Scarlets v Ospreys at Parc y Scarlets 26.12.11 KO 2:05pm

First topic message reminder :

A sell out crowd should provide the perfect atmosphere to what has the potential to be a very good, highly competative game of rugby.

Scarlets Team:: 15 Liam Williams, 14 George North, 13 Scott Williams, 12 Jon Davies, 11 Sean Lamont, 10 Rhys Priestland, 9 Gareth Davies, 1 Rhodri Jones, 2 Matthew Rees (capt), 3 Rhys Thomas, 4 Lou Reed, 5 Dominic Day, 6 Aaron Shingler, 7 Rob McCusker, 8 Ben Morgan.

Replacements: 16 Ken Owens, 17 Phil John, 18 Deacon Manu, 19 Sione Timani, 20 Johnathan Edwards, 21 Rhodri Williams, 22 Stephen Jones, 23 Iongi Viliame.

Key players that are still recovering from illness/injury such as Damien Welch and Iestyn Thomas not included, with the Scarlets mindful they only have a four day turnaround before another big match against the Dragons away on the 30th December.

Ospreys meanwhile have been hit hard by injury and suspension in their 2nd row position and will be without Ian Evans, AW Jones and I Gough. However a big shout out to Adam Jones who will be earning his 150th start for the Osprey's on Monday.

Ospreys team: 15 Barry Davies 14 Tommy Bowe 13 Andrew Bishop 12 Ashley Beck 11 Shane Williams 10 Dan Biggar 9 Kahn Fotuali'i 1 Paul James 2 Richard Hibbard 3 Adam Jones 4 James King 5 Jonathan Thomas 6 Ryan Jones 7 Justin Tipuric (Capt) 8 Joe Bearman

Replacements: 16 Mefin Davies 17 Ryan Bevington 18 Aaron Jarvis 19 Tom Smith 20 George Stowers 21 Rhys Webb 22 Matthew Morgan 23 Hanno Dirksen

How does everyone see this one going? After a hard fought draw at the Liberty earlier in the season, can either side get the upper hand on the other?

Anyone else notice he's calling them Llanelli as well?

MMC - yeah that's what happens when you get a local commentating on the match....they get a bit excited...

Artful - see my post above, but yes it's annoying. This isn't the Welsh premiership or the 1980s.

Can't wait for Henson, Hook, Byrne, Phillips, Collins and Holah to return from injury. We badly need them.

8 years too short a time to acknowledge the regional set-up Jiffy?

I can understand why Pontypridd fans don't have time for the Blues. Being from Neath, Imagine if Swansea had become a region and kept it's name as Swansea. Nobody from Neath would ever go to the regional games.

Geographically it should have been REGIONAL.

1. Llanelli / Carmarthen or BOTH
2. Merthyr / Pontypridd or BOTH
3. Cardiff / Newport
4. Wrexham

Too many "regions" along ONE 50 mile stretch of motorway ALL in South Wales.

Oh god they're playing that awful version of The Smith's "Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want". They should've played Clayhill's version. Anyway, second half...come on O's....

Knowsit17 wrote:

PenfroPete wrote:Jeez - and we used to think Mike Phillips was slow and will someone please shut Dan Bighead up, you stupid feicing 2@

Who wouldn't give Fotty a talking to today? Nice to see someone taking the initiative.

I was referring to his almost constant whining and whinging to the ref / assistants / anybody, he could be a very very good player but I hate his attitude - and I'm an Ospreys fan

Good break from Biggar, but there was a knock on before hand, so it comes to nothing.

Pete - it highlights his immaturity. He's been told off about it before. Anyway, he's kicking for pointage. Superb kick.

16 - 6

Outstanding from Tipuric. What pace as well.

Ospreys coming back into this now.

Liam Williams has stood out for the Scarlets for me as well.

Well done Tipuric, this is end-to-end stuff...penalty and scrum on the five metre line to them. COME ON OSPREYS!

Exchange of class by Sanjay and Tipuric on both sides.

Ospreys MUST get a score from this opportunity.

Terrible from hairspreys.

Ben Morgan for Wales!

OH F Fotuali'i goes the wrong way and the chance has gone....but the O's still have the pressure on.

Where is Nutbrown when we need him?

Shane definitely past his sell-out date, would have scored that one if still at his best.

Controversial call - Nige blew up Lamont as offside, but he wasn't...or if he was, it was very very close. Penalty to the O's, and now Biggar going for points. He nails it despite the noisy locals.

16 - 9.

North smashed by Williams.

OH WILL YOU STOP KICKING THE FECKING BALL AWAY?!! Great tackle on North by Williams to be fair. Bevington on for James.

Williams is a true legend of the game.

westernosprey wrote:North smashed by Williams.

To be honest if Priestland and Rhys Thomas have great games then that's good for Wales.

GREAT FROM ASHLEY BECK. Henson eat your heart out.

BARRY DAVIES in the corner!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh wait, TMO...

OOOOOOOOOOOOSSSPREYS!!!!!!

Turkland goes silent...

OH YES it's a try....don't see how the locals can boo that decision. Lucky the Scarlets aren't getting pinged for blocking players in the build up.

Missed conversion - awkward corner, but it's game on!

16 - 14.

Outstanding tackle again from Williams.

Why on earth was Lamont so hesitant there? He had loads of space! Now everything's slowed down...

Bishop has taken a knock to his head/neck by the looks. Hope he's all right. Scarlets penalty anyway. Wellies on, Priestland at FB I think as Williams is off.

Penalty missed by Priestland 16 - 14.

Scarlets on the attack now. Phil John breaks, but a Tipuric tackle saves the O's.

Why didn't Phil John just sidestep around the remaining defenders?

Jebus! Excellent kick from Biggar when he was immensley under pressure there. Pheew! Stowers on for Smith.

ooh Tommy! Naughty high tackle on Wellies, but he's just returning the favour after Wellies got binned for dumping him last month

19 - 14 after the penalty.

Nige losing his rag with the front rowers. Ospreys under pressure, and Davies fluffs the pass. Adam Jones injured....that will NOT be good news for Wales if it's serious...

Owens and Manu on for Rhys and Thomas before we can do the scrum again. Thankfully AJ seems OK, he's staying on anyway.

FFS, even Scrum V spelling it Stoddard now. Which is it, a T or a D at the end. Minds made up please

OK, AJ coming off now, but he's not looking happy. Jarvis on.

GAME OVER.

This could be the game winner coming up...

Oh for crying out loud! O's give away another penalty right in front of the posts!

Priestland kicks it. 22 - 14.

North not having a great game, very little impetus with ball in hand.

Fotty of course having a mare, hopefully just a one-off.

Matt Morgan on for Biggar. I would also recommend getting Rhys Webb on now for Fotuali'i.

Ospreys get the penalty...Morgan going for the points. Awh it just goes wide.

Jon Edwards on for Lou Reed.

Dirksen on for Bishop. Seven minutes for the O's to claw their way back and at least get a LBP.

Hibbard coming off as his head is weeing blood. Davies on.

Penalty to the O's, Morgan does a good kick to the corner for attacking position. Come on Ospreys...another penalty to them after a scrum. they go for the corner again. The O's could still win this, or at least get a LBP. Five minutes.

Quick! Quick! Quick! O's need to speed up the process to score a try FFS!!!

No need to dig there but still Fotty takes a generation to pass!