Ospreys v Connacht RP12

Ospreys v Connacht
27/10/12 14:30


OSPREYS TEAM
15 Richard Fussell, 14 Hanno Dirksen, 13 Andrew Bishop, 12 Ashley Beck, 11 Eli Walker, 10 Dan Biggar, 9 Kahn Fotuali'i
1 Ryan Bevington, 2 Richard Hibbard, 3 Aaron Jarvis, 4 Alun Wyn Jones (Capt), 5 Ian Evans, 6 Joe Bearman, 7 Justin Tipuric, 8 Jonathan Thomas

REPLACEMENTS
16 Matthew Dwyer, 17 Duncan Jones, 18 Joe Rees, 19 James King, 20 George Stowers, 21 Rhys Webb, 22 Matthew Morgan, 23 Tom Isaacs

Connacht XV

15. Darragh Leader, 14. Tiernan O'Halloran, 13. Robbie Henshaw, 12. Mata Fifita, 11. Fetu'u Vainikolo, 10. Dan Parks, 9. Kieran Marmion,
1. Brett Wilkinson, 2. Jason Harris-Wright, 3. Nathan White (captain), 4. Michael Swift, 5. George Naoupu, 6. John Muldoon, 7. Willie Faloon, 8. Eoin McKeon

Replacements

16. Adrian Flavin, 17. Ronan Loughney, 18. Rodney Ah You, 19. Dave Gannon, 20. Johnny O'Connor, 21. Dave Moore, 22. Miah Nikora, 23. Danie Poolman

FORM GUIDE

Ospreys

Benetton Treviso 12 - 6 Ospreys RP12
Ospreys 13 - 16 Ulster Rugby RP12
Ospreys 10 - 28 Glasgow Warriors RP12
Scarlets 16 - 23 Ospreys RP12
Ospreys 30 - 15 Munster Rugby RP12
Zebre 16 - 34 Ospreys RP12
Ospreys 38 - 17 Benetton Treviso HEC
Leicester Tigers 39 - 22 Ospreys HEC


Connacht

Connacht 9 v 13 Cardiff Blues RP12
Zebre 17 v 30 Connacht RP12
Connacht 11 v 24 Scarlets RP12
Glasgow Warriors 27 v 17 Connacht RP12
Connacht 34 v 6 Leinster RP12
Ulster 25 v 0 Connacht RP12
Zebre 10 v 19 Connacht HEC
Connacht 22 v 30 Harlequins 18:00 HEC

Tickets for the game are on sale now at the Liberty Stadium Ticket Office, via the Ticket Hotline on 0844 815 6665 and online at www.ospreysrugby.com/buytickets

Ospreys Head Coach Steve Tandy has urged his players to bounce back from Sunday's Heineken Cup disappointment positively when the region welcomes Connacht to the Liberty Stadium this weekend for a rare Saturday afternoon fixture (KO 2.30pm).


They'll be looking to make it four straight RaboDirect PRO12 wins after victories on the road against Scarlets and Zebre sandwiched an impressive performance against Munster, and Tandy is hoping that the Ospreys can continue to climb the early season table.

"It's crucially important that we show resilience and a good attitude and bounce straight back with a win" he said.

"We did so much well on Sunday afternoon so it was incredibly disappointing to end up with nothing and Leicester take five points, based on the last eight minutes or so really. Up to that we were well in the contest and showing signs that we could take more than just a losing bonus and that's what made it so disappointing.

"The sign of a good team is how they respond to a setback like this, and that's what we'll be looking for from the group on Saturday. We watched Connacht's game against Harlequins together in the hotel at the weekend and you could see what a dangerous team they are and how they are continuing to improve year on year so we know we'll have to work hard if we want to get anything out of it.

"We are proud of our record in the PRO12 and we want to defend the title we won in May, and to do that, we need to move up the table into the top four. It's a tough month coming up for us with four PRO12 games including home matches against Leinster (Sun 4th Nov, 4.00pm) and Cardiff Blues (Fri 30th Nov, 7.05pm), and we'll need to pick up the wins.

"It's an important period when we'll be relying on the full squad of players and the backing of our supporters who are going to have to do their bit for the cause. They'll definitely have a big part to play, getting behind their team and giving us that extra one or two percent that can make all the difference, starting with Saturday against Connacht.

"It's a Saturday afternoon game, traditional rugby time, and we're hoping for a good crowd to spend time together getting behind the team and generating a good atmosphere."

With nearly all players fit, Adam Jones is out so far as i know, but that is not so much of a worry with the good form of Jarvis. So far as we know, no press release as yet, it has to be hoped that both teams can put out decent sides.

I'm hoping Fussell will be benched for Ross Jones to have another go, he would make a far more interesting back three, Fussell has improved but is not good enough, we have to look at other options.

I would also like to see Rhys Webb get more game time.

Some of the team from the last four or five consecutive weeks selections must be due a bit of respite.

I would imagine a few half time subs maybe a weakened backrow and lock pairing. No disrespect to Connacht, they will be looking for a wombat the Liberty, but with this punishing schedule we need to rotate players.

Can,t disagree more,we need our strongest side out on saturday.Plenty of time for other squad members when the welsh contingent are away.

The league is well worth fighting for. Tandy has already said how he wants to see the Ospreys back in the top four ASAP.

The Fussell call at fullback baffles me... He just never looks comfortable there. Ross Jones is hopefully the future, I'd like to see him given much more opportunity.

The following Ospreys players were not considered for last weekends match because of injury:

Scott Baldwin - Shoulder (Short term)

Tom Smith - Groin (medium term)

Tom Habberfield - Ankle (long term)

James King - Shoulder (long term)

John Humphreys looks forward to Connacht Interview

http://www.ospreysrugby.com/matchdaytv/?play=media&id=13212

From the BBC

Ryan Jones could miss the Ospreys' Pro12 match against Connacht on Saturday with a dead leg.
Forwards coach Jonathan Humphreys said they would make a late decision on the former Wales captain.
Prop Adam Jones is definitely out and is doubtful for Wales' autumn international series opener against Argentina.
Jones suffered a recurrence of a knee injury in Ospreys' Heineken Cup defeat away to Leicester.
Play media

Jarvis excited by Wales call-up
But the region plan to field all their fit Wales players before they join up with the national side.
"We have an environment here where the boys want to play," said Humphreys of Ospreys' Wales contingent.
"They don't think about saving themselves. They want to leave on a good note."
The Ospreys have won their last three matches in the Pro12 and have won four of their last five games against Irish sides.
Connacht's last victory over the Ospreys in Wales was a 10-9 win at the Gnoll in November 2004 but Humphreys expects a tough test at the Liberty Stadium
"They're a serious challenge and we'll be taking them as that," added Humphreys. "They've got a very dangerous set of backs who are capable of scoring tries.
"I think it's going to be an open game so should be one the spectators should like to watch."

Team announcement today

::Match Preview by Ospreys RugbyOspreys team to face ConnachtThe Ospreys team to face Connacht at the Liberty Stadium on Saturday 27th October, KO 2.30pm, is as follows:

15 Richard Fussell

14 Hanno Dirksen

13 Andrew Bishop

12 Ashley Beck

11 Eli Walker

10 Dan Biggar

9 Kahn Fotuali'i

1 Ryan Bevington

2 Richard Hibbard

3 Aaron Jarvis

4 Alun Wyn Jones (Capt)

5 Ian Evans

6 Joe Bearman

7 Justin Tipuric

8 Jonathan Thomas

REPLACEMENTS

16 Matthew Dwyer

17 Duncan Jones

18 Joe Rees

19 James King

20 George Stowers

21 Rhys Webb

22 Matthew Morgan

23 Tom Isaacs

The following players were not considered because of injury:

Ryan Jones - Dead leg

Adam Jones - Knee

Scott Baldwin - Shoulder

Tom Smith - Groin

Tom Habberfield - Ankle

Forwards Coach, Jonathan Humphreys, said:

"Connacht are a very dangerous team, Eric Elwood has taken what was already a tough, physical group and looked to expand their game. We know that we are going to have be well prepared, diligent and focused if we are going to get what we want out of this fixture, and it'll need to be a real team effort on and off the field.

"It's a traditional Saturday afternoon kick-off, allowing families to come out and support the cause, and we're looking forward to it. This is the first game in a very important period of the season. We've got four PRO12 games over the next six weeks, three of them at home, plus a couple of LV games as well, and it's where we'll really see what depth we've got in the squad.

"I genuinely believe that it's this time of the year where we've won some of our previous league titles, where boys have stepped in and stood up, many of them youngsters who've taken their chance and never looked back. You can list people like Hanno, Tips, Bevington, Beck, even go as far as people like Bishop, Alun Wyn and Ian Evans, they've all got their chance in the international break and never looked back. It's an opportunity for players in the group and for supporters to see who is next on the block for us.

"With it being a half past two kick-off on Saturday we'll hope for a healthy crowd and a good atmosphere that we can all enjoy."

Seven changes for return to RaboDirect PRO12 rugby



Connacht Head Coach Eric Elwood has named a side that shows seven changes from the one that started last Saturday.

Two of those changes are positional with George Naoupu moving from his regular number 8 position to lock in place of an injured Mike McCarthy and Robbie Henshaw replacing the injured Eoin Griffin in the centre.

Mata Fifita replaces Dave McSharry and joins Henshaw in the new centre partnership.

19-year-old Darragh Leader earns his first competitive start for the province at full back. Leader, who has only recently been signed to the Connacht Academy, impressed as he came off the bench last week with the Connacht Eagles. The young Leader has represented Ireland at U19 level and is currently with the Ireland U20 squad.

Up front, loosehead prop Brett Wilkinson replaces Denis Buckley. Wilkinson is joined in the front row by tighthead Nathan White, who captains the side, and Jason Harris-Wright who earns his first competitive start of the season. The 24-year-old hooker has made a notable impression from the bench in both RaboDirect PRO12 clashes with Ulster and his former club Leinster. With Naoupu moving forward, Eoin McKeon now wears the number 8 jersey.

On the bench, former Stormers player Danie Poolman is set to make his first appearance for the province. Rodney Ah You and Dave Gannon also return to the bench as replacement forwards.

Connacht will take on the defending RaboDirect PRO12 champions Ospreys at Liberty Stadium tomorrow, Saturday 27th October; kick-off is at 2.30pm. The Welshmen have won their last three matches in the competition and Head Coach Eric Elwood is aware of the challenge Steve Tandy’s side pose:

“Over the years, we’ve had huge physical encounters with the Welsh side and we’ll be expecting the same this weekend. It’s another big challenge but we take great encouragement from our performances of the last few weeks.

Last Saturday, we went toe-to-toe with the English champions and competed with them for the 80 minutes. We played some great rugby and we’ll be looking to do the same this weekend against the Ospreys.

We know it’s going to be a hugely physical battle but we’re very much looking forward to the test. The goal for us is to keep improving and continue on our upward curve”

Connacht XV

15. Darragh Leader

14. Tiernan O'Halloran

13. Robbie Henshaw

12. Mata Fifita

11. Fetu'u Vainikolo

10. Dan Parks

9. Kieran Marmion

1. Brett Wilkinson

2. Jason Harris-Wright

3. Nathan White (captain)

4. Michael Swift

5. George Naoupu

6. John Muldoon

7. Willie Faloon

8. Eoin McKeon

Replacements (from):

16. Adrian Flavin

17. Ronan Loughney

18. Rodney Ah You

19. Dave Gannon

20. Johnny O'Connor

21. Dave Moore

22. Miah Nikora

23. Danie Poolman

33 Hotdogs please.

Enjoy the game Mae

I was literally about to post that Profitius, thanks mate...

Looks like a good Connacht and good Ospreys team. Should be a tussle, we are missing Jones and Jones in the pack, thats a couple of decent lads, but the fill ins are good in Jarvis, (new Welsh squad member) and Bearman (ageing cornish trooper)

Dont think this game is televised so get yourselves down the Liberty...

I shall be looking out for the attendance figure with great interest.

But I still think £20 is too much for this game should have been a tenner.

Two 19 year olds in the connacht team, with shane layden still to make an appearance for the senior team this season. The future looks bright for connacht with them picking up the u20 championship this season.

Definitely, there is a lot of youth talent in Ireland and it is great to see them get the opportunity to break in to top tier rugby.

Is the game covered on Irish TV?

maestegmafia wrote:Is the game covered on Irish TV?

No. Its a bit of a joke really. Why isnt it being showed on welsh tv? Wish i could see this one.

S4C are covering the Blues and Leinster game, which I guess is the bigger draw it is also an away match in Dublin so less likely Blues fans can make the game rather than the match at the Liberty.

Surprised that TG4 don't want to show it though...?

maestegmafia wrote:S4C are covering the Blues and Leinster game, which I guess is the bigger draw it is also an away match in Dublin so less likely Blues fans can make the game rather than the match at the Liberty.

Surprised that TG4 don't want to show it though...?

They are showing the munster v zebre game. I would have thought bbcw would have shown this one.

Scrum V will show highlights. BBC Wales show the friday night game, S4C the saturday match.

maestegmafia wrote:Scrum V will show highlights. BBC Wales show the friday night game, S4C the saturday match.

Oh ok. What time will the highlights be on?

LeinsterFan4life -- details of scrumv on Sun here:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01nrg0v

LeinsterFan4life wrote:

maestegmafia wrote:Scrum V will show highlights. BBC Wales show the friday night game, S4C the saturday match.

Oh ok. What time will the highlights be on?

Sunday evening at 18:30 BBC2 Wales

maestegmafia, the link/URL I supplied for LeinsterFan4life is correct -- it's Sun at 17:25 on BBC 2 Wales.

Cheers od

MATCH REPORT
10 October 2012, 4:20 pm ::Match Report by Ospreys RugbyOspreys 26 Connacht 9


The Ospreys made it four PRO12 wins on the bounce on Saturday afternoon as they secured their first bonus point win in the league this season with a comprehensive victory over Connacht at the Liberty Stadium. First half tries from Eli Walker and Justin Tipuric were followed after the break by touchdowns from Jonathan Thomas and Kahn Fotuali'i
After an even, if fairly uneventful opening 15 minutes, the Ospreys snatched the lead with the first try of the afternoon through young wing Walker.

The score came about through good patience and controlled phase play, the forwards making some hard yards before Ashley Beck made a dart for the line, only to be stopped a metre out. A series of pick and gos drew in the Connacht defence and with an offside advantage in their favour the ball was spun wide to the right where Richard Fussell provided the scoring pass, Dan Biggar adding the extras from close to the touchline.

While it was evenly contested there was little to warm the healthy crowd that had ventured out on a bright but very cold and windy afternoon, and with the breeze behind him the experienced Dan Parks was able to get Connacht on the scoreboard on 30 minutes with a penalty on the left for tackler not releasing.

Just a couple of minutes later Parks had another go from the same position, Biggar unfortunate to be pinged for offside, and the Scottish international was able to reduce the deficit to a single point.

The Ospreys responded positively, and a lovely worked move saw the ball moved left to right quickly through numerous pairs of hands before Fussell stepped around two defenders and released Tipuric who was hugging the right hand touchline and there was no stopping the blindside as he dotted down in the corner, Biggar just missing with the conversion.

HALF-TIME: OSPREYS 12 CONNACHT 6

The Ospreys got the perfect start to the second half, Thomas reading a Parks pass in midfield perfectly to intercept and race clear for his team's third try, Biggar adding the extras.

Ryan Bevington thought he'd grabbed a rare try, and with it the bonus point for the Ospreys, when he crashed over from close range, only for referee George Clancy to call it back, ruling that Andrew Bishop's pass to the prop went forward.

A straightforward Parks kick allowed Connacht to stay in touch as the game moved into the last half hour, before Biggar was handed a chance to hit back immediately, the penalty given for side entry, but his kick struck the outside of the left hand post.

A marvellous, instinctive counter attack from Walker then saw him running a long Parks clearance back upfield, evading a number of tackles and taking play up into the Connacht 22, only for Fotuali'i to spill the ball as Tipuric looked to send him over.

The normally reliable Parks then failed with a long range effort that would have brought Connacht back to within a converted try, his kick falling under the bar for Biggar to gather, launching an immediate counterattack that eventually saw the hosts winning a penalty in the opposition 22. Sniffing the bonus point they went for the corner but were unable to make it count.

The fourth try did come shortly afterwards though, the Ospreys awarded a penalty at the scrum inside the Connacht 22 and the alert Fotuali'i spotted the lack of Connacht cover, quickly tapping and going and there was no stopping the Samoan, his first try of the season securing the bonus point with ten to play.

With the five points in the bag the closing minutes were played out on the Connacht line, a series of scrum penalties going in the Ospreys favour until, eventually, Connacht were able to clear their lines, bringing the afternoon to an end.

What was the attendance?

