Ospreys v Glasgow Warriors, 8 May

         
Ospreys v Glasgow Warriors
Friday 8 May
KO: 19:35
The Liberty Stadium, Swansea

Live on BBC Wales and BBC ALBA

Referee: George Clancy   (IRFU, 71st competition game)
Assistant Referees: Neil Hennessy, Martyn Lewis (WRU)
Citing Commissioner: John Charles (WRU )
TMO: Derek Bevan (WRU)

A. Head to Head

25 Played 25
11 Wins 11
11 Losses 11
2 Draws 2
54 Tries 42
37 Conversions 29
57 Penalties 64
8 Drop Goals 1
539 Points 463
24 Avg. Age 25

B. Form

Sat 21 Feb 2015 - Glasgow Warriors 19 - 16 Ospreys

Fri 28 Mar 2014 -  Glasgow Warriors 11 - 9 Ospreys  

Fri 29 Nov 2013 - Ospreys 16 - 28 Glasgow Warriors

C. Teams

Ospreys

15 Dan Evans
14 Jeff Hassler
13 Ben John
12 Josh Matavesi
11 Eli Walker
10 Dan Biggar
09 Rhys Webb

01 Nicky Smith
02 Scott Baldwin
03 Aaron Jarvis
04 Tyler Ardron
05 Alun Wyn Jones (Capt)
06 James King
07 Justin Tipuric
08 Dan Baker

16 Sam Parry
17 Marc Thomas
18 Dmitri Arhip
19 Rory Thornton
20 Dan Lydiate
21 Tom Habberfield
22 Sam Davies
23 Jonathan Spratt

Glasgow Warriors

15. Stuart Hogg
14. Tommy Seymour
13. Richie Vernon
12. Peter Horne
11. Niko Matawalu
10. Duncan Weir
09. Henry Pyrgos
 
01. Ryan Grant  
02. Pat MacArthur
03. Jon Welsh  
04. Tim Swinson
05. Jonny Gray
06. Rob Harley
07. Chris Fusaro
08. Josh Strauss (Captain)

16. Fraser Brown
17. Gordon Reid
18. Euan Murray
19. Leone Nakarawa
20. Ryan Wilson
21. Lee Jones
22. Fraser Lyle
23. Peter Murchie

Christ on a bike, you are eager aren't you ?

Anyway, for what it's worth, for my liking, who ever wins this one, will get a home semi-final.

I tried to find out who the broad is under Zeta Jones. So I google imaged "Glaswegian women"

I would not advise anyone else to do this. The first result broke my computer.

LordDowlais wrote:Christ on a bike, you are eager aren't you ?

Any excuse to get a picture of Mumbles' finest on these boards, really.

Chunky Norwich wrote:I tried to find out who the broad is under Zeta Jones. So I google imaged "Glaswegian women"

I would not advise anyone else to do this. The first result broke my computer.

Please, Chunky , don't put such images into my mind.

A Glasgow win means they definitely have a home semi. The O's can still top the league with two 5point wins! But yes, this game will be decisive for one side.

The big question is, can the O's front row perform half as well as Connacht did ? Apparently Connacht are, statistically, the best scrum in the league. Certainly Jerry Yanuyanutawa (who has been having a very good season) and the Reverend ( who has been meh) struggled against them. I think the Magic Tombola will decide on Bane and Angela to start and Shrek and possibly Buffy's Mate from the bench.

Little Jonny and Big Naka should be the second row with Swinson on the bench.

Back row should be interesting ; Harley, Ashe, Bluto, Fozzie, with the chance of game time for Jedi and High Blake.

In the backs it will be whichever seven are able to walk that day. But please not Meatball and Hogg as centres.

jimbopip wrote:The big question is, can the O's front row perform half as well as Connacht did ?

If they start with Smith and Arhip as their props, they should manage just fine, they will not blow anyone away, but at least they would get parity.

Good match-ups here:
- Walker v Seymour
- Webb v Pyrgos
- AWJ v Gray (Master v Apprentice)

One thing is for sure - if we concede half as many penalties as we did against the men of Galway, then Biggar will kick the sh!te out of us.

Big game - could very well be the deciding factor of a home semi for both the Ospreys and Glasgow. Winners in this match I reckon will get a home semi. Reckon the other one may end up going to Ulster.

George Carlin wrote:Good match-ups here:
- Walker v Seymour
- Webb v Pyrgos
- AWJ v Gray (Master v Apprentice)

And CZJ vs?

May be season defining for the Os.. a win sets us up at home, an away semi to any of the teams feels like an uphill battle.

Chunky Norwich wrote:I tried to find out who the broad is under Zeta Jones. So I google imaged "Glaswegian women"

That's where you went wrong, Chunky. There are no birds that good looking in Glasgow (unless they just got off the train from Edinburgh). When you see some of the growlers wandering around Glasgow with their XXXL frames squeezed into a M t-shirt, you cant help but think that the muslims might just be on to something when they say that women must cover up in public.

IYA, what an offensive posting. You insult ; Glaswegians, women in general and one of the world's oldest faiths.

So, there's this Irishman in bed with a nun...
"Sure sister, you're not very tight for a nun."
"No. You're just not very thick for an Irishman"

Chunky Norwich wrote:I tried to find out who the broad is under Zeta Jones. So I google imaged "Glaswegian women"

I would not advise anyone else to do this. The first result broke my computer.

I tried to do the same once. A message came up on my screen from Google: "Are you sure that you want to do this?"

Glasgow's representative is the lovely Laura Fraser from Hillhead in Glasgow. You might have seen her on Breaking Bad.

Chunky Norwich wrote:I tried to find out who the broad is under Zeta Jones. So I google imaged "Glaswegian women"

I would not advise anyone else to do this. The first result broke my computer.

Is it just me, or is anyone else getting excited about this game ? I think I might make the trip down the A465 to go and watch this one, if all the internationals are playing, then this will be a humdinger.

Why are you talking as if you're not an ospreys supporter?

Risca Rev wrote:Why are you talking as if you're not an ospreys supporter?

Because I am not 100% an Ospreys supporter, if I had to "support" one team going on who I have been to watch the most this season it would be Cardiff Blues. I support all our regions, I have even been down to watch your Dragons four times this season, but because I do not really have a region to support, I cherry pick what games I like to see, Blues are just the most convenient because I get to go to the big smoke for a game, and my girls can go shopping at the same time. Also, my old man is a Cardiff nut, even before regionalism he was down there most weekends, so I just go with him and my brother to watch them, we take turns on who drives.

Would be fantastic to have a big crowd for this one, especially following JD

I'm in exile - any buzz around in ospreylia?

Draigoch wrote:Would be fantastic to have a big crowd for this one, especially following JD

I'm in exile - any buzz around in ospreylia?

Ask wayne, he is the resident Ospreys expert.

LordDowlais wrote:

Draigoch wrote:Would be fantastic to have a big crowd for this one, especially following JD

I'm in exile - any buzz around in ospreylia?

Ask wayne, he is the resident Ospreys expert.

There is a deal being announced this week, where if you attended Judgement Day, you were asked to keep hold of your ticket and something would be done for the Glasgow game. I don't know if this only applies if you bought through the Ospreys or anywhere, it should be confirmed very soon, will update when I know anything.

seems like a great idea! Hopefully it gets off the ground. Wish it was sat, not fri night...

Draigoch wrote:seems like a great idea! Hopefully it gets off the ground. Wish it was sat, not fri night...

Tele money talks Draig, and on the day after there will be a Welsh derby. I was thinking of going to that one, but this one is appealing more to me, unless I can trick the misses in letting me go to both.

What a coincidence I left this site to go on ours and the ticket deal is up.
If you have kept your JD111 ticket and present it at the ticket office any time before the game you can purchase Glasgow match tickets for half price, so for an adult in standard areas £10, SC £7.50 it doesn't say anything about where you purchased your ticket so any person at the MS last weekend can take advantage of this offer.
There is another deal offered for this game, if you are NOT already a ST holder, if you purchase a ticket for this game, up until June 30 you can use that ticket to get a discount on a ST for next season, for eg if you pay £20 for a standard ticket you then take that £20 off the price of a ST for next seasons price of £190 fetching it down to £170 the same applies to Senior Citizens and Juniors, with ST holders then getting fantastic deals for the following season it really is a great deal. As a Senior Citizen I only paid £75 for this season, this was the same last year.

That's good news wayne, I will see if I have kept my JD ticket, I hope it is still in the car.

Having a buzz in one's ospreylia sounds like something quite nasty you would pick up at an 1830 holiday in Thailand.

A new strain of bird flu?

George Carlin wrote:Having a buzz in one's ospreylia sounds like something quite nasty you would pick up at an 1830 holiday in Thailand.

Check with Schizoid, I'm sure he'll have a cream for it.

Any deals for the Glasgow contingent Wayne? Was thinking of heading over after work on the Friday with a couple of pals.

funnyExiledScot wrote:

George Carlin wrote:Having a buzz in one's ospreylia sounds like something quite nasty you would pick up at an 1830 holiday in Thailand.

Check with Schizoid, I'm sure he'll have a cream for it.

Bookmarking that one for the end of year awards....

funnyExiledScot wrote:

George Carlin wrote:Having a buzz in one's ospreylia sounds like something quite nasty you would pick up at an 1830 holiday in Thailand.

Check with Schizoid, I'm sure he'll have a cream for it.

Definitely. He's always itching to help.

Tattie Scones RRN wrote:Any deals for the Glasgow contingent Wayne? Was thinking of heading over after work on the Friday with a couple of pals.

Sorry Tattie, your about 2 hours late, my brother in law has organised 3 of his neighbours to come and we are using those tickets.

wayne wrote:

Tattie Scones RRN wrote:Any deals for the Glasgow contingent Wayne? Was thinking of heading over after work on the Friday with a couple of pals.

Sorry Tattie, your about 2 hours late, my brother in law has organised 3 of his neighbours to come and we are using those tickets.

No worries

George Carlin wrote:
Glasgow's representative is the lovely Laura Fraser from Hillhead in Glasgow. You might have seen her on Breaking Bad.

Aha.

Think the only thing I saw her in was playing the blacksmith in Heath Ledger's medieval romp "A Knights Tale"

That is a nice feminine profession for a pretty lady.
The only other person who I have ever heard of as being a blacksmith was Peter Wright. The two of them dont look very similar

Really looking forward to this game, has the potential to be a cracker, especially if there's a 10k plus crowd in Ospreys squad will probably be the JD3 one altho I'd like to see Dirksen start, if not on the bench at least.

Breadvan wrote:Really looking forward to this game, has the potential to be a cracker, especially if there's a 10k plus crowd in  Ospreys squad will probably be the JD3 one altho I'd like to see Dirksen start, if not on the bench at least.

Breadvan, I don't think we'll see him again this season, he butchered 2 tries against Zebre about a month ago and we brought Grabham back in after that game, and just found out Hassler has recovered from injury and will be available for selection for this game, so I reckon they'll be the preferred options for the weekend, and yes this game should be a cracker, with the 2 price deals for this game it SHOULD??????? be a better than normal crowd, our party of 3 will be increased by another 2, if everybody else can do that it should be a decent crowd.

If Os fans cannot get up for this game, then a tiny part of the celtic rugby fan in me will keel over and die.

Not too keen on the prospect of Hassler coming back, particularly as our 2 key guys who would usually cover him (Maitland, DTH) are currently broken.

George Carlin wrote:If Os fans cannot get up for this game, then a tiny part of the celtic rugby fan in me will keel over and die.

Not too keen on the prospect of Hassler coming back, particularly as our 2 key guys who would usually cover him (Maitland, DTH) are currently broken.

George, there is a topic on our own forum about this game about the attendance, and one of the administrators came back with the following, in 12 home matches against Glasgow the average attendance in 10 games at the Liberty, 1 at the Gnoll and 1 at St. Helens is 5472, the play off semi final in 2010 had 7079 and the 2012 match has the record of 7159 only 2 other matches exceeded 6000, so like it or not, you are not a big draw for our casual supporters, he does go on to say they will have a new record on Friday, with these new offers which from what I understand is NOT restricted to Osprey supporters, I'm hoping for around 10000, but wouldn't be surprised if it is down around 7-8000

Wayne, you also have to factor in that neither Scottish side has that great a travelling support so that will keep attendance's down.
On the game itself, a lot depends on how is able to put the 12 and 13 jersey on (ideally, without injuring themselves while doing so!). Gregor Townsend is a really astute coach but I just fear he is running out of personnel with the necessary skills and experience to play the Os.

InjuredYetAgain wrote:Wayne, you also have to factor in that neither Scottish side has that great a travelling support so that will keep attendance's down.
On the game itself, a lot depends on how is able to put the 12 and 13 jersey on (ideally, without injuring themselves while doing so!). Gregor Townsend is a really astute coach but I just fear he is running out of personnel with the necessary skills and experience to play the Os.

Yes IYA, I quite accept your traveling supporters scenario, the ONLY good traveling out of country supporters are the Irish big 3, we do look as if we have sorted our centre problem, Ben John really stepped up to the mark in our last game, yet he has a poor injury record, our problem really is that our coaches seem to be selecting the wrong players in some of the really strategic positions, with most of our fans wanting different players selected at 3, 4 and 6 for the kind of game we seem to be playing, I just hope this is the first of 2 matches between these 2 at this stage of this season.

wayne wrote:

George Carlin wrote:If Os fans cannot get up for this game, then a tiny part of the celtic rugby fan in me will keel over and die.

Not too keen on the prospect of Hassler coming back, particularly as our 2 key guys who would usually cover him (Maitland, DTH) are currently broken.

George, there is a topic on our own forum about this game about the attendance, and one of the administrators came back with the following, in 12 home matches against Glasgow the average attendance in 10 games at the Liberty, 1 at the Gnoll and 1 at St. Helens is 5472, the play off semi final in 2010 had 7079 and the 2012 match has the record of 7159 only 2 other matches exceeded 6000, so like it or not, you are not a big draw for our casual supporters, he does go on to say they will have a new record on Friday, with these new offers which from what I understand is NOT restricted to Osprey supporters, I'm hoping for around 10000, but wouldn't be surprised if it is down around 7-8000  

Wow - that really is surprising/enlightening.

Is it something to do with Glasgow specifically or is this symptomatic of Os attendances generally this season?

Can't get my head around it. It's the best Welsh franchise fighting for a top 2 spot. Is that really not a compelling draw? Would people really rather go to their club games instead? Very interested in this.

Does anybody know who the ref will be for this game yet ?

George, People would rather sit at home or spend the cost of a ticket in the pub rather than go to a game. Apathy and the overall opinion that the product on offer at the Lib just isn't worth it. The region cannot do anymore in PR and marketing to get more punters in. I'm going to renew my ST next year.£99 and £20 for my boy (£20 extra and my boy gets a new home top presented to him personally by a player) I'm hoping the way we played in JD3 and that Glasgow are are great side and top of the league, we'll get more interest. Not gonna hold my breath tho...

Breadvan wrote:George, People would rather sit at home or spend the cost of a ticket in the pub rather than go to a game. Apathy and the overall opinion that the product on offer at the Lib just isn't worth it. The region cannot do anymore in PR and marketing to get more punters in. I'm going to renew my ST next year.£99 and £20 for my boy (£20 extra and my boy gets a new home top presented to him personally by a player) I'm hoping the way we played in JD3 and that Glasgow are are great side and top of the league, we'll get more interest. Not gonna hold my breath tho...

I'll only say it one more time because I'm starting to bore myself, but I'm amazed by that. Clearly I had fans in that region all wrong. Os are definitely the slickest marketed team in the region (lots of leisurewear, etc) so I agree it cannot be that.

I've never actually been to the Liberty. Is there something wrong with it? Is it miles out of town or something?

2 Miles. Plenty of parking in and around the ground, 4 pubs nearby and 2 chain resturant pubs in the stadium complex itself. I swear the temp drops 2-3 degrees once your inside tho...

To be fair the football team get big crowds so I can't be the location that is the problem!

What would you say the average crowd has been?  If it is 7k or so that is still one of the biggest for the Pro 12 (behind the Top 3 Irish teams of course).

To put things into perspective, Edinburgh are probably averaging under 4k this season and play in a 67.5k seater stadium!

George Carlin wrote:

wayne wrote:

George Carlin wrote:If Os fans cannot get up for this game, then a tiny part of the celtic rugby fan in me will keel over and die.

Not too keen on the prospect of Hassler coming back, particularly as our 2 key guys who would usually cover him (Maitland, DTH) are currently broken.

George, there is a topic on our own forum about this game about the attendance, and one of the administrators came back with the following, in 12 home matches against Glasgow the average attendance in 10 games at the Liberty, 1 at the Gnoll and 1 at St. Helens is 5472, the play off semi final in 2010 had 7079 and the 2012 match has the record of 7159 only 2 other matches exceeded 6000, so like it or not, you are not a big draw for our casual supporters, he does go on to say they will have a new record on Friday, with these new offers which from what I understand is NOT restricted to Osprey supporters, I'm hoping for around 10000, but wouldn't be surprised if it is down around 7-8000  

Wow - that really is surprising/enlightening.

Is it something to do with Glasgow specifically or is this symptomatic of Os attendances generally this season?

Can't get my head around it. It's the best Welsh franchise fighting for a top 2 spot. Is that really not a compelling draw? Would people really rather go to their club games instead? Very interested in this.

George, for our 10 League games this season we are averaging 8140 per game, if you discarded the Scarlets game which had a crowd of over 15000, that average comes down to near 7300 and the Blues match also had a crowd of over 10000, so basically for the non derby games the average is below 7000 so with the lack of traveling support the casual Os supporter doesn't feel engaged, the point you make about people preferring to go to club games doesn't hold for this game as first it is a Friday night game, and the club season has finished, so those 2 excuses don't hold.

wayne wrote:

George Carlin wrote:

wayne wrote:

George Carlin wrote:If Os fans cannot get up for this game, then a tiny part of the celtic rugby fan in me will keel over and die.

Not too keen on the prospect of Hassler coming back, particularly as our 2 key guys who would usually cover him (Maitland, DTH) are currently broken.

George, there is a topic on our own forum about this game about the attendance, and one of the administrators came back with the following, in 12 home matches against Glasgow the average attendance in 10 games at the Liberty, 1 at the Gnoll and 1 at St. Helens is 5472, the play off semi final in 2010 had 7079 and the 2012 match has the record of 7159 only 2 other matches exceeded 6000, so like it or not, you are not a big draw for our casual supporters, he does go on to say they will have a new record on Friday, with these new offers which from what I understand is NOT restricted to Osprey supporters, I'm hoping for around 10000, but wouldn't be surprised if it is down around 7-8000  

Wow - that really is surprising/enlightening.

Is it something to do with Glasgow specifically or is this symptomatic of Os attendances generally this season?

Can't get my head around it. It's the best Welsh franchise fighting for a top 2 spot. Is that really not a compelling draw? Would people really rather go to their club games instead? Very interested in this.

George, for our 10 League games this season we are averaging 8140 per game, if you discarded the Scarlets game which had a crowd of over 15000, that average comes down to near 7300 and the Blues match also had a crowd of over 10000, so basically for the non derby games the average is below 7000 so with the lack of traveling support the casual Os supporter doesn't feel engaged, the point you make about people preferring to go to club games doesn't hold for this game as first it is a Friday night game, and the club season has finished, so those 2 excuses don't hold.

So Ospreys fans hate Glasgow.

It's the only option left.

Not to worry. Edinburgh fans have hated Glasgow for years.

George Carlin wrote:

Not to worry. Edinburgh fans have hated been jealous of Glasgow for years.

Fixed that for you.

As a Warriors fan I am dreading this game. We are down to the scraps in the backs, our pack isn't setting the heather alight and the performances in the last 2 games was been poo (don't let the scores fool you)

Whereas the Ospreys seem to be on the up, with a couple of people returning from injury. In fact I think the O's may be my favourites to take the title.

I reckon we'll see Ulster vs Munster in the final - Glasgow have one too many injuries sadly.