Ulster v Ospreys

[An Tarbh]

<div align='center'>

Ulster v Ospreys</div>

Ulster may well feel they missed a chance last week, given they had as close to full strength as was possible for them with Leinster resting most of their Irish internationals. They have a chance to make amends this week by turning over an Ospreys side who will more than likely be focused on next week's clash at Thomond rather than this one at Ravenhill.

As well as Gough and Henson being out through injury, Ryan Jones and Shane Williams are both being rested. There's 10 changes to the Ospreys side which lost at Coventry on Saturday.

Should be a close match but I think Ulster may well sneak it.

Ulster: Clinton Schifcofske; Simon Danielli, Darren Cave, Paddy Wallace, Andrew Trimble; Niall O'Connor, Issac Boss; Bryan Young, Rory Best (capt), BJ Botha, Ed O'Donoghue, Ryan Caldwell, Chris Henry, David Pollock, Robbie Diack.
Replacements: Nigel Brady, Tom Court, Carlo Del Fava, Matt McCullough, Cillian Willis, Ian Whitten, Timoci Nagusa.

Ospreys : Gareth Owen; David Bishop, Jonathan Spratt, Andrew Bishop, Jonny Vaughton; James Hook, Mike Phillips; Paul James (capt), Huw Bennett, Cai Griffiths, Alun Wyn Jones, Andy Lloyd, Tom Smith, Steve Tandy, Filo Tiatia.
Replacements: Richard Hibbard, Ryan Bevington, Filipo Levi, Marty Holah, Jamie Nutbrown, Dan Biggar, Sonny Parker.

 

[Cymro]

Be intresting game reckon Ulster will win.

 

[Bluemoon]

Ospreys stregnth in depth is really being tested at the moment. Spratt at outside centre?? Can he play there or is this a necessary experiment?

With the injuries in mind and with the ospreys perhaps having one eye on the HC QF next week, I think ulster may win this one.

 

[cyRil]

Where do you think Spratt usually plays?
Ulster by 8.

 

[An Tarbh]

poor start from Ulster, Ospreys not really threatening but indiscipline costing Ulster.

6-0 Ospreys after 15 mins

 

[An Tarbh]

Ulster finally get on the scoreboard with a penalty from Schifcofske after Ulster's scrum seriously did a number on the Ospreys.

 

[An Tarbh]

slightly generous from the ref there to the Ospreys, clear forward pass yet he rules he got in the way so gives the Ospreys the feed.

 

[An Tarbh]

shocking play from the Ospreys, 3 on 2 overlap and they pass the ball too early giving Ulster that little extra time.

 

[An Tarbh]

ah Best should have done better with that throw in, could have been a chance of a score before the break there for Ulster.

6-3 Ospreys HT.

 

[An Tarbh]

Schifcofske kicking woefully in the second half, short with his first one and well wide with that last effort.

 

[An Tarbh]

nice cross field kick for Danielli to get in for the opening try of the match.

 

[An Tarbh]

daft play from Ulster conceding a penalty right from the kickoff.

13-9 Ulster 70 mins.

 

[An Tarbh]

let off for Ulster there, thought there may have been a forward pass in the build up but knock on on the line.

 

[An Tarbh]

looks like a try, doesn't seem to be anyone under Tiatia, may well have got the winner now and it's given.

 

[An Tarbh]

time and time again this season Ulster have not made the most of these opportunities, can't imagine Matt Williams will be too pleased after this one either

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

A truly pathetic game of rugby. Neither team should be happy with their performance although Ospreys can be pleased to come away with a victory. After Ulster's impressive form mid-season, they've slumped again.

Niall O'Connor is a willing 10 but his distribution is telegraphed and he sits far too deep in the pocket to pose an attacking threat. That lack of a threat out wide was Ulster's downfall tonight.

 

[An Tarbh]

turgid stuff really, not helped by the conditions but in fairness Ulster are used to that in Belfast so can't keep using that as an excuse, those 2 easy missed kicks cost Ulster massively in the end.

Phillips looked sharper in fits and spurts, really should have started last week given how short his season has been.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

^^^

I agree with the above totally. Schifcofske missed a sitter early in the 2nd half which ultimitely cost Ulster at least a point. Had it gone over it may have changed the course of the game and given Ulster their 6th league win of the season.

Ulster seem to lack ball carrying forwards, a counter attacking fullback, consistency at flyhalf and competition in the three quarters. With Ferris on his way back from injury and Horua arriving next season, the issue in the pack should be addressed to some degree. Issues with the backline will be tougher to solve given the quota on non-Ireland qualified players.

What they could try would be to move Paddy Wallace back to flyhalf and have him compete with Ian Humphreys for the spot. That would allow Ian Whitten a run of games at 12 to prove himself. Basically, do as Leinster do with Felipe Contepomi. 50 minutes at 10 followed by 30 minutes at 12. Bring Ian Humphreys on to exploit tiring defenses. Flyhalf isn't Wallace's best position but Ulster are going nowhere with Niall O'Connor as iHump's only challenger.

 

[An Tarbh]

I'd be inclined to leave Wallace at 12 for the time being, he's got a good competition going with D'Arcy at international level which I'd rather see continue, not sure if that would happen if he's regularly switching so much. 12 seems to be his best position so why rock the boat with the world cup only 2 years away. Who knows what another season may do for both Humphreys and O'Connor.

 

[Meh]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (snoopy snoopy dog dog @ Apr 3 2009, 09:23 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

A truly pathetic game of rugby. Neither team should be happy with their performance although Ospreys can be pleased to come away with a victory. After Ulster's impressive form mid-season, they've slumped again.

Niall O'Connor is a willing 10 but his distribution is telegraphed and he sits far too deep in the pocket to pose an attacking threat. That lack of a threat out wide was Ulster's downfall tonight.[/b]

Yeah but Ospreys were fielding an understrength side.