Leinster v Ospreys HC

Leinster

15. Rob Kearney; 14. Dave Kearney, 13. Brian O'Driscoll, 12. Gordon D'Arcy, 11. Luke Fitzgerald; 10. Jimmy Gopperth, 9. Eoin Reddan; 1. Cian Healy, 2. Sean Cronin, 3. Martin Moore, 4. Devin Toner, 5. Mike McCarthy, 6. Rhys Ruddock, 7. Shane Jennings, 8. Jamie Heaslip (c)
16. Richardt Strauss, 17. Jack McGrath, 18. Mike Ross, 19. Leo Cullen, 20. Jordi Murphy, 21. Isaac Boss, 22. Ian Madigan, 23. Zane Kirchner

Ospreys

15. Sam Davies ; 14. Jeff Hassler, 13. Jonathan Spratt, 12. Ben John, 11. Aisea Natoga; 10. Dan Biggar, 9. Rhys Webb; 1. Ryan Bevington, 2. Richard Hibbard, 3. Adam Jones, 4. Alun-Wyn Jones (c), 5. Ian Evans, 6. Tyler Ardron, 7. Justin Tipuric, 8. Ryan Jones
16. Scott Baldwin, 17. Marc Thomas, 18. Dan Suter, 19. Lloyd Peers, 20. James King, 21. Morgan Allen, 22. Thomas Habberfield, 23. Matthew Morgan

discuss

Richardt strauss back for Leinster Yaaaay! Good day today.

Ryan Jones back is not so good. strong Ospreys pack. Looking forward to the game.

Strauss is back on the bench  Good Leinster side with 4 changes to the pack to freshen things up. Very good bench to provide impact. Strong pack from the Ospreys though. I can see this being a tight game.

Strauss back already  Thought he wouldnt be doing contact for 5/6 months after his surgery.

The physios in Leinster are definitely earning their wage:

Strauss predicted to miss a whole season is back just after the half way point

Healy is meant to be out for 8 weeks, is back in 4.

Jenifer McLadyboy wrote:Richardt strauss back for Leinster Yaaaay! Good day today.

Ryan Jones back is not so good. strong Ospreys pack. Looking forward to the game.

Very young backline though.

Hopefully the boys can rouse their failing form to give your team a decent final pool game.

That Pack have caused problems at the RDS before. Along with Dan Biggars boot.

Aye..!

I don't think us fans ever expect us to do well at the RDS but we do have a good few games in our past there.

Cracking venue too.

I hope it's a good game but I expect that a decent line up as you have selected, will be more than a match for us.

Am I on 606v2? This thread is far too respectful

Leinster's bench is insane.

Leinster's pack a bit weaker on paper but was the same when we played them last, although SOB was playing.

The last Northampton match showed the difference between having SOB and having Jennings. I'd have murphy or even Ryan in there tbh.

Jenifer McLadyboy wrote:

Leinster

15. Rob Kearney; 14. Dave Kearney, 13. Brian O'Driscoll, 12. Gordon D'Arcy, 11. Luke Fitzgerald; 10. Jimmy Gopperth, 9. Eoin Reddan; 1. Cian Healy, 2. Sean Cronin, 3. Martin Moore, 4. Devin Toner, 5. Mike McCarthy, 6. Rhys Ruddock, 7. Shane Jennings, 8. Jamie Heaslip (c)
16. Richardt Strauss, 17. Jack McGrath, 18. Mike Ross, 19. Leo Cullen, 20. Jordi Murphy, 21. Isaac Boss, 22. Ian Madigan, 23. Zane Kirchner

Ospreys

15. Sam Davies ; 14. Jeff Hassler, 13. Jonathan Spratt, 12. Ben John, 11. Aisea Natoga; 10. Dan Biggar, 9. Rhys Webb; 1. Ryan Bevington, 2. Richard Hibbard, 3. Adam Jones, 4. Alun-Wyn Jones (c), 5. Ian Evans, 6. Tyler Ardron, 7. Justin Tipuric, 8. Ryan Jones
16. Scott Baldwin, 17. Marc Thomas, 18. Dan Suter, 19. Lloyd Peers, 20. James King, 21. Morgan Allen, 22. Thomas Habberfield, 23. Matthew Morgan

discuss

Is Sam Lewis injured??

gleesonisgod wrote:Leinster's bench is insane.

Leinster's pack a bit weaker on paper but was the same when we played them last, although SOB was playing.

The last Northampton match showed the difference between having SOB and having Jennings. I'd have murphy or even Ryan in there tbh.

The Castres match showed the difference between having Jennings and Murphy at openside(at the moment).

gleesonisgod wrote:Leinster's bench is insane.

Actually. Yes that is an excellent description of the bench.

That bench will.... Rescue the game/close it out/absolutely fecken destroy what's left of the Ospreys. Depending on how the first 60 mins go.

We are sending an "Absolutely mental" A team to Ealing in the B&I also. Ealing better eat about 12 wheatabix each.   

Great to see Moore get selected ahead of Ross.

Would also say that McCarthy and Toner are now well ahead of Captain Cullen and it's great to see he isn't being selected just because he is club captain. Very wise decision in my books, Cullen is a great lad to have off the bench if the game needs calming down too.

Moore went very well against the same Ospreys front row in November and he's a good few more games under his considerably large belt now, I'm hoping for more of the same.

Absolutely cracking team, can't believe Strauss is back so soon. Massive credit to the doctors who looked after him and to the Leinster fitness staff who kept him in good condition.

The bench... jeysus...

OK is this game going to be any good or what? If I decide to spend my Friday evening watching this will I be disappointed?

Come on folks, give me the hard sell here.

This is merely the warm-up act for the main event tomorrow at 6.

Leicester v Ulster

san wrote:This is merely the warm-up act for the main event tomorrow at 6.

Leicester v Ulster

Well obviously!  

rodders wrote:OK is this game going to be any good or what? If I decide to spend my Friday evening watching this will I be disappointed?

Come on folks, give me the hard sell here.

Yes. I guarantee* you won't be disappointed.

*not a guarantee

rodders wrote:OK is this game going to be any good or what? If I decide to spend my Friday evening watching this will I be disappointed?

Come on folks, give me the hard sell here.

Well the weather forecast means it looks like it will stay dry. Therefore, expect to see some excellent back play and tries from Leinster and 12 points from the boot of Dan Biggar, 31-12   

Sounds like a great way to spend the evening! You've won me over guys!

You could go up to Belfast and watch the ravens get humped by the top side in the B&I cup. Or perhaps they will hold the Pirates to 3 tries or less and Leinster A will be the top side in the B&I.   

Otherwise I would go with a bit of Leinstertainment from your couch.

PenfroPete wrote:

rodders wrote:OK is this game going to be any good or what? If I decide to spend my Friday evening watching this will I be disappointed?

Come on folks, give me the hard sell here.

Well the weather forecast means it looks like it will stay dry. Therefore, expect to see some excellent back play and tries from Leinster and 12 points from the boot of Dan Biggar, 31-12   

It was plenty dry when the saints took us to the cleaners... but i hope you're right anyway!

How's it going mate? Long time no speak!

We've got nowt to gain so let's chuck it about baas baas on acid style!

Good Ospreys pack but the backs are far from Heineken Cup Standard
From 1 -10 the Ospreys have a very very strong team but that back line doesn't fill me with confidence against the likes of BOD, Kearney and Fitzgerald
Adam needs a massive game against Healy, the Six Nations isn't far away and we needs our rock. He needs to find his feet at scrum time, a lot of pressure on him but i'm sure he can find his feet again
What i have seen of Ryan Jones this season has been world class, if he can carry on the form he was in before he got injured, then that 6 jersey should be his come the six nations as far as i'm concerned

Good to see R Jones back and Webb getting the nod again, Bevington has never convinced me but the backs (9 & 10) look very poor standard against what looks to be 1st choice Leinster backs.

Could be long 80 for the Ospreys

I seem to remember Ryan Jones coming straight back into the team from injury in the last European game against Leinster, and he had one of the worst games of his career. Anyone know why the Ospreys decided to do that again, against the same opponents? I see Sam Davies is back in the team, he doesn't offer much more than Fussell except that he is a better catcher of the ball. The centre's are horrendous, slow and very low on skill. Sam Lewis seems to have vanished without reason. Odd,as him and Tipuric were very effective at getting turnovers against Northampton. Who manages the Ospreys? They deserved the sack about 2 years ago. Leinster by 30.

Best of luck to Leinster tonight

The Saint wrote:I seem to remember Ryan Jones coming straight back into the team from injury in the last European game against Leinster, and he had one of the worst games of his career. Anyone know why the Ospreys decided to do that again, against the same opponents? I see Sam Davies is back in the team, he doesn't offer much more than Fussell except that he is a better catcher of the ball. The centre's are horrendous, slow and very low on skill. Sam Lewis seems to have vanished without reason. Odd,as him and Tipuric were very effective at getting turnovers against Northampton. Who manages the Ospreys? They deserved the sack about 2 years ago. Leinster by 30.

