Connacht V Ospreys 19.00

funky penguin

CONNACHT: G Duffy; B Tuohy, N Ta’auso, K Matthews, F Carr; I Keatley, F Murphy; B Wilkinson, S Cronin, R Morris; A Browne, B Upton; J Muldoon (capt), R Ofisa, M McComish. Replacements: A Flavin, J Hagan, M Swift, J O’Connor, C O’Loughlin, M Nikora, T Nathan.

OSPREYS : B Davies; J Vaughton, S Parker, A Bishop, N Walker; D Biggar, M Phillips; D Jones, R Hibbard, C Griffiths, I Gough, A Lloyd, J Collins, M Holah, R Jones (capt). Replacements: H Bennett, P James, T Smith, F Tiatia, T Isaacs, J Hook, J Spratt.

Ospreys bring big names to Galway

GERRY THORNLEY

Connacht v Ospreys : CONNACHT HAVE sometimes punched above their weight against the Ospreys but the Welshmen have still won seven of the last nine meetings, including the corresponding fixture on opening weekend last season and, even with a cloud hanging over the future career of Gavin Henson, bring a star-studded team to the Sportsground in Galway.

After their summer clear-out, three of Michael Bradley’s new signings will also make their competitive debuts for Connacht this evening; right-winger Brian Tuohy, lock Bernie Upton and number eight Mike McComish, with another two, prop Jamie Hagan and outhalf Miah Nikora, among the replacements.

To put this in context though, debuting too will be two of the Ospreys’ new recruits, Wales fullback Barry Davies and former All Black blindside Jerry Collins (alongside fellow All Black Marty Holah and Grand Slam-winning captain Ryan Jones), as will Tom Isaacs if he comes off the bench.

Furthermore, two of their Lions – halfbacks Mike Phillips and James Hook – surprisingly feature in their starting line-up and on the bench respectively.

Phillips, one of the Lions’ undoubted stars of the summer, starts in part because Jamie Nutbrown was ruled out with a finger injury and the combative Wales scrumhalf is itching to play. “I’m a professional rugby player and I’m paid to do a job that I love, so every opportunity you get to play is pretty special. I’d much rather be out there playing again on Friday night than sitting at home.”

CONNACHT: G Duffy; B Tuohy, N Ta’auso, K Matthews, F Carr; I Keatley, F Murphy; B Wilkinson, S Cronin, R Morris; A Browne, B Upton; J Muldoon (capt), R Ofisa, M McComish. Replacements: A Flavin, J Hagan, M Swift, J O’Connor, C O’Loughlin, M Nikora, T Nathan.

OSPREYS : B Davies; J Vaughton, S Parker, A Bishop, N Walker; D Biggar, M Phillips; D Jones, R Hibbard, C Griffiths, I Gough, A Lloyd, J Collins, M Holah, R Jones (capt). Replacements: H Bennett, P James, T Smith, F Tiatia, T Isaacs, J Hook, J Spratt.

Referee: Graham Knox (SRU).

Last three seasons : (06-07) Connacht 15 Ospreys 10; Ospreys 31 Connacht 10; (07-08) Ospreys 37 Connacht 7; Connacht 24 Ospreys 20; (08-09) Connacht 3 Ospreys 16; Ospreys 22 Connacht 10.

Last season’s leading try scorers : Connacht – Fionn Carr 8. Ospreys – James Hook, Shane Williams 5 each, Lee Byrne 4.

Last season’s leading points scorers : Connacht – Ian Keatley 124. Ospreys – James Hook 161, Dan Biggar 55.

Betting (Paddy Powers) : 3/1 Connacht, 22/1 Draw, 2/9 Ospreys. Handicap betting (= Connacht +9pts) 10/11 Connacht, 22/1 Draw, 10/11 Ospreys.

Forecast : Ospreys to win.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2009/0904/1224253822614.html


I got first match fever!

chupacabra

Hope the boys in green can contain Collins, no doubt he will be bursting at the seams to get some game time. If they can keep it within a score or two then thats a good result.

dreamer_ire

Just heard Connacht 6-3 up

dreamer_ire

And Ospreys down to 14 men

themont85

Cheers for the updates, good to see the boys 'out wesht' are putting it up to those fake tan wearing fancy dans from Swansea.

Four-Percent

Gwan Connacht!

dreamer_ire

Had the wind in the first half apparently.... fingers crossed they hang on!

sickpuppy

dreamer_ire wrote: »

Had the wind in the first half apparently.... fingers crossed they hang on!

Two chances slim and none and slims left town.

johnnyboy4711

Its now or never for connacht!
Conor o loughlin miles better than Frank murphy,who takes too much out of the ball!
Bradley constructs another bottom of the table finish!
slan
j

dreamer_ire

19-12 to Ospreys

outwest

12- 19 full time.
a losing point is ok. we did get two more sin bins at a vital point in the match.

i am truly shocked by how bad the refs are in this league

Hennybug

The ref was dreadful - both Connacht sinbinnings unjustified and killed the game. After that he seemed to realise he might not get out alive and threw us a few penalties :rolleyes:

As much as the sinbinnings cost us the inability to score against 14 men with 2 lineouts deep in their 22 late in the first half was a killer.Also how the touchjudges missed the pull back on Niva Ta'auso that eventually resulted in a pen to Ospreys to level the game beggars belief.Everyone in the stand 50 yards away could see it and the tug on Fionn while chasing the ball while not as obvious was a definite penalty as well and that seconds later led to the penalty and yellow for McComish.We did stay going until the end though and got some reward for our nights work.

