RaboDirect Pro 12 : Ospreys V Leinster 19:05 (BBC Wales)

almighty1

Ospreys have won just two of their last nine clashes with Leinster, whilst overall the Irishmen have the best record for any visiting side to Liberty Stadium, having handed Ospreys a quarter of their 12 losses at the venue in the competition.
The 2009/10 finalists meet in the opening round of RaboDirect PRO12. Ospreys have begun the season at home on four previous occasions and won them all. Ospreys were semi-finalists in 2010/11 despite winning just one of their last six matches: 12-10 at Aironi in round 22. The Welshmen are winless in their last two matches at Liberty Stadium but have never gone three home games in this tournament without victory. Leinster's previous form on the opening round of a new season has seen them gain just one victory since 2002: 23-8 at home to Edinburgh in 2007. The reigning European champions lost last season's final to Munster, but won six of their last seven regular season encounters.
Referee: Peter Fitzgibbon (IRFU, 33rd competition game)
Assistant Referees: Gwyn Morris, Jon Mason (both WRU)
Citing Commissioner: Dennis Jones (WRU)
TMO: Neill Ballard (WRU)

OSPREYS:

15: Richard Fussell
14: Kristian Phillips
13: Andrew Bishop
12: Ashley Beck
11: Hanno Dirksen
10: Dan Biggar
9: Rhys Webb

1: Duncan Jones
2: Mefin Davies
3: Cai Griffiths
4: Ian Gough
5: Ian Evans
6: Tom Smith
7: Justin Tipuric CAPTAIN
8: Jonathan Thomas

REPLACEMENTS:

16: Matthew Dwyer
17: Ken Dowding
18: Joe Rees
19: James King
20: Morgan Allen
21: Tom Isaacs
22: Matthew Morgan
23: Sonny Parker

LEINSTER:

15: Isa Nacewa
14: Fionn Carr
13: Eoin O'Malley
12: Luke Fitzgerald
11: David Kearney
10: Mat Berquist
9: John Cooney

1: Heinke van der Merwe
2: Richardt Strauss
3: Jamie Hagan
4: Damian Browne
5: Devin Toner
6: Kevin McLaughlin
7: Dominic Ryan
8: Rhys Ruddock CAPTAIN

REPLACEMENTS:

16: Aaron Dundon
17: Jack McGrath
18: Jack O'Connell
19: Mark Flanagan
20: Leo Auva'a
21: Cillian Willis
22: Ian Madigan
23: Brendan Macken

durkadurka

12.00 today in all likelihood .
Leinster looked a bit undercooked last week, and we never win the first game in the league for some reason.

Ospreys win I reckon.

GerM

Peter Fitzgibbon. Hurray.

phog

Is this on Friday night?

CatFromHue

phog wrote: »

Is this on Friday night?

Yep

Third_Echelon

From the two pre-season games it's hard to know where the team is as there were so many subs during the match. I think around 25 or 26 players got a game against Northampton for example....

Last season we had a bit of a slow start alright, but i'd mainly put that down to the Cheica/Schmidt transition.

Out of all the teams in the Magners League I think Leinster are the hardest hit with regards to world cup players missing. I just hope they are solid defensively (which i think they will be) and we can work from there. Berquist has looked good at 10 and i think it was important we got experienced cover there while Johnny is away.

Looking forward to seeing what the team will be anyway...

totallegend

Third_Echelon wrote: »

Out of all the teams in the Magners League I think Leinster are the hardest hit with regards to world cup players missing.

Can't imagine there's any other team missing 14 players, but we should be still be able to put out a decent team, even with the latest injuries to Conway, Sykes and Sheridan.

Possible team:
15. Nacewa
14. Carr
13. O'Malley
12. Macken
11. Fitzgerald
10. Berquist
9. Cooney
1. VDM
2. Strauss
3. Hagan
4. Browne
5. Toner
6. McLaughlin
7. Ryan
8. Ruddock

Might even see Fitz in the centre and D Kearney on the wing. A couple of weak links there maybe but a decent amount of experience and class.

GerM

Would agree with that team, TL, I think. I'd like to see Kearney involved somewhere though. He'll be disappointed not to get a run with the WC on but what's he to do when he still has Nacewa, Fitz and Carr there with Horgan and Conway on the way back from injury? If I was to make one change I'd put Macken at 13 and EOM at 12. Let Macken adjust to senior rugby in a familiar position. I wouldn't be tempted to move Fitz infield. He has been moved about enough at this point and just needs a bit of continuity on the wing to further his progress.

Very powerful pack. McLoughlin could be a busy man in the line out given we don't have a spare forklift knocking around for Browne. But Browne will bring positives elsewhere such as the maul and counter rucking. He's a beast of a man and hopefully his stint in France has only made him a more aggressive player. We'll really need to take on the Ospreys up front to get anywhere. Their pack is a very experienced and battle hardened one and their half backs are their first choice so they'll be ready to go. Think it will be close enough but Ospreys by 7 in the end. Can see us being quite rusty in terms of handling and our approach to the game. Ospreys will grind it out I reckon.

.ak

totallegend wrote: »

Can't imagine there's any other team missing 14 players, but we should be still be able to put out a decent team, even with the latest injuries to Conway, Sykes and Sheridan.

Possible team:
15. Nacewa
14. Carr
13. O'Malley
12. Macken
11. Fitzgerald
10. Berquist
9. Cooney
1. VDM
2. Strauss
3. Hagan
4. Browne
5. Toner
6. McLaughlin
7. Ryan
8. Ruddock

Might even see Fitz in the centre and D Kearney on the wing. A couple of weak links there maybe but a decent amount of experience and class.

That's pretty much what I would've expected too.. tho I don't know if Toner will start, he had a pretty shocking two games in Donnybrook. The dude really needs to up his game...

Pity about Conway's injury.. He had a pretty decent game vs Saints.. He'd be a great impact sub in the center I think (as I think Isa will be looking for 80 mins).

Which, as a side note, it'll be interesting to see the bench... as I think this game will be won in the final 20.

Gotta think Ospreys will pip this one... but I don't know, they've just had a mass exodus with some key players gone.. it really depends on they gel together with the new faces on the day. I think Leinster might have the edge their, in both the warm up games our new signings slotted right in there, especially Berky, Carr and Hagan. It'll be a great game at any rate, hopefully the rust element won't be an issue and we'll have a fairly error free game! (unlikely tho...)

Quint2010

Is this game accessible to those who dont have BBC Wales?

.ak

Team announcement:

LEINSTER:

15: Isa Nacewa
14: Fionn Carr
13: Eoin O'Malley
12: Luke Fitzgerald
11: David Kearney
10: Mat Berquist
9: John Cooney

1: Heinke van der Merwe
2: Richardt Strauss
3: Jamie Hagan
4: Damian Browne
5: Devin Toner
6: Kevin McLaughlin
7: Dominic Ryan
8: Rhys Ruddock CAPTAIN

REPLACEMENTS:

16: Aaron Dundon
17: Jack McGrath
18: Jack O'Connell
19: Mark Flanagan
20: Leo Auva'a
21: Cillian Willis
22: Ian Madigan
23: Brendan Macken

Source


Agh.. Fitzy at 12??

crisco10

Think Fitz at 12 is just a matter of getting all our best players on the pitch. I think it could work, although Carr and Kearney mightn get much ball, neither Fitz or EOM are "distributor" type centres...

WeeBushy

Great to see the experiment of Fitzy at 12. I wonder does Schmidt read these boards

Also is JHW injured or has Dundon overtaken him?

Good starting XV but the bench looks a bit callow.

GerM

Fitz at 12. :mad:

Aside from that, the team we all had wanted. Solid side. Will be watching Cooney with a lot of interest. Was a fan of him at U20 level, hopefully he can form a partnership with Berquist and will grow in stature over the coming weeks.

Thank God rugby is back.

GerM

15 Richard Fussell
14 Kristian Phillips
13 Andrew Bishop
12 Ashley Beck
11 Hanno Dirksen
10 Dan Biggar
9 Rhys Webb
1 Duncan Jones
2 Mefin Davies
3 Cai Griffiths
4 Ian Gough
5 Ian Evans
6 Tom Smith
7 Justin Tipuric (Capt)
8 Jonathan Thomas
Replacements
16 Matthew Dwyer
17 Ken Dowding
18 Joe Rees
19 James King
20 Morgan Allen
21 Tom Isaacs
22 Matthew Morgan
23 Sonny Parker

thomond2006

The Ospreys team to play Leinster at the Liberty Stadium on Friday 2nd September 2011, kick off at 7.05pm will be as follows:

15 Richard Fussell
14 Kristian Phillips
13 Andrew Bishop
12 Ashley Beck
11 Hanno Dirksen
10 Dan Biggar
9 Rhys Webb

1 Duncan Jones
2 Mefin Davies
3 Cai Griffiths
4 Ian Gough
5 Ian Evans
6 Tom Smith
7 Justin Tipuric (Capt)
8 Jonathan Thomas


Replacements
16 Matthew Dwyer
17 Ken Dowding
18 Joe Rees
19 James King
20 Morgan Allen
21 Tom Isaacs
22 Matthew Morgan
23 Sonny Parker

Lot of unfamilar names, particularly on the bench. Think Leinster might take this one.

CatFromHue

He struggeled at 12 before but in fairness it wasn't a time when the Irish and certainly not the Leinster back line were on fire. I felt he was a little hard done by a few years ago when he was thrown in at the deep end.

Maybe Schmidt thinks there is a better attacking system in place now which Fitzgerald will add to more in the centre than on the wing.

In general it's a strong enough team, pretty much everyone bar Cooney and Berquist has a good bit of Pro12 experience. I'm fairly sure Berquist's ITM and Super 15 experience should help him compenate though!

Light enough bench though.

Any news on Horgan?

durkadurka

I'm on board with the idea of Fitz at 12. We have a shortage of centres coming down the line so it might be a good idea to try it out.

.ak

Good looking bench all the same. If Fitzy gets walked over at 12 Macken is there to make some tackles stick. Also Leo Auva'a is looking great at the moment, had a stormer in the AIL, and some great runs in the Rebels and Saints games. I worry about our native lock talent tho... I mean, when Cullen is gone, that area starts to look very loose.. and while I have no doubt that Browne will step up, he's hardly a spring chicken... So who's going to slot in there in terms of the international team? Cullen, POC, DOC are all on their last legs... Ryan could adopt to the role, as well he might have to.

GerM

thomond2006 wrote: »

Lot of unfamilar names, particularly on the bench. Think Leinster might take this one.

Not sure about that, the Ospreys pack is very experienced. They must have well over 200 caps between them for Wales between 5 or 6 of them. First choice half backs and Bishop and Fussell are reliable and solid. Bench is light enough alright but probably slightly more experienced than Leinster's which is very inexperienced.

.ak

.ak wrote: »

Good looking bench all the same. If Fitzy gets walked over at 12 Macken is there to make some tackles stick. Also Leo Auva'a is looking great at the moment, had a stormer in the AIL, and some great runs in the Rebels and Saints games. I worry about our native lock talent tho... I mean, when Cullen is gone, that area starts to look very loose.. and while I have no doubt that Browne will step up, he's hardly a spring chicken... So who's going to slot in there in terms of the international team? Cullen, POC, DOC are all on their last legs... Ryan could adopt to the role, as well he might have to.

fitz never gets walked over. Avua'a is some powerhouse to unleash from the bench with 20/25 to go!

Fully agree on the lock front, are Ciaran Ruddock and Mark Flanagan getting to where we need them to be?

Personally very very happy with the team. Delighted for Cooney, absolutely over the moon to see Ruddock land the captain's role again, he really does have the temperament suited to it so well. Love how strong our 2nd back row is, phenomenal stuff!

Fitz at 12 I am happy with. His determination to get back playing and playing well will be extremely strong. I think that Schmidt is the perfect man to get him back to his best, and I feel that 12 is somewhere that can suit him. I'm usually against playing players out of position when they're struggling for form, but I can see how this will work. Two or three good games at 12 for Luke and the ghosts of last season could be banished!

Very excited to get back to Leinster games!

EDIT: Biggar? Did he not get picked for Wales? Which 10s did they bring??

David900

Deleted User wrote: »

EDIT: Biggar? Did he not get picked for Wales? Which 10s did they bring??

They brought Rhys Priestland anyway. Not sure it they have a third choice back-up.

I have a feeling Leinster might sneak this. Hope its a cracker of a match although first games normally aren't that free flowing.

Also, on the case of the locks, I've never seen Ciaran Ruddock play. Does anyone rate him much?

thomond2006

They have Jones, Hook and Priestland as their 3 10s.

David900

thomond2006 wrote: »

They have Jones, Hook and Priestland as their 3 10s.

Forgot about Hook!!!!!
Priestland is obviously third choice then.

molloyjh

WeeBushy wrote: »

Good starting XV but the bench looks a bit callow.

That we can be missing 14 players to the RWC and 4 to injury (Horgan, Sykes, Sheridan and Conway) and still field a good starting XV is no bad thing at all. Even the bench has a bit of talent there with Auva'a, Madigan and Macken. It really shows how good a place Leinster rugby is in right now. Obviously the lock situation is a bit of a worry, but that's about it really. I must say I'm very happy with that team all things considered.

vinny chase

.ak wrote: »

Good looking bench all the same. If Fitzy gets walked over at 12 Macken is there to make some tackles stick. Also Leo Auva'a is looking great at the moment, had a stormer in the AIL, and some great runs in the Rebels and Saints games. I worry about our native lock talent tho... I mean, when Cullen is gone, that area starts to look very loose.. and while I have no doubt that Browne will step up, he's hardly a spring chicken... So who's going to slot in there in terms of the international team? Cullen, POC, DOC are all on their last legs... Ryan could adopt to the role, as well he might have to.

I know both of the guys, and played with both, and I can tell you Brendan Macken is not at Luke's level yet in terms of physicality in defence.

Like I said a couple of weeks ago on the Leinster thread, I think it's worth taking a look at Fitz in the centre. He's at his best when he's getting his hands on a lot of ball, and I think that's why he often looks like he's forcing things a little bit from the wing. His distribution skills are solid, and he's got the strength, the footwork and the kicking ability to make a good go of it at twelve.

Dangerous looking backline in general if Dave Kearney can carry on his form from the end of last season, and excited to see what Fionn Carr can do now.

Been really impressed by the strides forward Rhys Ruddock is making in pre-season, looking forward to seeing him shine this year.

profitius

I'd like to se Fitz get a run of games at center. It could be his best position.

.ak

Well I'll take your word on it Vinny.. and I hope you're right! But the way I look at it, when Darce and BOD call it day, it'd be nice to have some options with some physical centers, and I think the only way the likes of Macken, EOM and possibly Conway would get their is getting more game time.

But yeah, I will reserve judgement until I see a few games from Fitzy in center.

shuffol

Looking forward to seeing Ryan up against Tipuric, the key battle for me, if Ryan can get any sort of parity I'll be impressed, Tipuric is a heck of a talent, caused Leinster all sorts of problems in the RDS last season.

Ony noticed there too that Biggar isnt in the Welsh squad, very surprising.

As for Fitz at 12, good move in my book.

Anybody seen much of Cooney playing? only seen him play for the Ireland u-20s and I wasnt very impressed

sock puppet

GerM wrote: »

Thank God rugby is back.

It seems like an age since the Magners League finished.

totallegend

molloyjh wrote: »

That we can be missing 14 players to the RWC and 4 to injury (Horgan, Sykes, Sheridan and Conway) and still field a good starting XV is no bad thing at all. Even the bench has a bit of talent there with Auva'a, Madigan and Macken. It really shows how good a place Leinster rugby is in right now. Obviously the lock situation is a bit of a worry, but that's about it really. I must say I'm very happy with that team all things considered.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Ed O'Donoghue's career is asked to contact Donnybrook Garda Station.

Edit: I see his profile is gone from the Leinster website, did I miss an announcement on this or something?

molloyjh

totallegend wrote: »

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Ed O'Donoghue's career is asked to contact Donnybrook Garda Station.

Edit: I see his profile is gone from the Leinster website, did I miss an announcement on this or something?

Really? It was there a couple of weeks ago. I haven't heard anything on the guy in ages. I keep forgetting he was ever there!

LeeroyJones

I'd be quite happy to see Fitz start at 12 for a few fixtures in succession. His trys per game ratio is rather average for him to be a top winger and we've seen how he has handled international rugby at full back.
Having said that, he is a very talented rugby player with the 'rugby intelligence' to back it up - centre could well be his position. His defence is up to scratch and he can run some very nice lines which are crucial raw materials for any top centre. His distribution, perhaps, is a concern for a 12 but I reckon if he could improve that side to his game he could be a potential success story. Here's hoping anyway.

danthefan

GerM wrote: »

Fitz at 12. :mad:

Aside from that, the team we all had wanted. Solid side. Will be watching Cooney with a lot of interest. Was a fan of him at U20 level, hopefully he can form a partnership with Berquist and will grow in stature over the coming weeks.

Thank God rugby is back.

I'm very happy to see Fitz at 12. Now's the time to see if he can do a job in the centre. He was showing some decent form towards the end of the season and in the warmups too. What don't you like about it?

irishbucsfan

GerM wrote: »

Fitz at 12. :mad:

Whats the issue with Fitz at 12?

Stev_o

Fitz at 12 is a mistake imo.

CIARAN_BOYLE

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Whats the issue with Fitz at 12?

some people feel that Fitz is a confidence player and should be allowed develop form in his best position. Being moved inside could damage confidence if he fails to succeed oop and ruin his season.

That said I think its the right call best of luck to him

Stev_o

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Whats the issue with Fitz at 12?

His skill set doesn't suit the 12 position AT all.

irishbucsfan

Fitz hasn't shown much on the wing since his injury. He has shown he can kick, he has shown he can pass, he has shown he can defend and he has shown he can win penalties when we don't have possession. His try-scoring rate has plummeted and he rarely breaks the line in the way he did before November '09. His future just doesn't seem to be on the wing.

Is he a natural 12? Perhaps not. He'd have to develop into a more creative player because he's not the sort of 12 who can take isolated ball beyond the gain line regularly and securely. I don't think he's ever shown himself to be the sort of creative force that he'd need to be as a 12, but he's probably the best natural rugby player in the squad and so I don't doubt that he could show that ability with a bit of experience in the position. I think if he does show that ability then he could very well be a better 12 than anything we've had. Moving him to 12 is the best move for Leinster, For all the young talent we've produced throughout the backs, McFadden seems to take a lot out of the ball against strong defences, without being a punishing enough carrier, and Sheridan looks to be perpetually injured.

GerM

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Whats the issue with Fitz at 12?

Despite what other people say, I don't think his skills are completely unsuited to 12. He has a decent enough boot, fantastic feet and, despite a couple of misplaced passes recently, his passing actually isn't bad at all. However, he's finally showing form and sharpness in his specialist position after a really poor spell which coincided with being shoved around the back line. Perhaps it will work out excellently and he'll set the world alight there but I'd be happier to let him continue his recent displays from the wing and grow in confidence there before tinkering around with him again. We started last season putting him into a position he wasn't overly familiar with and he had a stinker as a result. I hope we're not doing the same this year.

.ak

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Fitz hasn't shown much on the wing since his injury. He has shown he can kick, he has shown he can pass, he has shown he can defend and he has shown he can win penalties when we don't have possession. His try-scoring rate has plummeted and he rarely breaks the line in the way he did before November '09. His future just doesn't seem to be on the wing.

Is he a natural 12? Perhaps not. He'd have to develop into a more creative player because he's not the sort of 12 who can take isolated ball beyond the gain line regularly and securely. I don't think he's ever shown himself to be the sort of creative force that he'd need to be as a 12, but he's probably the best natural rugby player in the squad and so I don't doubt that he could show that ability with a bit of experience in the position. I think if he does show that ability then he could very well be a better 12 than anything we've had. Moving him to 12 is the best move for Leinster, For all the young talent we've produced throughout the backs, McFadden seems to take a lot out of the ball against strong defences, without being a punishing enough carrier, and Sheridan looks to be perpetually injured.

By punishing do you mean someone who breaks the gain line or someone who finishes? Because I think in both cases McFadden has both skills in abundance, or else we've been watching the wrong McFadden. Altho I wouldn't put McFadden on 12, I'd like to see him at 13.. as he has pace and is a finisher (more ties per game than Fitzy).

But like I said before, I'll reserve judgement until I've seen Fitzy play a few games in that position. But as it stands, McFadden is, in my opinion anyhow, Leinster's main option to center successor once the BOD/Darce era has ended... But as they pointed out, it's crucially important to have a good partnership there, so it's important that someone forms a bond with McFadden if he becomes a specialist center. Maybe that could be Fitzy.

.ak

... on a side note. I have UPC at home, doesn't seem to have BBC Wales... Can the match be streamed?

CouchSmart

Really glad Fitz is getting a run at 12. He had about 6 months there for Leinster and Ireland in 2008/2009 and did a great job for someone as young as he was then. I reckon he'll end up as a 12. It's the kind of position where you don't always get time to think you just have to act, which is what suits Fitz perfectly. He only seems to make mistakes when he's given time.

Rest of the team looks strong, all things considering. Hopeful of a losing bonus at worst.

ambid

I wonder if 12 will be a good move for Fitz as one of his biggest problems on the wing is that he over-runs passes. Maybe at 12 he'll have less thinking time and be a little less anxious. Many analysts say players like Theo Walcott in soccer struggle when they have too much time to think and are better when they play from instinct. Maybe at 12 Fitz will see more ball so be less anxious, and have to play from instinct a little bit more so won't over think his moves.

As a Leinster fan, I'm much happier having an experienced player beside new half backs, than I would be having a rookie there.

Either way, we should trust Joe. He's an excellent coach so must have seen Fitz display in training the inside centre key skills which we need.

Personally think that Fitz has the exact skill set a 12 needs...

Don't ask me why, I just feel that it's where he should've been playing months ago.

icdg

.ak wrote: »

... on a side note. I have UPC at home, doesn't seem to have BBC Wales... Can the match be streamed?

Highlights on RTÉ Two at 10:30pm.

Seanbass

where can I find BBC wales on sky does anyone know?

CIARAN_BOYLE

Seanbass wrote: »

where can I find BBC wales on sky does anyone know?

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055520627

wish someone had a similar thread for upc

jacothelad

Seanbass wrote: »

where can I find BBC wales on sky does anyone know?

Channel 991 for BBXC2 Wales I think. All the various BBC stations are between 970 and 992.

CouchSmart

Can't wait for this. Any streams?

Sandwlch

Try. Bad start. Forward pass though.