Munster vs Ospreys, ML Semi Final, Sat 15 May 6:30pm; RTÉ/S4C

thomond2006

This is a game that could either way. Both sides will have looked at their seasons so far with dismay. Ospreys will have a very different looking side next year with many of their big names leaving in the summer: Collins, Holah, Phillips, Hook and Byrne. Indeed Phillips has already been jettisoned out of the side altogether in favour of young Rhys Webb. Many times this season the side has looked disinterested and unconcerned at Magners level. They made a big push to achieve in the Heineken Cup this season, their failure would have been a bitter pill to swallow.

Munster have many selection conundrums, the biggest being at tighthead. Buckley was destroyed by the Ospreys frontrow in December in the Heineken Cup. Hayes did ok against Connacht but does he have it in him to steady a poor scrum? Archer is a young player who has shown some potential but is he good enough to chuck in?

At centre Munster have also big problems. Tuitupou is leaving in the summer and hasn't proved the answer to the void left by Jean de Villiers. Warwick and Mafi both had shockers against Harlequins while at centre Johne Murphy is a player out of position. Danny Barnes had a strong game at 12 against Connacht but probably isn't experienced enough to be played here. Remember he would be up against the mercurial James Hook and the underrated Andrew Bishop.

Munster's hope lies in their in form back three. Since Jones has taken the 15 jersey as his own, Howlett and Earls have prospered and have looked completely new players. However inside them the centre problem has often let their talents go to waste. There are tries in the back three if they can get crisp service.

So thoughts?

danthefan

Easy win for Munster, the current Ospreys squad is finished.

zuroph

Ospreys

date is wrong in thread title.

Munster to win, to try save some scraps from this season.

durkadurka

danthefan wrote: »

Easy win for Munster, the current Ospreys squad is finished.

Agreed

some_dose

Ospreys

The last time people thought that it would be an "easy win for Munster" we got knocked out of the Amlin. The Hairsprays will be up for this, make no mistake. It'll be close, we'll get destroyed in the scrum but if we can get the ball to our backs then I reckon we may be able to do it.

Who I'd like to see:
1. Du Preez
2. Sherry (He deserves it IMO)
3. Mushy (Would prefer Archer but it won't happen)
4. DO'C
5. PO'C
6. Leamy
7. Wally
8. Coughlan
9. Murray
10. RO'G
11. Earls
12. Warick
13. Mafi
14. Howlett
15. Noddy

It'll be close though - uncomfortably close. Munster but only by 5 at max.

Writing Ospreys off is ridiculous imo.

I was at RDS last year "to collect our trophy" if I remember correctly, and we were smashed, maybe not on the scoreline, but well beaten around the park.

Ospreys have plenty of Big Game players, who wont be too happy with how poor a season they've had. 2 Games to win a trophy, and they're not gonna turn up? Bull**** imo.

durkadurka

Last year ospreys stormed it from when they lost their HEC qf.


This year they've been arsing around and have been shabby of late. They're losing players and looked a shambles against munster recently.

KELTICKNIGHTT

Ospreys

munster too win

durkadurka

And for the record they were poor in a home game that counted, against a weak munster team

GerM

The Ospreys have played Munster 4 times this season and the biggest losing margin was 22-10 where Biggar missed all his kicks. They know how to play Munster, they know where they're weak and they know who to target. There will be a lot of niggle in the game and they've succeeded in getting under Munster's skin this season in their encounters. You would have to be naive to rule them out especially if the referee starts to get on Munster's case at the scrum. A lot of their players might have phoned in their performances over the past month but there will be several guys who are leaving who will want to go out with a bang and against Munster more than anyone. I reckon Munster will squeak it by a single score but things will be in the balance for most of the game.

phog

I want Munster to win, I cant see them losing to the Ospreys but to say an easy win is being stupid when you consider the players that are still available to the Ospreys.

How many predicted a Quins win, how many felt the Ospreys would beat Leinster last year in the RDS?

buck65

Ospreys

Osprey's will be up for this but I get the feeling that we might see the Munster backlash this weekend. Connacht were never going to bring out the beast in Munster, ffs I even had a good chat with a few Connacht lads during the game and they seemed delighted to be in Thomond having the crack I think both teams treated it like a friendly.

Quint2010

Ospreys

Munster by 15. Munster will not pass up the chance of depriving Leinster of a possible double at Thomond Park.

Digifriendly

Ospreys

Quint2010 wrote: »

Munster by 15. Munster will not pass up the chance of depriving Leinster of a possible double at Thomond Park.

This reads just like the posts on another thread before the Harlequins game. While I take Munster to win I think it will be tight and Ospreys if they're up for this have ability to cause a shock.

Quint2010

Ospreys

Digifriendly wrote: »

This reads just like the posts on another thread before the Harlequins game. While I take Munster to win I think it will be tight and Ospreys if they're up for this have ability to cause a shock.

Maybe-but I am a Leinster fan so I would like to think, country bias aside, that I am calling it objectively. Of course The Ospreys have a chance but they are an average side with alot of players leaving at the end of the year. Munster should win with plenty to spare is all I am saying.

irishbucsfan

Ospreys

As always, Ospreys have the team on paper to pull off an upset, it just depends on if they show up or not.

Digifriendly

Ospreys

Quint2010 wrote: »

Maybe-but I am a Leinster fan so I would like to think, country bias aside, that I am calling it objectively. Of course The Ospreys have a chance but they are an average side with alot of players leaving at the end of the year. Munster should win with plenty to spare is all I am saying.

Very fair comment. I too will go with a Munster win although with so many leaving Ospreys at the end of the season they will want to go out with a bang and I think it might be a close game. Even as an Ulster fan I have to say a Munster/Leinster final at Thomond would be a great finish to the season.

PhatPiggins

Ospreys

Its not going to happen but Donnacha Ryan is probably ahead of DOC form wise.

Riskymove

Ospreys

irishbucsfan wrote: »

As always, Ospreys have the team on paper to pull off an upset, it just depends on if they show up or not.

agreed, while we all know anything can happen in game of rugby (see Amlin semi) the current favourite has to be Munster

I mean a less than full strength Munster team beat the Ospreys in wales a few weeks ago

a lot of them looked like they couldn't care less, although they did start to play near the end; when Collins was binned, he went off smiling and looked like he wasn't bothered

sure they just pipped Airioni in the last minute to get into 4th spot

thomond2006

Ospreys

Shane Williams is due to return to action after being injured during the Six Nations. Jerry Collins is also back from his ban.

http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,3825_6923442,00.html

phog

Nigel Owens has tweeted that he is to ref the game. Strange that he got the S/F with a Welsh team, I feared we'd get a Scottish ref.

Podge_irl

ML hasn't had neutral refs for a while now. Largely because there wasn't enough Scottish refs and they were all a bit poor.

phog

Podge_irl wrote: »

ML hasn't had neutral refs for a while now. Largely because there wasn't enough Scottish refs and they were all a bit poor.

I'm fairly sure that hey've used French and English refs this season, I wasn't complaining about Owens but I'd have thought he was a cert for the other S/F.

jacothelad

Ospreys

PhatPiggins wrote: »

Its not going to happen but Donnacha Ryan is probably ahead of DOC form wise.

God. Have things got that bad.:D

ShamoBuc

Ospreys are no where as good as they were last year. I would expect a munster win by between 12 and 16 pts.

durkadurka

Ospreys haven't beaten any team of note since ulster , three months ago. They've beaten Italians, Glasgow etc.

Mind you there have been many narrow losses.

Aironi are their only victory since the six nations.

Apart from the team sheet looking tasty there isn't much evidence to support them doing well.

LuckyGent88

Ospreys

ShamoBuc wrote: »

Ospreys are no where as good as they were last year. I would expect a munster win by between 12 and 16 pts.

I expect a win alright but by 10-16 points is very optimistic given our recent form.

buck65

Ospreys

Nigel Owens is a decent ref. I see Poite got the HCup final!

thomond2006

Ospreys

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/13351571.stm

Williams WILL NOT play, according to Scott Johnson.

durkadurka

Only 12000 tickets sold for this so far

Cpt_Blackbeard

Ospreys

Team I'd like to see:

1. Du Preeez
2. Sherry (He has earned a start)
3. Buckley (If Hayes could play like he did against Connacht, I'd give him a go)
4. Ryan (Has earned his place and DOC has been poor lately)
5. POC
6. Leamy
7. Wallace
8. Coughlan
9. Murray (TOL will probably get the start though :mad:)
10. ROG
11. Earls
12. Mafi
13. Barnes (No chance that he will start, J.Murphy will probably be 13)
14. Howlett
15. Jones

Centre is still a huge issue for Munster. We have no partnership; the only thing I'm sure of is that Warwick doesn't have the defense for 12.

buck65

Ospreys

durkadurka wrote: »

Only 12000 tickets sold for this so far

Gulp!
A half full Thomond for a semi would be some slap to the current administration and management. Would imagine it will creep up to the 18,000 mark.
I see the ML website had 19,000 at Thomond last Friday night, there probably wasn't more than 12,000 there. Maybe ticket holders didn't bother travelling after the disgrace the week before.
Goes to show that success breeds supporters, with McGahan and his staff there again next year there could well be a big drop in attendances. At least the CEO has admitted to there being discontent in the province about the way the team are performing. First step I suppose.

Ciaran-Irl

Munster will walk this. I expect them to win by 15+ points. People shouldn't compare Ospreys of 12 months ago (or even 6 months ago) with this team. They're a shambles of their former selves with all the behind the scenes upheavals that they have had. Mike Phillips isn't even injured but has been told he has played his last game for them. They scraped past Aironi 12-10 in the last minute by kicking an injury time penalty, in what was effectively a QF for them. Munster will win this blind folded. Nothin like a young, hungry Quinns team coached well by someone that knows Munster's players.

thomond2006

Ospreys

Wow surprised at the lack of sales.

Munster Squad for Ospreys:

Felix Jones, Doug Howlett, Danny Barnes, Johne Murphy, Lifeimi Mafi, Keith Earls, Simon Zebo,
Paul Warwick, Ronan O’Gara,
Tomas O’Leary, Peter Stringer, Conor Murray,

James Coughlan, Denis Leamy, Niall Ronan, David Wallace,
Donnacha Ryan, Mick O’Driscoll, Paul O’Connell, Donncha O’Callaghan, Stephen Archer, John Hayes, Tony Buckley, Wian du Preez, Marcus Horan.
Damien Varley, Mike Sherry,

I'd like to see:
du Preez, Varley, Buckley, MOD, POC, Leamy, Wallace, Coughlan;
Murray, ROG, Earls, Barnes, Mafi, Howlett, Jones

Bench: Sherry, Archer, DOC, Ryan, Stringer, Warwick, Murphy

Nagle and Tuitupou don't make the squad. I have a horrible feeling O'Leary will start for us. I want Barnes at 12 because he did well last week and the other combinations haven't worked so Munster may as well try him again IMO.

PhatPiggins

Ospreys

There isn't a snowballs chance in hell O'Leary will start. I'd put any money on it *







*The term 'any money' is a fictional amount
The value of your investment may go down as well as up
Poster has been know to talk out of rectum
Terms and conditions apply

durkadurka

Its funny I think leinster arent selling too many for this weekend either.... you can still get tickets for all areas of the ground. Maybe the public view them as foregone conclusions

GerM

durkadurka wrote: »

Its funny I think leinster arent selling too many for this weekend either.... you can still get tickets for all areas of the ground. Maybe the public view them as foregone conclusions

Friday night is a brutal time to have the match on. An interpro on Friday night gives the opposition support no chance to make it unless they take a half day. One or two thousand Ulster fans may have made the trip if it was on a Saturday. I'm not complaining too much as it gives us the extra recovery day but from the perspective of an Ulster fan or a Leinster family or any Leinster fans outside Dublin, it's a complete pain in the ass.

buck65

Ospreys

I'd say the Ulster apathy might me more to do with the severe mauling they took a few weeks ago in this same ground.

crisco10

GerM wrote: »

Friday night is a brutal time to have the match on. An interpro on Friday night gives the opposition support no chance to make it unless they take a half day. One or two thousand Ulster fans may have made the trip if it was on a Saturday. I'm not complaining too much as it gives us the extra recovery day but from the perspective of an Ulster fan or a Leinster family or any Leinster fans outside Dublin, it's a complete pain in the ass.

To continue that point, the 7.05pm kick off doesn't help either. Means anybody who doesn't work near enough needing to leave work early etc. i'll be leaving work (in donegal) at 2 to make it on time!

ongarite

Same here but I won't be leaving at 2 to make the game.
A 7.35 or 8pm kick-off you be far better.

CIARAN_BOYLE

durkadurka wrote: »

Its funny I think leinster arent selling too many for this weekend either.... you can still get tickets for all areas of the ground. Maybe the public view them as foregone conclusions

New tickets were added on ticketmaster this morning, probably Ulster returning their allocation that they had put aside for their season ticket holders

Block K in the grandstand had 19 tickets available this morning now 75.

I'm sure the place will sell out that said ticket master have added a family ticket option since this morning so maybe there are worries

CatFromHue

im interested to see if it sells out. thats the leinster v ulster game.

the people i usually go to the game with cant make it. valid reasons but id say if it were at home to munster they might have made it.

a couple of friends i know who are also season ticket holders are at the moment not going. they are going to the final the week after so dont want to spend any more money.

just looking on ticketmaster and there are approx 1600 reserved seats left and it states there is a high availability of seats in the unreserved sections (north / south stand, and anglesea terrace).

durkadurka

Back on topic, I take it that we've seen the last of quinny judging by the squad announcement?

phog

durkadurka wrote: »

Only 12000 tickets sold for this so far

Where did you get this figure from? I was purchasing additional tickets today and there was only 654 tickets left to choose from. I wonder have the Ospreys to return their unsold tickets yet?

CIARAN_BOYLE

phog wrote: »

Where did you get this figure from? I was purchasing additional tickets today and there was only 654 tickets left to choose from. I wonder have the Ospreys to return their unsold tickets yet?

http://www.munsterrugby.ie/news/9035.php

This morning less than 50% of tickets had been sold

SARZY

Digifriendly wrote: »

This reads just like the posts on another thread before the Harlequins game. While I take Munster to win I think it will be tight and Ospreys if they're up for this have ability to cause a shock.

Agree with you. We are always optimistic. Too much recently.

Think the summer hols have started for some of the players.

The men who are leaving, Warwick and Buckley, SHOULD be on their hols.

We have others who might want to prove something for next season.

GerM

CIARAN_BOYLE wrote: »

http://www.munsterrugby.ie/news/9035.php

This morning less than 50% of tickets had been sold

Perhaps I'm wrong but why are they making a negative release on their own site in relation to ticket sales? If anything, it will discourage people from purchasing tickets. The idea of sitting in a half empty stadium will hardly whet the appetite. Do the marketing team not review Pat Geraghty's articles before he publishes them?

wixfjord

GerM wrote: »

Perhaps I'm wrong but why are they making a negative release on their own site in relation to ticket sales? If anything, it will discourage people from purchasing tickets. The idea of sitting in a half empty stadium will hardly whet the appetite. Do the marketing team not review Pat Geraghty's articles before he publishes them?

That's PR genius Pat G for you!
Seems both SFs will struggle to sell out.

pappyodaniel

Ospreys

When is the team being announced?

durkadurka

best guess tomorrow at 12pm.

some_dose

Ospreys

Well I'm one of the 12,000 going so far but I'm in no way expecting a spectacle of rugby. I fear that we are going to witness another slow, low scoring ( )penalty ridden slugfest with Munster hopefully pipping the 'sprays at the post.


Oh and I would be shocked if TOL didn't start. Damn the IRFU and their stupid policies :mad: