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.

[Guest]

Pot - aye deffo a couple of borderline ones, am surprised Rolland hasn't called anything.

[Guest]

comedy or errors or what!

Munster have to score here surely....


an no, knock on!

[Notch]

O'Callaghan just blew a certain Munster try. You draw the defender and pass- always draw the man then give the pass!

[Guest]

oh ho! on 2nd viewing, Mr Ryan Jones hand in the ruck there, for sure.

[asoreleftshoulder]

Ospreys hands on the deck there caused that knock on.

[Morgannwg]

Rich that Munster fans complain about some of the things that they are, I guess a stronger team disrupts the illegal play and it doesn't go down well back at Limerick. Save ref comments until after the game, at least us Welsh have the decency to do that.

[asoreleftshoulder]

Munsters protection of the ball and scrumhalf has been poor so far,making it very hard on themselves.

[Guest]

O'Mahoney is not looking good....

[asoreleftshoulder]

Save ref comments until after the game, at least us Welsh have the decency to do that.

Lol liar.

[valjester]

O'Mahoney is not looking good....

What are you on about?

[Morgannwg]

3 excellent tries so far. They say the Rabo is pointless, don't they...

[Notch]

The key tactical thing in this game is the Ospreys have identified Conor Murray as the weak link in the Munster side. Disrupt him, disrupt Munster. They've given away a few silly penalties for offside getting to him but by and large they've done a great job of rattling him. He's been scragged far too many times.

Reddan to start in New Zealand. Murray will get eaten alive by their back row.

Oh, what a try from the Ospreys! The scoreline now is by no means an unfair reflection on the game. Munster have been poor.

[Guest]

What a try from a turnover!! brilliant game!

[Pot Hale]

Jebus - Munster are woeful. They look half hearted in this match. And hand a present to Ospreys for another try.

The second half is not going to be pretty of the men n red.

[Guest]

O'Mahoney is not looking good....

What are you on about?

He was down injured for a bit.


HT 23 - 10, good lead for the O's, hope they can kick on and score more.

[Morgannwg]

Yes, there were a lot of comments exchanged 3 out of the 4 times Scarlets have played Munster this season. They are weak up front and struggle at the breakdown though. Ospreys are not.

[valjester]

The key tactical thing in this game is the Ospreys have identified Conor Murray as the weak link in the Munster side. Disrupt him, disrupt Munster. They've given away a few silly penalties for offside getting to him but by and large they've done a great job of rattling him. He's been scragged far too many times.

Reddan to start in New Zealand. Murray will get eaten alive by their back row.

Oh, what a try from the Ospreys! The scoreline now is by no means an unfair reflection on the game. Munster have been poor.

That has as much to do with Munster's ruck protection being non existant, as to do with anything to do with Murray.

[mckay1402]

This is why Ospreys HEC performances are so frustrating. They have been very impressive so far

[doctor_grey]

Nice try. Slick.
I think the commentator got the best of himself there. "The way it was when we were kids, the way it used to be"

[Morgannwg]

I commented earlier that Munster looked disinterested. I think back to the game against Northampton away where their heart and team spirit is what allowed them to thrash the Saints. Do you miss O'Connell this badly?

[GunsGerms]

Looks like it could be a hammering.

[Notch]

True, Murray has zero protection from his forwards. It really has been a disappointing performance from Munster. Can't see them coming back.

[Pot Hale]

Rich that Munster fans complain about some of the things that they are, I guess a stronger team disrupts the illegal play and it doesn't go down well back at Limerick. Save ref comments until after the game, at least us Welsh have the decency to do that.

So it's ok for non Munster fans to complain then?

Ospreys very lucky to have Rolland in charge so far.

[Guest]

Rich that Munster fans complain about some of the things that they are, I guess a stronger team disrupts the illegal play and it doesn't go down well back at Limerick. Save ref comments until after the game, at least us Welsh have the decency to do that.

So it's ok for non Munster fans to complain then?

Ospreys very lucky to have Rolland in charge so far.

I love comments like this. Shows that all fans, no matter where they are from/who they support will always have an issue with a ref. All in the eye of the beholder (as it were)

Rolland's little blips are evening themselves out I think, but he is officiating much better then I've seen him do for months.

[valjester]

Sherry is having a nightmare which is a pity as any time I've seen him in the past he has been excellent.
O'Driscoll is really poor, as is Doc. Pom should be calling the lineout or at least be getting more ball called
to him.

Munster forwards lack of power means they can't compete with the Ospreys at the breakdown even though
Pom has made a few decent turnovers. The Ospreys are getting away with a lot of smart illegal play at the
breakdown, but like I say its smart play and fair play to them for getting away with it. Munster back play is Poopie
as usual. The sooner ROG is gone the better for the team.

[valjester]

I commented earlier that Munster looked disinterested. I think back to the game against Northampton away where their heart and team spirit is what allowed them to thrash the Saints. Do you miss O'Connell this badly?

In fairness to them they have a lot of injuries but Ireland and Munster both suffer hugely when O'Connell is injured. He is able to make the team play better as a whole and for individual players to up their game as well so he is a huge loss.

[Notch]

Rich that Munster fans complain about some of the things that they are, I guess a stronger team disrupts the illegal play and it doesn't go down well back at Limerick. Save ref comments until after the game, at least us Welsh have the decency to do that.

So it's ok for non Munster fans to complain then?

Ospreys very lucky to have Rolland in charge so far.

I love comments like this. Shows that all fans, no matter where they are from/who they support will always have an issue with a ref. All in the eye of the beholder (as it were)

Rolland's little blips are evening themselves out I think, but he is officiating much better then I've seen him do for months.

Or is he just whistling against the 'right team' this time?

Nah, but seriously, I tweeted earlier he's having a good game tonight.

[IanBru]

Why, of WHY do the BBC insist on putting this 'Red Zone' audio rubbish over the Scrum V coverage on the red button?

I'd like to hear some commentary on the game, not ridiculously Poopie jokes.

I'm having to mute my TV, and listen to Radio Wales on my laptop. Not ideal.

[Morgannwg]

Rich that Munster fans complain about some of the things that they are, I guess a stronger team disrupts the illegal play and it doesn't go down well back at Limerick. Save ref comments until after the game, at least us Welsh have the decency to do that.

So it's ok for non Munster fans to complain then?

Ospreys very lucky to have Rolland in charge so far.

I love comments like this. Shows that all fans, no matter where they are from/who they support will always have an issue with a ref. All in the eye of the beholder (as it were)

Rolland's little blips are evening themselves out I think, but he is officiating much better then I've seen him do for months.

True.

Hey you're the ones who bought this Irish ref not us. Hasn't worked out well so far then?

You are not the only individual and Munster are not the only team to have taken issue with Rollands performance.

[Morgannwg]

I commented earlier that Munster looked disinterested. I think back to the game against Northampton away where their heart and team spirit is what allowed them to thrash the Saints. Do you miss O'Connell this badly?

In fairness to them they have a lot of injuries but Ireland and Munster both suffer hugely when O'Connell is injured. He is able to make the team play better as a whole and for individual players to up their game as well so he is a huge loss.

Having seen Munsters A team I think they will cope well with any further injuries going into next season.

[valjester]

I commented earlier that Munster looked disinterested. I think back to the game against Northampton away where their heart and team spirit is what allowed them to thrash the Saints. Do you miss O'Connell this badly?

In fairness to them they have a lot of injuries but Ireland and Munster both suffer hugely when O'Connell is injured. He is able to make the team play better as a whole and for individual players to up their game as well so he is a huge loss.

Having seen Munsters A team I think they will cope well with any further injuries going into next season.

Their big problem is Rog, since he has come on today Munster have gotten worse. His kicking isnt even worth having in the team any more because he has lost so much distance on his kick.

[Notch]

Aw, great chance for Zebo goes begging.

[Guest]

why kick?! there was a massive overlap! aaaah!

[Pot Hale]

FFS. Another scrum half waving his hands around milking a penalty.

[Notch]

RTE commentators already talking about how Munster have 'blooded players and it will stand to them next year'. All true, fine sentiments, but not what they'd be saying if Munster had a chance of winning this game.

[mckay1402]

Scotlands best ever player. God could we do with Andy Irvine now...

[Pot Hale]

Wow - Munster's front row have collapsed - in every sense. Botha doesn't even look annoyed. Mwhy isn't someone giving him a kick in his arsse?

[Guest]

Aha O's applying the usual Irish "choke" tactic and getting the penalty! Ryan didn't look like he enjoyed that

O's forwards playing a stormer so far.

[Notch]

Wow - Munster's front row have collapsed - in every sense. Botha doesn't even look annoyed. Mwhy isn't someone giving him a kick in his arsse?

He went to Munster for bigger money and a bigger chance to win Heineken Cups. It shows, to be honest. The money is already in his account and the Heineken Cup is gone.

[Morgannwg]

Pot Hale you are not enjoying that match are you?

I know how you feel after being a fan of Welsh rugby for years.

[Guest]

AWJ, is a beaut of a player this evening.

[Notch]

Ospreys so clearly want this more. The disparity in intensity between the two sets of forwards... They are much more deserving of a place in the Final.

[Mickado]

Wow.

Fuggin champagne rugby from the Ospreys! Champions elect!

[Guest]

hate the dive over the line but what a cracking try!!


O's playing a blinder

[Morgannwg]

Is Dave O'Callaghan a 2nd row, and is he big enough for that position? I thought he looked very good at 7 for Munster A.

Another nice try by the way, OSpreys.

[Pot Hale]

On this form, how many Munster players should go on tour in June?


Lovely try taken by Ospreys.

This is abject from the munstermen.

Where's Hanno Dirksen from?

[Notch]

Boom! Thats the ball game. It's not even going to be close. It's all gone wrong for Munster tonight.

[Morgannwg]

Wow.

Fuggin champagne rugby from the Ospreys! Champions elect!

Champs elect will require them to beat Glasgow for the first time this season or beat Leinster for the third time this season.

[Guest]

Ospreys so clearly want this more. The disparity in intensity between the two sets of forwards... They are much more deserving of a place in the Final.

Munster looked like they did want it to begin with, but I've been quite disappointed how their heads have dropped since going behind though. They look leaderless.

[Notch]

Wow.

Fuggin champagne rugby from the Ospreys! Champions elect!

Mind games have already started for the Final #RaceToBeUnderdog

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