen Clermont with the kind of form they have at the moment. It will be really hard for the Ospreys. Both teams have produced amazing rugby since the beginning of the HCup so I expect very open play and possibly a lot of tries.

An Tarbh yeah you should have stayed!

 

[Mr.cyclopede]

Yes A Cracker I see.

The interest of both team will be to get the OB, so expect a very opened game, especially from Ospreys with a very talented backline.

Hope weather or field thawing won't spoil it

 

[MunsterMan]

4 points to 0 to Clermont, even if the Ospreys have Tommy Bowe!

 

[Sir Speedy]

Unsure about this. I have a feeling it'll be a high-scoring affair, though.

 

[MunsterMan]

I do too, but didn't want to incur the wrath of Cyril, RC and co. by predicting Clermont to get a BP and Ospreys to get NATHIN

 

[Bluemoon]

It will be epic. But I fear Clermont will want it to much and home factor will come into it. Ospreys have got a bit of form, lets hope it continues.

 

[munstermuffin]

Lads are Sky serious like as said already this IS the 1 game you know will produce fireworks so why isn't it on like

 

[Mr.cyclopede]

Wheather forecasts are good for Saturday, hope the field is drained enough not to have a mudding-pool after the 2 weeks snow.

 

[cyRil]

It's at times like this that I can justify my £54 a month Sky+ bill.

 

[dullonien]

Nooo, it's only on interactive!!!!!! Hope one of the pubs are showing it then, otherwise I'm screwed! Any football on at the same time? If there is, all pubs will be showing that. £26 a month for sky sports, and I don't even get to see the game I've been mosly looking forward to!!

Really looking forward to this game, and I do think the O's can win out in France. The O's defense has been phenominal of late, so should hold Clermont to a couple of tries, three max. Adam Jones will mean parity in the scrums, and Collins has given us the aggression and dog we've been missing in the past. Backline speaks for itself, + Shane is back. Wonder if Bowe will be used in the centre again, alongside Hook?

I predicted an ospreys win in the prediction thread (very biased), and I'm gonna stick with that here. Epic game in prospect.

 

[Mr.cyclopede]

Probable starting composition according the local newspaper "La Montagne":

Floch; Nalaga, Rougerie, Baï, Malzieu; (O) James, (M) Parra; Lapandry, Vermeulen, Bonnaire; Privat, Cudmore; Zirakashvili, Ledesma, Domingo.

 

[dullonien]

Strong, strong team there Mr.cyclopede.

This is my guess at what the O's will put out:

01 Paul James
02 Richard Hibbard
03 Adam Jones
04 Alun-Wyn Jones
05 Jonathan Thomas
06 Jerry Collins
07 Marty Holah
08 Ryan Jones

09 Ricky January
10 Dan Biggar
11 Shane Williams
12 James Hook
13 Tommy Bowe
14 Nicky Walker
15 Lee Burne

Almost certain that's the pack we'll see. Not sure if 11-14 is what we'll see, as Andrew Bishop could figure. Also will Shane Williams be chucked straight back into action?

 

[SmokeyMonkey]

Rumour is that Hook loses out to Parker in the centre to concentrate on defence. Just saying.

 

[Mr.cyclopede]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (dullonien @ Jan 14 2010, 09:52 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Strong, strong team there Mr.cyclopede.

This is my guess at what the O's will put out:

01 Paul James
02 Richard Hibbard
03 Adam Jones
04 Alun-Wyn Jones
05 Jonathan Thomas
06 Jerry Collins
07 Marty Holah
08 Ryan Jones

09 Ricky January
10 Dan Biggar
11 Shane Williams
12 James Hook
13 Tommy Bowe
14 Nicky Walker
15 Lee Burne

Almost certain that's the pack we'll see. Not sure if 11-14 is what we'll see, as Andrew Bishop could figure. Also will Shane Williams be chucked straight back into action?[/b]

9 to 15 in this config quite nice too.
I'd prefer see Russel instead of Rougerie to face Shane "Gonzales" Williams, not to see him passing beetween Aurélien's legs !

 

[Mr.cyclopede]

Expected composition confirmed: