Ospreys v Munster Pro12 Semi Final match thread

[mrzimmerman]

First topic message reminder :

Teams announced;

Ospreys

15 Richard Fussell
14 Hanno Dirksen
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 Alun Wyn Jones (Capt)
5 Ian Evans
6 Ryan Jones
7 Justin Tipuric
8 Joe Bearman

Replacements:

16 Scott Baldwin
17 Ryan Bevington
18 Aaron Jarvis
19 James King
20 Tom Smith
21 Rhys Webb
22 Matthew Morgan
23 Tom Isaacs

Munster: F Jones; J Murphy, K Earls, L Mafi, S Zebo; I Keatley, C Murray; W du Preez, M Sherry, BJ Botha; D O'Callaghan, M O'Driscoll; D Ryan, T O'Donnell, P O'Mahony.

Replacements: D Fogarty, D Kilcoyne, S Archer, Dave O'Callaghan, P Butler, T O'Leary, R O'Gara, I Dineen.

Big game Friday night. Any other Welsh region would be underdogs against one of the 3 main Irish teams in a big match either home or away BUT the Ospreys aren't. Reason being they aren't afraid of Munster, Leinster or Ulster as results this year have shown. The home side are favourites(this was further cemented by POC being announced as injured for the match). Saying this, there's no way that Munster will fear travelling to the Liberty. They are a strong, physical unit and will be desperate to win the Pro12 and retain their Celtic league crown.

I'm hoping for a flowing game but think both teams will play to their strengths in their respective packs. Where as to an extent the other semi is a David v Goliath I'd say this is far more evenly matched.

Looking forward to hearing everyone's views on the likely teams, key battles and anything else related.

Will update the post with teams as announced tomorrow. Have removed the dr strangelove ref from the title of the thread, got fed up of seeing it after a while.

[Rory_Gallagher]

So I guess Gatland really wants NZ to win every time Wales play against them? Using your logic..

[LordDowlais]

Yes, I suppose you could be right, but refs do not really have anything lying on the game, they can just walk away and then ref another, a coach has to live with another loss on his/her CV.

[Morgannwg]

Don't see how it relates to coaching. The pinnacle for Gatland would probably be to coach a Wales team to beat his home country.

[LemonyVodka5]

Hey there peeps and peepesses.

Just a quick FYI, if you're stuck in New York at the mo (or as I've been calling it The Second York ) I found a bar that's showing the match tomorrow.

Patrick Kavanagh's down on East 33rd Street and 3rd Avenue.

Not too sure I'll even bother telling the Boss I'll be feckin' off early

Come on O's and good luck to Munster!

[SecretFly]

So with all this ref favouritism - BTW, I seem to never have an issue with the Welsh ones (maybe that's coz we is winnin'...so far!) - anyway, with all the problems of ref favouritism and such, can anyone in-the-know in Welsh regional circles tell me if this is a major concern for regions and do they voice their concerns to the Pro12 powers that be....innnit?

If it's an issue, perhaps it should also be a talk-shop issue from regions to Pro12 organisers - and if so, why does it keep happening?

Answers, if any, to my solicitor.

Meanwhile, the counter-argument to the ref favouritism bit goes something like this:

It can be frightening to get a ref from your own country - as he tends to know that the only way he's going to travel up the hill in his profession (or stay there) is if he's seen to be completely unpartisan in his rulings. Ironically, in order for some of them to achive that end, they can be a tad overzealous in pinging their home side. In other words, a bout of partisan unpartisanship can be a hoot - or a nightmare, depending what mood I'm in.

[Cari]

So with all this ref favouritism - BTW, I seem to never have an issue with the Welsh ones (maybe that's coz we is winnin'...so far!) - anyway, with all the problems of ref favouritism and such, can anyone in-the-know in Welsh regional circles tell me if this is a major concern for regions and do they voice their concerns to the Pro12 powers that be....innnit?

Don't look at me. I just make the tea. Garibaldi anyone?

[MMC]

Felix Jones is out (don't know the nature of the injury yet). Murphy goes to full back with Ivan Dineen moving to the wing. Barnes gets the bench spot.

[Morgannwg]

A case of one crap player out and one crap player to come in then, MMC?

[MMC]

It's a shoulder injury apparently. I just hope it's not serious.

Jones is far from crap, Morgannwg. Losing Jones is a pretty big blow. Murphy isn't a fullback.

[Morgannwg]

He gets talked up quite a lot on here that Felix, I don't see what the fuss is about though. Munsters backline could be a lot better next season with the new signings. Downey and Lualala remind me of the deadly Mafi and Tipoki; the latter were the best midfield in Europe for a while, around the same time as Flutey and Water at Wasps.

[Artful_Dodger]

Without O'Connell playing tonight, I think the Ospreys might win this.

[Notch]

No ROG or POC. This will tell us a lot about whether the next Munster generation can scale the heights of the predecessors. A lot of up and coming players in the team.

The weakness, imo, is Keatley at 10.

[Guest]

Keatley wasn't great against Scarlets so he's probs a pretty good player for the O's to target.

Hope this is a good game. Ymlaen the O's! (it felt very strange typing that...)

[Artful_Dodger]

Didn't realize O'Gara was out as well, and Felix Jones is a late pull out, so Ivan Dineen on the right wing with Johne Murphy at FB - Ospreys have got to win this.

[Artful_Dodger]

Beautiful from Earls.

[Guest]

That was a good try.

[The Boss]

Great start from Earls.

[The Boss]

Great start from Earls.

[Notch]

Keith Earls has had a great start, but Murray is getting caught way too easily. Ospreys are targeting him well.

[Guest]

nice scrum from the O's there.

[Guest]

aaaah pants, foot in touch by Shane, that would have been a lovely try otherwise.

[Artful_Dodger]

Good call from Nigel Owens - foot in touch.

[Guest]

Munster lineout looking rather wobbly too to add to their scrum.

[Guest]

Cracking try, lovely offload by Ryan Jones, beautiful!

[Notch]

Good call there from the assistant referee, unlucky for Williams though.

God Munsters lineout looks terribly disorganised without O'Connell. Just cost them a score.

[Pot Hale]

Ospreys flopping all over the ball at breakdowns - finally the ref pings them.

[Notch]

Ospreys flopping all over the ball at breakdowns - finally the ref pings them.

Cheats! Cheats! Cynical Welsh Rugby

[Artful_Dodger]

Munster need to deploy more up and unders, Ospreys not dealing with them or restarts well at all.

[Guest]

Ospreys flopping all over the ball at breakdowns - finally the ref pings them.

but so are Munster!

[Notch]

Opsreys have really given away some stupid penalties. I get that they are trying to target Conor Murray but if they blatantly go offside like that they'll be pinged every time. It's letting Munster gain parity their set piece hasn't warranted.

[Pot Hale]

Munster throwing it about willy nilly and they catch Ospreys offside.

Keatley might level it here.

And he......does.

[Pot Hale]

Zilly Zebo!

Ospreys have a kick.

[Artful_Dodger]

Rolland pinging absolutely everything.

[The Boss]

Earls to fb maybe? If Murphy has to go off? Barnes on?

[Guest]

Artful - good, looks like he's learnt from the Scarlets v Munster game, this is a much better performance from him so far.

[Pot Hale]

And Biggar knocks it over.

Murphy being tested under the high ball with his injury, he might have to come off.

[Guest]

why are the O's not targetting Murphy?! Stupid of Khan to kick the ball there when tehre was an overlap begging.

[Guest]

ah well Murphy off now anways, ROG on.

Am v much enjoying this game so far.

[Pot Hale]

And he does. ROG is on and Keatley moves to 15.

[Notch]

why are the O's not targetting Murphy?!

This is like an exam question;

a) Because being Welsh, and therefore the spiritual guardians of the values of sportsmanship and fair play in rugby, taking advantage of an opponents misfortune would be considered most ungentlemanly.
b) Because being a Welsh region, they are having the kind of brain fart that characterises their participation in this league.

[Notch]

ah well Murphy off now anways, ROG on.

Am v much enjoying this game so far.

Agree, it's been brilliant. A lot of open rugby being played.

[Guest]

why are the O's not targetting Murphy?!

This is like an exam question;

a) Because being Welsh, and therefore the spiritual guardians of the values of sportsmanship and fair play in rugby, taking advantage of an opponents misfortune would be considered most ungentlemanly.
b) Because being a Welsh region, they are having the kind of brain fart that characterises their participation in this league.

It's B! everytime! (with perhaps a passing thought at A....)

[Guest]

that has to be a yellow.

[Morgannwg]

Just to note, the big IF, as in if it comes down to a kicking competition then Ospreys have Kahn, Biggar, Shane and Morgan who could all slot a goal. I don't think it will though. I think Ospreys are too powerful for Munster. Munster seem to be lacking a bit of hunger and look to be missing POC badly.

[Guest]

ah what, just a chat?! Rolland mun, man up!

[Guest]

AWJ is having a field day in the lineout.

Loving how Beck is carrying the ball too.

Munster on a bit of a roll here though.....


Some of the hits going in are just plain ouch to look at!

[Pot Hale]

Hi tackles flying in from Ospreys and the ref ignores them and instead awards the Welsh another penalty.

Munster aren't having it easy.

[Guest]

chance there, Beck looking dangerous but he can't get the last pass away.

[valjester]

Hi tackles flying in from Ospreys and the ref ignores them and instead awards the Welsh another penalty.

Munster aren't having it easy.

Ospreys lucky to get that penalty considering Jones never released.

[LondonTiger]

Very high some challenges there. Reckon Rolland got the penalty wrong - ruck was formed before Jones got his hands on the ball.

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