Ospreys v Leinster 19.05 Friday BBCWales (N.B.) Setanta Ireland

wixfjord

Teams:
Leinster
15: Isa Nacewa
14: Shane Horgan
13: Gordon D'Arcy
12: Shaun Berne
11: David Kearney
10: Jonathan Sexton
9: Eoin Reddan

1: Cian Healy
2: John Fogarty
3: Stan Wright
4: Nathan Hines
5: Malcolm O'Kelly
6: Kevin McLaughlin
7: Shane Jennings CAPTAIN
8: Sean O'Brien

REPLACEMENTS FROM: Bernard Jackman, Mike Ross, Leo Cullen, Devin Toner, Stephen Keogh, Chris Keane, Fergus McFadden, Simon Keogh

Ospreys:
15 Lee Byrne
14 Tommy Bowe
13 Jonathan Spratt
12 Andrew Bishop
11 Nikki Walker
10 James Hook
9 Jamie Nutbrown

1 Duncan Jones
2 Huw Bennett
3 Craig Mitchell
4 Ian Gough
5 Jonathan Thomas
6 Jerry Collins
7 Marty Holah ©
8 Tom Smith

Replacements:
16 Richard Hibbard
17 Paul James
18 Alun-Wyn Jones
19 Filo Tiatia
20 Mike Phillips
21 Dan Biggar
22 Gareth Owen


Byrne and Bowe back for Ospreys. Should be a big test for Dave Kearney, and a very tough game over all. Could see Leinster escaping with a losing bonus point, unless their game is upped considerably. Im also very interested to see our back row especially mclaughlin and seanie up against quality. Mclaughlin has started very well, hopefully he can keep going.

stephen_n

Why is he playing Darcy at 13 that makes no sense! Good to see Redan starting though!

Size=everything

wixfjord wrote: »

Teams:
Leinster
15: Isa Nacewa
14: Shane Horgan
13: Gordon D'Arcy
12: Shaun Berne
11: David Kearney
10: Jonathan Sexton
9: Eoin Reddan

1: Cian Healy
2: John Fogarty
3: Stan Wright
4: Nathan Hines
5: Malcolm O'Kelly
6: Kevin McLaughlin
7: Shane Jennings CAPTAIN
8: Sean O'Brien

REPLACEMENTS FROM: Bernard Jackman, Mike Ross, Leo Cullen, Devin Toner, Stephen Keogh, Chris Keane, Fergus McFadden, Simon Keogh

Ospreys:
15 Lee Byrne
14 Tommy Bowe
13 Jonathan Spratt
12 Andrew Bishop
11 Nikki Walker
10 James Hook
9 Jamie Nutbrown

1 Duncan Jones
2 Huw Bennett
3 Craig Mitchell
4 Ian Gough
5 Jonathan Thomas
6 Jerry Collins
7 Marty Holah ©
8 Tom Smith

Replacements:
16 Richard Hibbard
17 Paul James
18 Alun-Wyn Jones
19 Filo Tiatia
20 Mike Phillips
21 Dan Biggar
22 Gareth Owen


Byrne and Bowe back for Ospreys. Should be a big test for Dave Kearney, and a very tough game over all. Could see Leinster escaping with a losing bonus point, unless their game is upped considerably. Im also very interested to see our back row especially mclaughlin and seanie up against quality. Mclaughlin has started very well, hopefully he can keep going.

Firstly, I think its great to see Dave Kearney getting another start hes a very promising player and its good to see him getting his chance in the ML. At underage level he was better than his brother was and he has the potential to be an even better player than Rob. But for gods sake, another winger/full back! The IRFU should put a cap on the amount of people that can play wing/full back in this country!

It is also great to see McLaughlin really putting his hand up at 6. He has been excellent thus far and its brilliant to see yet another young talent emerging onto the scene.

Its good to see Sean O'Brien at 8, fantastic prospect as well all know by now but more importantly he seems capable of covering every position in the backrow which is very encouraging. Hopefully his form continues and he nudges ahead of Leamy in the pecking order for Ireland as imo he is currently playing much better.

I am very interested to see how the Reddan-Sexton partnership will get on for the full 80, An in form Reddan and Sexton playing as he currently is would be lethal!

Only issue I'd have from the players availiable is I would of preferred to see D'arcy at 12 and McFadden at 13 but still quite content.


