Leicester v Ospreys

[MunsterMan]

Seriously, Only the f***ing Ospreys could f*** up a lead like that.

I was cheering for the Ospreys all game, but was delighted to see Stan score the try at the end. He can't be that bad if he is GP top scorer can he? Had a few nice touches today too.

After a few games together that Ospreys back line will be among the best in the competition though, Biggar looks pretty awesome for a 19 year old.

 

[bristol-iain]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (MunsterMan @ Oct 11 2009, 08:45 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Seriously, Only the f***ing Ospreys could f*** up a lead like that.

I was cheering for the Ospreys all game, but was delighted to see Stan score the try at the end. He can't be that bad if he is GP top scorer can he? Had a few nice touches today too.

After a few games together that Ospreys back line will be among the best in the competition though, Biggar looks pretty awesome for a 19 year old.[/b]

Biggar was brilliant, have'nt seen a lot of him playing and I was impressed with what I saw especilly the angle and offload for Shanes try. But a game that, unless hard work is put it, could well be the story of the Ospreys season.

 

[mohamed_ali12]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (bristol-iain @ Oct 11 2009, 08:50 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (MunsterMan @ Oct 11 2009, 08:45 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Seriously, Only the f***ing Ospreys could f*** up a lead like that.

I was cheering for the Ospreys all game, but was delighted to see Stan score the try at the end. He can't be that bad if he is GP top scorer can he? Had a few nice touches today too.

After a few games together that Ospreys back line will be among the best in the competition though, Biggar looks pretty awesome for a 19 year old.[/b]

Biggar was brilliant, have'nt seen a lot of him playing and I was impressed with what I saw especilly the angle and offload for Shanes try. But a game that, unless hard work is put it, could well be the story of the Ospreys season.
[/b][/quote]

I thought Biggar played excellently with the boot and in attack, though on more than one occasion he seemed a little suspect defensively.

 

[dullonien]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ali12 @ Oct 11 2009, 10:05 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (bristol-iain @ Oct 11 2009, 08:50 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Biggar was brilliant, have'nt seen a lot of him playing and I was impressed with what I saw especilly the angle and offload for Shanes try. But a game that, unless hard work is put it, could well be the story of the Ospreys season.[/b]

I thought Biggar played excellently with the boot and in attack, though on more than one occasion he seemed a little suspect defensively.[/b][/quote]

Yup, agree with that. It's not that he's a poor tackler, just that he got caught a couple of times slightly out of position. With Leicesters first try, he just didn't quite drift enough, and was concentrating on the wrong man. It's part of his game that's he needs to improve upon, and one that's straight forward to improve.

But for a 19 y/o playing in the most difficult club cometition on earth, in one of the most intimidating away grounds, he stood up really well. He bounced back superbly from that missed tackle, and helped create a great try and slotted a very calm drop goal. Many a 19 y/o would have lost their nerve after a blunder like that, and lost complete confidence, but not Biggar, and that's one of his big strengths. His kicking to the posts was also impeccable, even with two from within his own half!

 

[Bullitt]

Jeremy Staunton... Lulz!

 

[shazbooger]

That Ospreys pack need to have a good hard look at themselves. THEY lost that game, THEY caved too early in the second half, THEY didnt seem to have an ounce of fight in them. Apart from Collins putting in a few big hits I think they totally bottled it in the second half.

Tyrone Howe hit the nail on the head ofter the game when he said you had to question their will to win.

Well done Leicester (an injury ravaged Leicester at that) but for f*** sake Ospreys, grow some balls.

 

[bristol-iain]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Logorrhea @ Oct 12 2009, 11:45 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

That Ospreys pack need to have a good hard look at themselves. THEY lost that game, THEY caved too early in the second half, THEY didnt seem to have an ounce of fight in them. Apart from Collins putting in a few big hits I think they totally bottled it in the second half.

Tyrone Howe hit the nail on the head ofter the game when he said you had to question their will to win.

Well done Leicester (an injury ravaged Leicester at that) but for f*** sake Ospreys, grow some balls.[/b]

At 29-15 you'd think it would be pretty much game over and I think thats what the Ospreys thought, they got complacent thinking a 14 point lead would be enough to secre the win. They need a good hard look at the game dvd to work out what happened. As you say credit to Leicester in fighting back with a "weaker" side.

 

[shazbooger]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (bristol-iain @ Oct 12 2009, 12:03 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

At 29-15 you'd think it would be pretty much game over and I think thats what the Ospreys thought, they got complacent thinking a 14 point lead would be enough to secre the win. They need a good hard look at the game dvd to work out what happened. As you say credit to Leicester in fighting back with a "weaker" side.[/b]

Nahh but come on! You dont put yourself in a position like that away to Leicester and take your foot off the pedal. There is something wrong in that forwards unit. I wouldnt blame the backs at all, it became one way traffic due to the dominance of the Leicester pack so they were always going to make mistakes eventually.

When given half the chance these guys seem to want to hide, not fight. This was the kind of performance that had Ireland calling the Leinster team ladyboys.

Its damned tough trying to support a team like that.

 

[bristol-iain]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Logorrhea @ Oct 12 2009, 12:15 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Nahh but come on! You dont put yourself in a position like that away to Leicester and take your foot off the pedal. There is something wrong in that forwards unit. I wouldnt blame the backs at all, it became one way traffic due to the dominance of the Leicester pack so they were always going to make mistakes eventually.

When given half the chance these guys seem to want to hide, not fight. This was the kind of performance that had Ireland calling the Leinster team ladyboys.

Its damned tough trying to support a team like that.[/b]

The Leicester pack has always been strong so the Sprays should have been prepared. I agree that no blame can be levelled on the backs.

They should know, especially the amount of times they have played each other in the last few years, that a full 80 minute effprt is required to win and they just didnt play 80 minutes. A marked improvemnt must be made or they will be out of the competition real fast.

 

[dullonien]

Totally agree with you Logarrhea. In the first half the pack stood up well (apart from at scrum time, but that was always going to be the case with Cai playing). But in the second they were shocking, they coughed up any posetion before they could string 3 phases together. This is where the two props playing fall well short of the mark. Not only were both utterly desroyed in the scrum, but neither could be seen in the open or tight either. What's the point in them being there atall if they can't do anything well? Surely there are some props in the region (playing for Swansea or Neath maybe) that can do something well, at least hold the scrum would be great. The Ospreys persistance with those two bloody props is mind boggling. They are continuanly recruting more backs (Tiquiri) and ignoring their lack of depth in the front row. When everyone is fit (i.e. Adan and Duncan Jones) all is well, but those two cannot be expected to hold up the entire region!

Hallah is also still not performing like he should. He was decent in the first half, getting through lots of tackles and putting pressure on the Leicester halfbacks. But in the second half he was nowhere to be seen. The same can be said for the likes of Alun-Wyn Jones and Ryan Jones, who battled hard, but came out second best in that second period. Ian Gough also had no impact when he came on, I honestly think he's now past it for region and country. With Ian Evans now fit again, why is he not either starting or on the bench?

These things do need to get sorted, because for the quality the Ospreys posses in that pack, the backs find themselves on the back foot, or simply defending far to often. This shouldn't be the case, and a few years ago it wasn't. The Ospreys used to be able to physically bully the majority of teams they came up against, but over the past couple of seasons that's happening less and less often. The question is why?

 

[shazbooger]

There are problems from 1 right through to 8.

R Jones at 8 needs to take some responsibility for it but it looks as if they are short of real courage. Players that will die for the Jersey (or eachother). Munster have them all over the place, Leinster have Jennings and Cullen. You guys seem to be lacking those players at the moment.

Its funny the parallels between the Ospreys and Leinster. For years we were (maybe still are) too soft. When teams really took us on we tended to fold, even though we had an amazing backline we rarely did the business cause they never got the ball.

It took a complete re-vamp of the pack to turn it around (Only one player (Heaslip) still survives from the Toulouse match at the end of 2006). It started in the off season of the 2007 season, and were still 2 or three players (or one Rocky Elsom) away from finishing it.

 

[bristol-iain]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Logorrhea @ Oct 12 2009, 03:51 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

There are problems from 1 right through to 8.

R Jones at 8 needs to take some responsibility for it but it looks as if they are short of real courage. Players that will die for the Jersey (or eachother). Munster have them all over the place, Leinster have Jennings and Cullen. You guys seem to be lacking those players at the moment.

Its funny the parallels between the Ospreys and Leinster. For years we were (maybe still are) too soft. When teams really took us on we tended to fold, even though we had an amazing backline we rarely did the business cause they never got the ball.

It took a complete re-vamp of the pack to turn it around (Only one player (Heaslip) still survives from the Toulouse match at the end of 2006). It started in the off season of the 2007 season, and were still 2 or three players (or one Rocky Elsom) away from finishing it.[/b]

Compare the Ospreys pack to the Blues pack and you see what the Ospreys need. Rush, Molitika, Powell and Williams will leave their blood sweat and tears on the feild at the end of the game which the Ospreys 6, 7, 8 don't do. When we were in the Premiership we had Matt Salter who gave 110% every week for us and played for the badge on the shirt. That's what the Ospreys back row need as far as I can see

 

[DuncTheDoodle]

I was sat in front of a particually violent Swansea family (When the 8/9 year old kids are swearing at Mike Phillips due to a missed tackle, you know you're in trouble. Their dad had a go at Biggar for not taking a shot half way inside his own half.) on my little trip to Welford Road, and next to an agitated Tigers fan, who'd make up excuses for anything and everything. ("Oh, if he was holding on there, then why wasn't he penalised whilst he was standing up?")


