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Pro12: Ospreys vs Leinster, Sun 4 Nov 16:00; RTE/S4C

  • 02-11-2012 2:01pm
    #1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 24,767 ✭✭✭✭molloyjh


    ShaneWilliams2LeiOsp12SB.jpg

    He Won't Be There!


    On Sunday Leinster take on the reigning league champions the Ospreys in Liberty Stadium. Leinster will be smarting from the 3 losses to the same opposition last year including the final in the RDS that denied them the double, the second league final that Ospreys have won in the RDS. In fact Leinster have only won 1 game in their last 6 against the Ospreys, a stat Joe Schmidt will no doubt be impressing on his men. This is a grudge match, have no doubts.

    With the Autumn Internationals upon us both sides will be stripped of their internationals. Combine those losses with Leinsters injury worries and a trip to the Liberty Stadium looks somewhat daunting. The loss of Isa Nacewa especially will hurt the Leinster back line as he has long been a source of leadership and inspiration to the younger lads around him.

    However Leinster have seen both Rhys Ruddock and Dave Kearney return to the side in their 9 try rout of the Cardiff Blues last week along with the arrival of Andrew Goodman from New Zealand who will help to shore up the squad. Young Jordi Murphy showcased his abilities in a MOTM performance in the RDS on Saturday and can consider himself unlucky not to make the starting XV. Shane Jennings returns from a week off to captain the side, with Leo Cullen being a notable absentee after being replaced at half time last week. While we've heard no news on him he was slow to leave the pitch at half time so has most likely picked up a knock. The bench has a decidedly young look to it with Jack McGrath the eldest at 23.

    And while Leinster will have lost 11 players to international duty and a further 9 to injury the Ospreys have also lost 9 to international duty and 5 players to injury. These 2 sides will be virtually unrecognisable from the sides that met in May. Ospreys still have plenty of quality in their side and this will be a real test for Leinster. The addition of Goodman should solidify Leinsters midfield, which was a source of real concern in September, and Kearney and Conway will look to build on the good work they've shown so far this season. A Toner and Browne pairing in the second row is one that many Leinster supporters would be in favour of so that will be one to watch. Toner looked to be carrying more effectively last week and claimed a number of our own restarts, albeit getting a bit of an armchair ride. He should be looking to lay down a marker for a starting berth. Jennings has been on form as well this season and will hopefully be a thorn in the Ospreys side all evening.

    For as much as I'd like to see Leinster breaking the Osprey hoodoo I'm not sure it will happen on Sunday. I reckon Ospreys by 6, but Leinster must ensure that they get the LBP. With Glasgow at home to the Dragons, Scarlets at home to Zebre and Munster away to Cardiff you would fancy each of those sides to get at least 4 points, if not 5 in some cases. Coming away from Wales without a point could see Leinster drop out of the top 4 down to as far as 6th place.

    leinster.gif
    |
    1281006107ospreys.jpg

    15: David Kearney|15: Richard Fussell
    14: Andrew Conway|14: Hanno Dirksen
    13: Brendan Macken|13: Tom Isaacs
    12: Andrew Goodman|12: Andrew Bishop
    11: Fionn Carr|11: Eli Walker
    10: Ian Madigan|10: Matthew Morgan
    9: Isaac Boss|9: Rhys Webb
    |
    1: Heinke van der Merwe|1: Duncan Jones
    2: Thomas Sexton|2: Matthew Dwyer
    3: Jamie Hagan|3: Joe Rees
    4: Damian Browne|4: Lloyd Peers
    5: Devin Toner|5: Jonathan Thomas (CAPTAIN)
    6: Rhys Ruddock|6: George Stowers
    7: Shane Jennings (CAPTAIN)|7: Sam Lewis
    8: Leo Auva'a|8: Joe Bearman
    |
    16: James Tracy|16: Arthur Ellis
    17: Jack McGrath|17: Marc Thomas
    18: Martin Moore|18: Daniel Suter
    19: Ben Marshall|19: James King
    20: Jordi Murphy|20: Morgan Allen
    21: John Cooney|21: Kahn Fotuali'i
    22: Noel Reid|22: Jonathan Spratt
    23: Sam Coghlan-Murray|23: Ross Jones

    Winner? 24 votes

    Ospreys
    0% 0 votes
    Leinster
    54% 13 votes
    Shane Williams
    45% 11 votes


«134567

Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 881 ✭✭✭ray jay


    Hopefully Moore gets a reasonable bit of game time, for all the hype I don't think I've seen him play once this season.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 5,592 ✭✭✭GerM


    ray jay wrote: »
    Hopefully Moore gets a reasonable bit of game time, for all the hype I don't think I've seen him play once this season.

    Aside from a few staunch Leinster fans who rate him highly, I don't think there has been much hype about the lad at all. Hopefully he gets off the bench and packs down against Duncan Jones who would be a very solid test for a young prop. With the arrival of Bent, chances are really going to be few and far between for the likes of Moore so I don't think he'll be making too many more match day squads this season.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 24,767 ✭✭✭✭molloyjh


    GerM wrote: »
    Aside from a few staunch Leinster fans who rate him highly, I don't think there has been much hype about the lad at all. Hopefully he gets off the bench and packs down against Duncan Jones who would be a very solid test for a young prop. With the arrival of Bent, chances are really going to be few and far between for the likes of Moore so I don't think he'll be making too many more match day squads this season.

    I've only seen brief appearances by him in the senior side, but I was impressed. Seems as solid as you'd expect a young lad like him to be in the scrum, and for as much as he looks like a good old fashioned roundy he did seem to get through a decent bit of work too. I think he turned over ball twice against the Dragons IIRC, and he wasn't on for too long.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,636 ✭✭✭✭Tox56


    GerM wrote: »
    Aside from a few staunch Leinster fans who rate him highly, I don't think there has been much hype about the lad at all. Hopefully he gets off the bench and packs down against Duncan Jones who would be a very solid test for a young prop. With the arrival of Bent, chances are really going to be few and far between for the likes of Moore so I don't think he'll be making too many more match day squads this season.

    Exactly, he has really come in under the radar with all the plaudits going to Furlong. I like the look of him whenever I've seen him but he's only had a few cameos here and there


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 37,978 ✭✭✭✭irishbucsfan


    I know this is a pretty ironic statement... but I think Moore is possibly the least hyped Irish front row based on his actual level of ability.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 881 ✭✭✭ray jay


    I should have said hype on boards.ie, as you say there's very little talk of him elsewhere.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,906 ✭✭✭jamiedav2011


    Moore looked very solid against Kilcoyne in last years B&I Cup Semi, don't think there's hype over him so much as there's hope amongst Leinster fans as he looks a good solid TH in the Ross mould.

    Hardly mass hysteria that he should be starting for the first team!

    Hope he and McGrath get on though, we could see a very young and exciting front row.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 30,308 ✭✭✭✭.ak


    Moore looked very solid against Kilcoyne in last years B&I Cup Semi, don't think there's hype over him so much as there's hope amongst Leinster fans as he looks a good solid TH in the Ross mould.

    Hardly mass hysteria that he should be starting for the first team!

    Hope he and McGrath get on though, we could see a very young and exciting front row.

    Yeh, thought he was the best Leinster player in that game actually. But so was Kilcoyne for Munster. Revenge of the Props.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 9,193 ✭✭✭[Jackass]


    I've never seen Moore hyped any more than being a promising prospect on these boards.

    Really hope he gets game time.

    Exciting Leinster team, but "exciting Leinster teams" have a history of being absolutely mullered, so hope that's not the case.

    Speaking of under hyped players, I think Coughlan-Murray is arguably the best wing on the planet right now. He's very similar to Shane Williams, except ten times the player Williams ever was. Really hope to see him get his senior debut and drool over his half dozen or so tries.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,637 ✭✭✭CoDy1


    Pity Jordi Murphy isn't starting this game. Like this guy, looks like a serious player.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,625 ✭✭✭✭errlloyd


    [Jackass] wrote: »
    Speaking of under hyped players, I think Coughlan-Murray is arguably the best wing on the planet right now. He's very similar to Shane Williams, except ten times the player Williams ever was. Really hope to see him get his senior debut and drool over his half dozen or so tries.

    I dunno why this is so funny, but I did just lol'd. I'm looking forward to his debut.


  • Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 12,247 Mod ✭✭✭✭icdg


    Worth noting, this one's on RTÉ One, not RTÉ Two as it normally is.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 472 ✭✭Blackheath


    Has Murphy played at no.8 ??


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 479 ✭✭armchaircoach


    Blackheath wrote: »
    Has Murphy played at no.8 ??

    Or can he play 6 with Ruddock moving to 8. After his massive performance last weekend it seems wierd for him to drop out of the 15


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 30,308 ✭✭✭✭.ak


    Or can he play 6 with Ruddock moving to 8. After his massive performance last weekend it seems wierd for him to drop out of the 15

    I dunno but I'm not a fan of Ruddock at 6. I suspect Ruddock was picked ahead of Jordi because he's a bigger unit, we'll look to tighten up the game.

    It'll be interesting to see who in the back row gets subbed for Murphy. I'd also imagine at some point Browne will go off with Marshall coming on. That'd be a lot of blindsides on the pitch.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 9,257 ✭✭✭Hagz


    Do you mean your not a fan of Ruddock at 8? If so I'd agree. I don't think he's explosive enough from the base. Ruddock is a powerful player, but he's not someone with a lot acceleration. He's better suited to 6.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 37,978 ✭✭✭✭irishbucsfan


    Ruddock is not good at carrying from the base, I agree.

    I still think him at 8 with Murphy at 6 would be better. 8 doesnt carry enough from throats base to justify carrying a player in open play imo. Or even the other way around perhaps, with Murphy taking a shot at 8.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 9,193 ✭✭✭[Jackass]


    Not a massive Ruddock fan in general. He's been decent, but another player yet to deliver on hype. I'm not saying he's useless, but pretty run of the mill and has mostly failed to stand out thus far. Time is on his side however.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 30,308 ✭✭✭✭.ak


    Hagz wrote: »
    Do you mean your not a fan of Ruddock at 8? If so I'd agree. I don't think he's explosive enough from the base. Ruddock is a powerful player, but he's not someone with a lot acceleration. He's better suited to 6.

    Oops yep, early morning fingers!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,187 ✭✭✭✭Foxtrol


    [Jackass] wrote: »
    Speaking of under hyped players, I think Coughlan-Murray is arguably the best wing on the planet right now. He's very similar to Shane Williams, except ten times the player Williams ever was. Really hope to see him get his senior debut and drool over his half dozen or so tries.

    Again not too sure what to make of that post but on SCM it is so unfortunate about his illness as I thought he was playing great prior to it (as far as I remember scoring tries for fun for the As while only in his 1st year of the academy) but I'm not yet fully convinced he's hit those heights since he recovered. Hopefully he comes on, proves me wrong and has a great game!


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 37,978 ✭✭✭✭irishbucsfan


    [Jackass] wrote: »
    Not a massive Ruddock fan in general. He's been decent, but another player yet to deliver on hype. I'm not saying he's useless, but pretty run of the mill and has mostly failed to stand out thus far. Time is on his side however.

    Yeah I agree.

    There are certain thing she does superbly, but he's limited.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,264 ✭✭✭✭Fireball07


    Yeah I agree.

    There are certain thing she does superbly, but he's limited.

    Do you know something we don't? :p



    I like Ruddock, I would have liked to see him come to Munster last season when it was rumoured, think he's the kind of player we could use. Though I would agree that he's somewhat limited, he's still a very useful player. He's never going to be Ferris but he's a big unit, carries pretty well and is very strong in defence.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,906 ✭✭✭jamiedav2011


    An absolutely vital day today for three areas in particular.
    Firstly Hagan has to at least give us parity in the scrum, and hopefully give us the nudge. Could be crucial today and our front 5 should be more powerful than theirs.

    Secondly Sexton needs to have a good one. (Strange saying that and not referring to Johnny!). Lineout will be key for us.

    Thirdly, Madigan and Boss really need to control this game. We've far more experience and nous at 9 and 10 than they do on paper, and the kicking game will be huge. Hopefully Goodman can help out there too.

    Should be a fascinating game imo.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17,958 ✭✭✭✭RuggieBear


    we're going to be hockeyed.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17,958 ✭✭✭✭RuggieBear


    nice break by boss


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 37,978 ✭✭✭✭irishbucsfan


    That's it Isaac!

    His experience will be absolutely vital


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,599 ✭✭✭✭CIARAN_BOYLE


    That's it Isaac!

    His experience will be absolutely vital
    good chase from conway after that


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,264 ✭✭✭✭Fireball07


    I don't know, this is a stronger Leinster team than they had earlier in the season- the return of the likes of Ruddock, Dave Kearney and Boss does strengthen the side. Ospreys are missing their internationals too.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,906 ✭✭✭jamiedav2011


    Jesus that was a shocker of a kick from Madigan, we'll need far better than that today.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,264 ✭✭✭✭Fireball07


    Ah Carr...


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17,958 ✭✭✭✭RuggieBear


    great kick and carr just couldnt ground it


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 8,061 ✭✭✭keith16


    Carr....o deary me...


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,906 ✭✭✭jamiedav2011


    Oh my jesus Carr.

    Wasn't nearly as easy as COS is suggesting though in fairness.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,249 ✭✭✭Scioch


    He didnt dive conor, he stretched to pick it up and fell forward.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,906 ✭✭✭jamiedav2011


    Great start!


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17,958 ✭✭✭✭RuggieBear


    lol


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,264 ✭✭✭✭Fireball07


    There's a try. Very sloppy from Ospreys.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2,718 ✭✭✭Taco Corp


    jesus, carr. what an awful attempt.

    but looks like we got the try of a messy O's lineout


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 8,061 ✭✭✭keith16


    Should be a try now in any case.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,153 ✭✭✭Glass Prison 1214


    keith16 wrote: »
    Carr....o deary me...

    it was a difficult one, i wouldn't blame Carr for that myself.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 45,433 ✭✭✭✭thomond2006


    lol at Carr


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,264 ✭✭✭✭Fireball07


    Tough enough call, I'd say he'll give it though.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,889 ✭✭✭tolosenc


    Much harder for Carr than COS intimated. Think Leo knocked on.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 8,061 ✭✭✭keith16


    it was a difficult one, i wouldn't blame Carr for that myself.

    actually on second viewing he was racing to get it....even if he did stay on his feet his momentum would have taken him into touch,


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2,718 ✭✭✭Taco Corp


    good start from Leinster so far


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 526 ✭✭✭goreyguy


    come on hagan


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,906 ✭✭✭jamiedav2011


    Fcuking stupid there from Auvaa. Brainless.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 45,433 ✭✭✭✭thomond2006


    Why did Auva'a take that quickly?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,889 ✭✭✭tolosenc


    After 12 minutes, Hagan has made a mockery of Archer's call up.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 197 ✭✭Zuffer


    given that the ref went to the tmo for leo's try, did the tmo have the option of ruling out the try for a knock on before the line?


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