We must face it that we get the reject refs at the Sportsground who aren't fit to ref the televised games.However we can't always blame the ref we had a big chance near ht and we failed to take it and that cost us.Until we get more clinical we won't get the rewards for our general hard work around the field.

Shelflife

I didnt get to go tonight but based on the games i saw last year i thought the refs were very quick to card connacht as opposed to the visitors .

good to see that they kept going to the end.

Diabhal Beag

Ref was poor but we did not help ourselves out

siltirocker

Diabhal Beag wrote: »

Ref was poor but we did not help ourselves out

They got there crucial 10 points while we were down to 13 men, which Setanta Sports highlights have shown shouldn't have been.:mad: Neil Francis was to busy analyzing how the Ospreys will perform this season to comment though!:rolleyes:

Diom

McComish stepped over the ruck on and through the gate, but the ref had not called that the ball was out so he should have joined the ruck rather than ignoring it. If he had kicked the ball out he would have been okay.
I thought it was harsh that he got pinged for it given the difficulty with interpretations of the breakdown, but we had been warned and we were giving away a good few penalties at the time. Murphy looked like he was giving the ref an earful which is probably why he was binned, although ref should have just given 10 more yards first.

One thing in particular that really annoyed me on Friday were the amount of thick idiots in the crowd screaming blue murder at every decision that the ref gave against Connacht. One guys was shouting during the Ospreys kicking, and another one behind started to chant "The referee's a w*nker" until I told him to shut up. It was very very embarrassing to be associated with that behavior. Fine , you don't agree with the ref, acting like a football man-monkey won't change his mind.

siltirocker

Diom wrote: »

McComish stepped over the ruck on and through the gate, but the ref had not called that the ball was out so he should have joined the ruck rather than ignoring it. If he had kicked the ball out he would have been okay.
I thought it was harsh that he got pinged for it given the difficulty with interpretations of the breakdown, but we had been warned and we were giving away a good few penalties at the time. Murphy looked like he was giving the ref an earful which is probably why he was binned, although ref should have just given 10 more yards first.

One thing in particular that really annoyed me on Friday were the amount of thick idiots in the crowd screaming blue murder at every decision that the ref gave against Connacht. One guys was shouting during the Ospreys kicking, and another one behind started to chant "The referee's a w*nker" until I told him to shut up. It was very very embarrassing to be associated with that behavior. Fine , you don't agree with the ref, acting like a football man-monkey won't change his mind.

I stand corrected on that point but was the ball not in Phillips hands anyway?

As regards the idiots, that calling rarely is so strong in the Sportsground, i reckon it was adreniline going more than anything. But a few yobs are clearly starting to come over from Terryland.

Diom

siltirocker wrote: »

I stand corrected on that point but was the ball not in Phillips hands anyway?

As regards the idiots, that calling rarely is so strong in the Sportsground, i reckon it was adreniline going more than anything. But a few yobs are clearly starting to come over from Terryland.

You mean for Murphys penalty? Or for McComish's? I'm not sure to be honest as I haven't seen any replays anywhere, but if the ball was in Philips hands then it is out because Philips is out. In which case it was not a penalty.

siltirocker

Diom wrote: »

You mean for Murphys penalty? Or for McComish's? I'm not sure to be honest as I haven't seen any replays anywhere, but if the ball was in Philips hands then it is out because Philips is out. In which case it was not a penalty.

McComish's. He went through the gate, yes but the ball was in Phillips' hands, the only way i can see redemption for the ref is if McComish went to move before Phillips hand was on it, dont i dont believe so!

il gatto

How did McComish go overall? Does he look like starting material in the future? Didn't get to see the match, but why am I not suprised to see Connacht take a lead and then fade out with 30min left. Can Bradley not get them fit enough or are his sh1tty tactics knackering players too quickly?
Anyone hear anything about Nikora? Is he strictly backup for Keatley?

Robbo

il gatto wrote: »

How did McComish go overall? Does he look like starting material in the future? Didn't get to see the match, but why am I not suprised to see Connacht take a lead and then fade out with 30min left. Can Bradley not get them fit enough or are his sh1tty tactics knackering players too quickly?
Anyone hear anything about Nikora? Is he strictly backup for Keatley?

McComish was decent, carding aside. Carried the ball well and gave an extra option at the lineout. He'll be starting at 8, no doubt.

Nikora hasn't had a look in yet at home yet so I can't judge. Apparently he wasn't happy when he arrived and realised that he'd have to compete for his place.

il gatto

Robbo wrote: »

McComish was decent, carding aside. Carried the ball well and gave an extra option at the lineout. He'll be starting at 8, no doubt.

Nikora hasn't had a look in yet at home yet so I can't judge. Apparently he wasn't happy when he arrived and realised that he'd have to compete for his place.

Tough for Nikora. We need performers, not journeymen.
I heard Ewan McKenzie has been ditched by Stade Francais. What are the chances? Thought not:(

outwest

we couldnt afford him.

Sherifu

Thanks for the match reports lads.