Good game though, even if we're still the worst team in the entire world when it comes to closing a game off. Jerry Collins looked unfit, not making it around the park as much as he should be doing.

Biggar played well after a nightmare five minutes. Didn't see much of Hook, though I hear he was exceptional. Who was it that sent Shaney through? Fantastic lines they picked, there.

 

[bristol-iain]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (DuncTheDoodle @ Oct 12 2009, 04:34 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

I was sat in front of a particually violent Swansea family (When the 8/9 year old kids are swearing at Mike Phillips due to a missed tackle, you know you're in trouble. Their dad had a go at Biggar for not taking a shot half way inside his own half.) on my little trip to Welford Road, and next to an agitated Tigers fan, who'd make up excuses for anything and everything. ("Oh, if he was holding on there, then why wasn't he penalised whilst he was standing up?")


Good game though, even if we're still the worst team in the entire world when it comes to closing a game off. Jerry Collins looked unfit, not making it around the park as much as he should be doing.

Biggar played well after a nightmare five minutes. Didn't see much of Hook, though I hear he was exceptional. Who was it that sent Shaney through? Fantastic lines they picked, there.[/b]

Hook's pass, Biggars angle and offload.

 

[An Tarbh]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (DuncTheDoodle @ Oct 12 2009, 04:34 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

I was sat in front of a particually violent Swansea family (When the 8/9 year old kids are swearing at Mike Phillips due to a missed tackle, you know you're in trouble. Their dad had a go at Biggar for not taking a shot half way inside his own half.) on my little trip to Welford Road, and next to an agitated Tigers fan, who'd make up excuses for anything and everything. ("Oh, if he was holding on there, then why wasn't he penalised whilst he was standing up?")


Good game though, even if we're still the worst team in the entire world when it comes to closing a game off. Jerry Collins looked unfit, not making it around the park as much as he should be doing.

Biggar played well after a nightmare five minutes. Didn't see much of Hook, though I hear he was exceptional. Who was it that sent Shaney through? Fantastic lines they picked, there.[/b]

Hook gave the inside pass to Biggar who put Shane away.

 

[stormmaster1]

didn't see the match, so my opinion's mainly based on a few snippet's of the radio, the paper's, the thread on here and a couple biased tiger supporter friends. so apologies if i get it hideously wrong.

As a result, good result for osprey's although will be disappointed to have lost a commanding lead. good comeback from tigers though, certainly showed spirit and the benefits on their ongoing academy. Sounds like Osprey's pack underperformed and was probably not picked right. Not having a competitive front 5 (a traditional area of strength for tigers) was always going to be costly, and it seems it generated the pressure and possession from which mistakes and scores came from. The Osprey's back row has been fairly criticised, but it's always easy to dominate as a back rower when the front 5 are going forward. so don't worry about Jones and Collins just yet.

Sounds like Ospreys let Tigers back into the game a fair bit, but it also sounds like a few key mistakes led to the lead in the first place (e.g. Staunton's pass, Crane's dropped high ball prior to Williams' try). How much did the O's really outplay us in the first half? Which mistakees were as the result of pressure and which were unforced i wonder.

I think both side's will fancy their chances on the return leg. Ospreys could well have won at welford road so know they can beat us. but we know we can score 4 tries with an injury-decimated squad, so if we have a full squad at the Liberty it could be pretty tight.

 

[dullonien]

The Ospreys haven't lost at home in the HC for 11 games I think, impresive stat. I think the Ospreys should take it at home. Maybe the Tigers were better off without their first choice players? They certainly haven't been scoring tries like that before yesterday (probably not, just thinking out loud.)

 

[DuncTheDoodle]

Billy Twelvetrees (BRILLIANT name, by the way) was only announced as a change as the players walked onto the field, and yet turned out to be man-of-the-match, casuing problems for us everywhere and anywhere. Frankly, I'd pick him voer Hipkiss anyday.

And I'd pick almost anyone over Harry Ellis.

 

[Olyy]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (DuncTheDoodle @ Oct 13 2009, 06:35 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Billy Twelvetrees (BRILLIANT name, by the way) was only announced as a change as the players walked onto the field, and yet turned out to be man-of-the-match, casuing problems for us everywhere and anywhere. Frankly, I'd pick him voer Hipkiss anyday.[/b]

He did play fantastically, i'd never heard of him before that match, but he was very impressive
If he keeps it up then he should find his way onto the Saxons before long