The Ospreys website aren't saying!

Nice to hear they're scoring tries for a change. Hopefully it continues into round 2 of the Heineken Cup!

Morgannwg wrote:Nice to hear they're scoring tries for a change. Hopefully it continues into round 2 of the Heineken Cup!

Too late for that it was last week.

Yeah, round 3 then... For some reason I thought all games played before the AI's were 'round 1.'

How could you forget the Leicester game?

Who said I forgot it? Not me. Is there a reason you find that funny?

Some great counter attacks good play by Biggar and the back row.

Please ignore the troll...!

Trolling from worthless trolls.

Guys I'm not the one erasing the Leicester game from my memory just because of a loss.

As long as the Ospreys learn from that defeat and move forward then it could be the turning point of their season.

But I have to say you guys really crack me up

HERSH wrote: Guys I'm not the one erasing the Leicester game from my memory just because of a loss.

As long as the Ospreys learn from that defeat and move forward then it could be the turning point of their season.

Nobody is erasing the Leicester game from memory. Do you just make stuff up now? Makes you sounds more unfunny and more ridiculous (if that was even possible). Must be boring to have your life.

Morgannwg wrote:Nice to hear they're scoring tries for a change. Hopefully it continues into round 2 of the Heineken Cup!

Round 2

Surely you would have seen this as you scrolled back to get that:

Morgannwg wrote:Yeah, round 3 then... For some reason I thought all games played before the AI's were 'round 1.'

So?

This is priceless.

I don't get it.

Are you having a laugh.

How did we get onto catchphrases?

I had a laugh when I read this; http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/9636937/Steffon-Armitage-awaits-fate-after-failing-drugs-test-playing-for-Toulon.html.

Part of me thinks he spent a weekend in Bath or should be playing for Bath RFC.

Speaking just minutes after the final whistle, Forwards Coach Humphreys said that he was pleased with the general performance, but indicated that there was still room for improvement.
"It's very pleasing to get the job done in the manner we did" he said.

"Very, very pleasing actually. It's probably one of the most difficult weeks to juggle. You build up for a peak and it doesn't quite work out for you but the effort is phenomenal, it can be difficult to pick yourself straight back up again, particularly when you are up against a team where the public perception is they get beaten a lot, you're at home, and people maybe expect it to be easier for you than the reality of it.

"We know they are a dangerous side, it was a real tough game, and although not perfect, the endeavour and the effort from the group was outstanding. It took us a little while to get over the disappointment of last week, but the endeavour was outstanding. We got what we wanted out of the game but there's room for improvement.

"We felt that our process, to get into the right areas, was good but we did turn the ball over a little too cheaply, and a level of frustration crept in from that. In terms of the effort from the group we couldn't have asked for much more. I don't think people really understand how much it took out of the boys last week, in terms of the disappointment of it, so it was great to see the group stay together and get what we wanted out of the game.

"There was a level of frustration in the second half. I felt we were creating the opportunities but it's very difficult to get any momentum into the game when every scrum, or every other scrum, involves a penalty either for or against. It's just turning it into a nonsense to be honest with you. It's really frustrating and that game was just littered with stop-start, reset scrums, penalties for and penalties against, it's a nonsense."

Humphreys also spoke positively about man of the match Eli Walker, the 20-year old wing opening the scoring with his fourth Ospreys try before catching the eye with a series of exciting runs.

"Eli's performance was outstanding" enthused Humphreys.

"He's come back from a shoulder injury that he had last season, got it operated on over the summer, and he's really hit the ground running. He's a great athlete and he's probably as quick as anything about, but he's playing smart rugby right now, he's looking to get into the game. We want our wingers to be up there with the highest ball carriers and he's always looking for work. He's a real positive for us right now."

With the game untelevised, the decision to kick-off at the traditional 2.30 Saturday afternoon slot was rewarded with a healthy crowd of more than 8,000, comfortably the highest ever attendance for this fixture, something else that pleased Humphreys:

"It was great to see so many people here for the game. For more than 8,000 to come along on a Saturday afternoon shows it was a good decision, and the boys really appreciated that support. We've got a big, tough, month coming up and we'll need the backing of the local public if we are going to continue moving up the PRO12 table, so hopefully we'll see another good crowd here next weekend when Leinster come to town." (Sunday 4th November, KO 4.00pm)