Also, Does anyone know how ex Leinster academy Connor McIreney is getting on at Ospreys??

Stev_o

Can't understand D'Arcy in at 13 ahead of McFadden, was enjoying the classic 5/8 and proper 13 combination.

sock puppet

wixfjord wrote: »

Teams:
Leinster
15: Isa Nacewa
14: Shane Horgan
13: Gordon D'Arcy
12: Shaun Berne
11: David Kearney
10: Jonathan Sexton
9: Eoin Reddan

1: Cian Healy
2: John Fogarty
3: Stan Wright
4: Nathan Hines
5: Malcolm O'Kelly
6: Kevin McLaughlin
7: Shane Jennings CAPTAIN
8: Sean O'Brien

REPLACEMENTS FROM: Bernard Jackman, Mike Ross, Leo Cullen, Devin Toner, Stephen Keogh, Chris Keane, Fergus McFadden, Simon Keogh

Ospreys:
15 Lee Byrne
14 Tommy Bowe
13 Jonathan Spratt
12 Andrew Bishop
11 Nikki Walker
10 James Hook
9 Jamie Nutbrown

1 Duncan Jones
2 Huw Bennett
3 Craig Mitchell
4 Ian Gough
5 Jonathan Thomas
6 Jerry Collins
7 Marty Holah ©
8 Tom Smith

Replacements:
16 Richard Hibbard
17 Paul James
18 Alun-Wyn Jones
19 Filo Tiatia
20 Mike Phillips
21 Dan Biggar
22 Gareth Owen


Byrne and Bowe back for Ospreys. Should be a big test for Dave Kearney, and a very tough game over all. Could see Leinster escaping with a losing bonus point, unless their game is upped considerably. Im also very interested to see our back row especially mclaughlin and seanie up against quality. Mclaughlin has started very well, hopefully he can keep going.

I know Holah's good but copyrighting his name is taking things a bit too far.

buck65

This should be a good game actually. The Ospreys must be smarting from their defeat to Ulster, I watched that game and they really looked like a team who were just expecting things to happen for them and the game just went by. Of course Ulster are a team that you take lightly at your peril. The home support ,who booed their team at the final whistle, will be looking for a win this week.
Leinster's loss to the Scarlets was a bit like the Ospreys loss to Ulster, Leinster did win last week at home to the Dragons but were not convincing and do need to up the workrate and execution to win in Wales.
The Ospreys with a full team and decent bench look formidable and should have a little too much in the locker for this Leinster team who are still missing their Lions. Ospreys by 3.

2040

Berne is looking like a good addition to the squad and really put his hand up last week. From that perspective it's understandable why McFadden is on the bench and Darcy at 13.

anonymous_joe

Size=everything wrote: »

Also, Does anyone know how ex Leinster academy Connor McIreney is getting on at Ospreys??

Really happy, has a new apartment, car, college course, they sorted everything out for him. Meant to be loving it. (His dad is friend's with my mate's dad, hence only having such useless info.)

Ehm, two cracking backlines with two solid-ish packs.

Really going to be relying on Hines and O'Kelly. Jennings and co in the back-row will get a massive test from Holah and Collins. Could be fascinating.

Right now, my money (if I tended to bet) would be on a Leinster bonus point defeat. Though I'm hoping for the Ospreys to do another Ulster.

wixfjord

Off topic but I watched Rugby Club earlier and it said that Flutey and Armitage are likely to be out for the English Autumn Ints. Great news for Leinster as we have Irish first and Brive second if im right? When i saw the first one I was like **** yeah and they had the armitage news on after so double whammy!

toomevara

wixfjord wrote: »

Off topic but I watched Rugby Club earlier and it said that Flutey and Armitage are likely to be out for the English Autumn Ints. Great news for Leinster as we have Irish first and Brive second if im right? When i saw the first one I was like **** yeah and they had the armitage news on after so double whammy!

Just to continue OT for a sec, I'm going to see LI play this weekend in the GP against Leeds. I'll let you know how they look...

irishbucsfan

Great to see Kevin McLaughlin playing again, he's having a great run in the team.

Could be his last chance to make an impression because I know Heaslip has been told he'll be playing next weekend more than likely.

I personally would have taken Kearney or Horgan out and moved D'arcy there in favour of starting McFadden, but then I'm not a Heineken Cup coach.

I think our pack is a fair bit better than theirs. Haven't been too impressed by Collins so far and then I would put O'Brien and Jennings ahead of the other two. We should have them in the second row and their front row isn't among the best on offer from Welsh rugby. So if we can play with the intensity that Ulster brought then we should boss possession. If we can boss possession then Berne and Sexton should score a few points between them.

Saying that, they should be hurting after last week, they owe their fans a performance.

danthefan

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Could be his last chance to make an impression because I know Heaslip has been told he'll be playing next weekend more than likely.

Thank feck for that. Missing him big time.

2040

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Saying that, they should be hurting after last week, they owe their fans a performance.

They've owed their fans a performance for more than a year. It seems like there's some deep-seeded problems with the Ospreys and i think it will be more of the same from them this week. I hope i'm proved wrong though because the Magners League will benefit if they get their act together.

ScrubsfanChris

This match is on BBC Wales, not S4C just to let everyone know.

NickNolte

A fairly strong Ospreys side is making me nervous. Maybe I'm the only one noticing Leinster's apathy in the first two games but they have a big game ahead of them tomorrow night (tonight?) and I'd like to see them go out to win it. As other have said, D'Arcy at 13 makes me wonder.

[Jackass]

I can only imagine McFadden isn't 100% fit or else he'd start at 13.

I think Berne has been fairly average so far and his defence is a bit of a liability it would appear...I wouldn't be happy if he was considered anything other than a back up 10 when the full squad is available....would be good to see O'Malley getting a run at 12 also...

Great to see Kearney starting though, also excited to see Sexton / Reddan partnership develop and delighted with the back-row...Keogh FINALY loses out to a younger and better player...McLoughlin has been superb at 6 so far and we really needed him to step up this season and it looks like he's ready to fight for the 6 jersey...good to see O'Brien at 8..I actually think 6 would be his best position followed by 8 then 7, but nice to see such young high quality backrow options.

All in all happy enough with selection, but will be a tough game, and already a massive game in the context of the league, so it's important to take something away from the game.

stephen_n

2040 wrote: »

Berne is looking like a good addition to the squad and really put his hand up last week. From that perspective it's understandable why McFadden is on the bench and Darcy at 13.

Yes but Darcy is not a 13

2040

stephen_n wrote: »

Yes but Darcy is not a 13

I'm aware of that yeah. I'd just imagine Cheika wants to see more of Berne. I'm not saying it's the best choice, just that it's understandable.

danthefan

Ospreys should win this one imo.

andrewdcs

Is it possible to change the title, as I'm certain it's on BBCw not S4C

Reckon it'll be a win for the Ospreys, at home, need to impress, lot of big names in there. Leinster have looked decent imho, should not have lost opener away to Scarlets, magners league depth seems good again.

Spore

Ospreys at home, smarting from an embarrassing defeat to Ulster, picking a more mobile pack, Lee Byrne starting... against a Leinster team with positional switches and debutantes. Looking at a heavy defeat here, I'd say Osprey's to win six tries to two!

PhatPiggins

Spore wrote: »

Ospreys at home, smarting from an embarrassing defeat to Ulster, picking a more mobile pack, Lee Byrne starting... against a Leinster team with positional switches and debutantes. Looking at a heavy defeat here, I'd say Osprey's to win six tries to two!

A game between two teams that haven't really hit form, cant see there being anywhere near 8 tries to be honest.

Personally I dont like the balance of the Leinster backrow. O Brien really isn't an 8(yeah I know he played there underage) and if Jenning doesn't have a big game I can see the usual continuity from a backrow to the backline being non exisitent. Having said that the way the Ospreys have been playing they may not be overly tested.

Stev_o

Im going to be sick................

Ugghhh that jersey.................ughhh

NickNolte

Two bloopers in succession from Sexton after a very promising start. Let's hope that's the last of them

DonkeyPokerTour

Teriffic Work from Tommy Bowe to win the Penelty

But poor kick by Hook means its still 6-3 to leinster

Riskymove

Jerry collins in for a try

DonkeyPokerTour

2 misses in a row from sexton, 1st one a tough one, 2nd one from in front of the posts, but Jonathan Davis gave him the commentators curse on BBC!

Stev_o

38 minutes of watching paint dry, such a poor match.