Why don't you find out the facts, before you put in idiotic posts like this, actually find out why Fussell and Sam Lewis are out of this match, and if you have the capacity to research something, see how long ago the present coaching team have been in situ. As I said IDIOT.

wayne wrote:

The Saint wrote:I seem to remember Ryan Jones coming straight back into the team from injury in the last European game against Leinster, and he had one of the worst games of his career. Anyone know why the Ospreys decided to do that again, against the same opponents? I see Sam Davies is back in the team, he doesn't offer much more than Fussell except that he is a better catcher of the ball. The centre's are horrendous, slow and very low on skill. Sam Lewis seems to have vanished without reason. Odd,as him and Tipuric were very effective at getting turnovers against Northampton. Who manages the Ospreys? They deserved the sack about 2 years ago. Leinster by 30.

Why don't you find out the facts, before you put in idiotic posts like this, actually find out why Fussell and Sam Lewis are out of this match, and if you have the capacity to research something, see how long ago the present coaching team have been in situ. As I said IDIOT.  

Wow, that's a totally uncalled for and over the top reaction wayne...

Nachos Jones wrote:

wayne wrote:

The Saint wrote:I seem to remember Ryan Jones coming straight back into the team from injury in the last European game against Leinster, and he had one of the worst games of his career. Anyone know why the Ospreys decided to do that again, against the same opponents? I see Sam Davies is back in the team, he doesn't offer much more than Fussell except that he is a better catcher of the ball. The centre's are horrendous, slow and very low on skill. Sam Lewis seems to have vanished without reason. Odd,as him and Tipuric were very effective at getting turnovers against Northampton. Who manages the Ospreys? They deserved the sack about 2 years ago. Leinster by 30.

Why don't you find out the facts, before you put in idiotic posts like this, actually find out why Fussell and Sam Lewis are out of this match, and if you have the capacity to research something, see how long ago the present coaching team have been in situ. As I said IDIOT.  

Wow, that's a totally uncalled for and over the top reaction wayne...

Nachos, this is another Region supporter, who couldn't be bothered to find out that both Fussell and Lewis are out injured and the present Coaching Regime at the Ospreys only took over LESS THAN 2 YEARS AGO. He needs to find out his facts before putting out idiotic posts like this, I wouldn't dream of putting out these sort of facts without finding out WHY about the Dragons (his region).

Nachos Jones wrote:

wayne wrote:

The Saint wrote:I seem to remember Ryan Jones coming straight back into the team from injury in the last European game against Leinster, and he had one of the worst games of his career. Anyone know why the Ospreys decided to do that again, against the same opponents? I see Sam Davies is back in the team, he doesn't offer much more than Fussell except that he is a better catcher of the ball. The centre's are horrendous, slow and very low on skill. Sam Lewis seems to have vanished without reason. Odd,as him and Tipuric were very effective at getting turnovers against Northampton. Who manages the Ospreys? They deserved the sack about 2 years ago. Leinster by 30.

Why don't you find out the facts, before you put in idiotic posts like this, actually find out why Fussell and Sam Lewis are out of this match, and if you have the capacity to research something, see how long ago the present coaching team have been in situ. As I said IDIOT.  

Wow, that's a totally uncalled for and over the top reaction wayne...

DW about it Nachos. I'd have a chip on my shoulder if I supported Ospreys too, as they're probably the worst run team in Europe. I hope for their sake that changes next season.

And Wayne, I think I made it clear in my post that I didn't know what happened to Sam Lewis. Also, another poster asked the question earlier in the thread and didn't get an answer. Never claimed to know why Fussell is out of this match and I don't care. I was making a point, which is that the two players your team has covering the 15 jersey are pretty awful. Dan Evans is without a contract at the end of this season BTW, would you like to see him down at the Liberty?

Also, why do you believe the post to be idiotic? Personally I thought it ran a lot of 'home truths' back to Swansea. I'm sure most other people would agree with me.

I never rated Fussell even when he was with us down at Dave and for me its no loss having Davies there instead.

I know its hard to negotiate deals etc with current doom and gloom in our game but I do feel the Os need to try and do something with their backs ready for next season - whatever next season brings.

2 years, went from winning the league to nothing. That is NOT progress. I'm concerned as to why the Ospreys haven't strengthened their squad. Money can't be the issue if the other 3 could do it without financial outsourcing.

ScarletSpiderman wrote:Wayne cut out the personal insults!

SS, sorry but I cannot accept that he did not deserve that response, if you put out poorly researched comments you deserve all you get, so if you are expecting some sort of apology or retraction you'll be waiting a long time

bedfordwelsh wrote:I never rated Fussell even when he was with us down at Dave and for me its no loss having Davies there instead.

I know its hard to negotiate deals etc with current doom and gloom in our game but I do feel the Os need to try and do something with their backs ready for next season - whatever next season brings.

Again Bedford, that was exactly my point regarding the spreys 15 jersey. I never rated Fussell either. I always stated that the calls for his Wales inclusion after flukey tries was ridiculous. Just goes to show something is wrong down that way if nobody has come through capable enough of ousting him.

WOW, like most having already commented on how weak the back line look after 9 & 10, just realised that they have gone for a 6/2 split on the bench.

Are they down to bare bones backs wise or is it that a tactical selection.

Well lets just sit back and enjoy what could be a very interesting match.

Saint, I only agree that the centre partnership for tonight is slow. Fuss and Lewis are probably rested. Others are injured. Both our first choice wingers and centres are out. Why haven't we strengthend? Feck knows. We've got some decent players in the making but it's gonna take time. Tandy is a good coach but I do think the Os need a new backs coach. Gruff frees isn't cutting it IMO...

The Saint wrote:2 years, went from winning the league to nothing. That is NOT progress. I'm concerned as to why the Ospreys haven't strengthened their squad. Money can't be the issue if the other 3 could do it without financial outsourcing.

Tandy was in the coaching setup when we won the League, we have actually only had 1 full season in which we finished 5th where did the Dragons finish, who is the TOP Welsh Region this season, who has won their last 11 (ELEVEN) games against the other Teams.
Saint you worry about your team they have enough problems of their own, we don't need you'r concerns.

wayne wrote:

The Saint wrote:2 years, went from winning the league to nothing. That is NOT progress. I'm concerned as to why the Ospreys haven't strengthened their squad. Money can't be the issue if the other 3 could do it without financial outsourcing.

Tandy was in the coaching setup when we won the League, we have actually only had 1 full season in which we finished 5th where did the Dragons finish, who is the TOP Welsh Region this season, who has won their last 11 (ELEVEN) games against the other Teams.
Saint you worry about your team they have enough problems of their own, we don't need you'r concerns.  

Tandy took over and was in charge when you last won the league. Yes that's the backward step. It doesn't take a genius to figure that one out, it's very poor too given that Ospreys have had 10+ internationals in their team at one point.
I'm really not sure what you're getting at. My team has nothing to do with this discussion. Can't I have an opinion on another team? Fact is Ospreys have been terrible in Europe yet again, culminating in a home loss against Leinster and two convincing losses to Northampton. Unacceptable for a team like the Ospreys IMO. I'm entitled to be concerned about who I want, and I'm concerned about the Ospreys because they're treated like Gatlands children when it comes to Wales selection, and I'm fully supportive of the ones who do want to be there. You misunderstood my post by miles so I think the idiot term is best directed at somebody other than The Saint.

Breadvan wrote:Saint, I only agree that the centre partnership for tonight is slow. Fuss and Lewis are probably rested. Others are injured. Both our first choice wingers and centres are out. Why haven't we strengthend? Feck knows. We've got some decent players in the making but it's gonna take time. Tandy is a good coach but I do think the Os need a new backs coach. Gruff frees isn't cutting it IMO...

Yep some good points. First choice centre's aren't much better IMO. There's clearly no adequate back 3 cover, that's been evident the last two years, just look at the No.9s throughout the backline. Hasler has been a very good signing.

Breadvan wrote:Saint, I only agree that the centre partnership for tonight is slow. Fuss and Lewis are probably rested. Others are injured. Both our first choice wingers and centres are out. Why haven't we strengthend? Feck knows. We've got some decent players in the making but it's gonna take time. Tandy is a good coach but I do think the Os need a new backs coach. Gruff frees isn't cutting it IMO...

Breadvan, that was about the only accurate part of his OP (Centres), the 2 players mentioned are injured, I think I would have picked Davies tonight anyway, a lot of our problems are injuries dont forget Bishop and Beck our probable best Centre partnership are out and have been for a while, I think we have to give Gruff a much longer time with our best backline in place. I'm going to watch a stream of this match now.

Gahan meats? Is that a new sponsor?

Welcome back Cian Healy

Leinster not releasing shocker!

Wooah, that's a pretty harsh red card I think. Not sure you can say Evans did that with intent...

This thread is about to blow up isn't it?

Moderator Notch on standy lads

Tough red there!