Stev_o

Now that is officially the most retarded thing iv ever seen. EVER. A penalty to Ospreys in the scrum for Wright binding on the arm YET Jones was binned the scrum before for having the same done to him. Madness.

justsomebloke

once again Leinster seem to be unable to take advantage of having extra men on the field.

DonkeyPokerTour

Mal O'Kelly to the bench, thats another penalty he's given away, pushed the 12 down causing the penalty. Sooner the better for Leinster that Leo is back.

soundsham

couldn't believe leinster didn't get penalty try before half time can't wait to hear the ref explain that one:eek:
leinster lack any leadership couldn't do damage to 13 men
ospreys bring on big guns to try and close it out
poor game all told

DonkeyPokerTour

An a positive not for leinster, Fergus McFadden has looked lively since he came on

NickNolte

soundsham wrote: »

couldn't believe leinster didn't get penalty try before half time can't wait to hear the ref explain that one:eek:

No idea. I don't know how you can possibly justify a yellow card and not a penalty try at that distance and for the very same infringement.

soundsham wrote: »

poor game all told

I'm enjoying it! Scrappy in places but it's very physical.

faigs

Any chance of a Leinster win? Wish I could watch it!

Eoin

Leinster are 18:11 up with about 6 mins to play.

faigs

Woo Hoo! What was the drop goal like?

wicklowdub

11-18 now

Eoin

That was from a penno, Nacewa kicked an ugly one over under 10 mins ago.

Sexton gets MOTM from Jonathon Davis.

DonkeyPokerTour

Jonathan Davis cant pick a man of the match, although he's been on the pitch for like 10min, he could do worse that McFadden, terrific tackle and turnover for the penalty putting Leinster 7 up.

As an aside nice win for Connaught

NickNolte

Leinster losing composure. Let's hope they don't concede a try in the last minute.

Oh... and GO CONNACHT!

soundsham

NickNolte wrote: »

No idea. I don't know how you can possibly justify a yellow card and not a penalty try at that distance and for the very same infringement.



I'm enjoying it! Scrappy in places but it's very physical.

jaysus I think tis awful 1 try
good defence by leinster tho..looks like winning it for them
osprey's are absolutely crap!

faigs

Yea I see Connaght are doing well. The BBC 'live scores' on their website aren't very live. Still saying 11-15!

DonkeyPokerTour

18:11 win for Leinster.

LOL at Johnny Sexton, nearly scored an own drop goal kicking the ball out!

soundsham

ospreys 11-18 leinster

gcgirl

Not a classy game but Leinster won!!

NickNolte

Win for Leinster. Not great rugby but I enjoyed it to a degree. That was one of the tougher matches they'll play in the league I reckon. Leinster's defence was excellent. Can't wait until BOD, Kearney Snr, Heaslip and Fitzgerald are back. Things can only get better.

ScrubsfanChris

soundsham wrote: »

jaysus I think tis awful 1 try
good defence by leinster tho..looks like winning it for them
osprey's are absolutely crap!

+1 Agree
Worst game I've seen in a while, no good running play by either team.
Defence by Leinster was good buts that all I can say about the game.

gcgirl

Leinster's defence was 2nd to none!! really did a good job!

ironingbored

The refereeing was woeful tonight and not just cos he gave three penalties and a YC against D. Jones 5 metres out and no penalty try and then gives a peno against Leinster meaning they came away with nothing.

The Ospreys had Byrne, Bowe and Hook back from the start and A.W. Jones and Williams back in the 2nd half. Not to mention Jerry Collins. I thought Leinster's defence was awesome bar Shane Horgan (always seems to be dragging out of players her should be ripping into and hauling into touch).

Jennings, McLaughlin and O'Brien all looked very good. Reddan had a bit of a howler whereas Kearney (depsite being a bit weak in the tackle), Beirne, Darcy and Nacewa coped relatively well.

We really ground out a win tonight on the back of some excellent defence and with the Lions still to come back I think things are looking good.

RuggieBear

not a very creative match but thought the Leinster defence was brilliant and the pack in particular were awesome at driving the players back.

don't think I've ever seen a ref give so many penalties for players in front of the kicker.

Hilarious decision on the yellow carding and then penalty against us when wright had scrummaged the exact same way three times in a row...2 penalties to us and then one to them and he didn't do anything differently each time. consistency:rolleyes: