Leinster v Ospreys, 3 May 2013 - Build-up & match thread

[George Carlin]

First topic message reminder :

Leinster Rugby v Ospreys
Friday 3rd May 2013
KO 19:45
Royal Dublin Society

Live on TG4 and S4C

Referee: Nigel Owens (WRU, 98th competition game)
Assistant Referees: Mark Patton, Stuart Gaffikin (both IRFU)
Citing Commissioner: Eugene Ryan (IRFU)
TMO: Alan Rogan (IRFU)

TEAMS:

Leinster
15: Rob Kearney
14: Andrew Conway
13: Fergus McFadden
12: Ian Madigan
11: Isa Nacewa
10: Jonathan Sexton
9: Isaac Boss

1: Jack McGrath
2: Sean Cronin
3: Jamie Hagan
4: Leo Cullen CAPTAIN
5: Quinn Roux
6: Rhys Ruddock
7: Shane Jennings
8: Sean O'Brien

REPLACEMENTS:

16: Richardt Strauss
17: Cian Healy
18: Michael Bent
19: Devin Toner
20: Dominic Ryan
21: John Cooney
22: Andrew Goodman
23: Brian O'Driscoll

Ospreys
15 Richard Fussell
14 Tom Habberfield
13 Ashley Beck
12 Ben John
11 Ross Jones
10 Dan Biggar
9 Rhys Webb

1 Duncan Jones
2 Scott Baldwin
3 Adam Jones
4 Alun-Wyn Jones
5 James King
6 Justin Tipuric
7 Sam Lewis
8 Joe Bearman

16 Dimitri Arhip
17 Ryan Bevington
18 Cai Griffiths
19 Ian Evans
20 Morgan Allen
21 Matthew Morgan
22 Tom Isaacs
23 Jonathan Spratt

FORM:

Leinster

21/4/13 Zebre 22 - 41 Leinster
13/4/13 Munster 16 - 22 Leinster
30/3/13 Leinster 18 - 22 Ulster

Ospreys

19/4/13 Glasgow 35 - 17 Ospreys
13/4/13 Ospreys 28 - 3 Treviso
30/3/13 Blues 16 - 23 Ospreys

CURRENT STANDINGS:

1			Ulster Rugby												76
2			Leinster Rugby												73
3			Glasgow Warriors												72
4			Scarlets												66
5			Ospreys												62

FINAL DAY FIXTURES:

ALL games kick off at 19:45 UK time:

Connacht v Glasgow @ Sportsground
Edinburgh v Dragons @ Murrayfield
Leinster v Ospreys @ Royal Dublin Society
Scarlets v Treviso @ Parc y Scarlets
Ulster v Blues @ Ravenhill
Zebre v Munster @ Stadio XXV Aprile

RABO RULES FOR PLAY-OFFS:

Paragraph 3.5:

"If two or more Teams finish with the same number of league points, their placings will be determined by the following criteria in descending order:

• number of matches won;
• the difference between points for and points against;
• the number of tries scored;
• the most points scored;
• the difference between tries for and tries against;
• the fewest number of red cards received;
• the fewest number of yellow cards received."

OFFICIAL PREVIEW:
Leinster must win to ensure home advantage in the Play-Offs.

Leinster's only defeat in their last 14 contests in all competitions was 18-22 at home to Ulster in the RaboDirect PRO12 on 30th March. The Leinstermen have lost just once to a Welsh region in any competition this season: 10-19 at the Ospreys in round 8 of the PRO12.

Ospreys also must win to give themselves any chance of taking the 4th Play-Off spot away from the Scarlets. Ospreys five match unbeaten run in the PRO12 ended in the last round with their 17-35 reversal in Glasgow.

Leinster have won just one of their last seven contests with Ospreys: 15-10 at the RDS in January 2011.

All kinds of exciting permutations for the last game. Thought that I would start the thread now because I am in that sort of mood.

Some questions to kick us off:

1. Will Schmidt play Madigan or Sexton at 10?

2. Will there be any chance to the backline that scored 5 against Zebre?

3. What changes will be made the Spreys after their setback in Glasgow?

[Feckless Rogue]

Very disappointed that as soon as Hagan and Conway sign up for other clubs, they finally start to deliver for Leinster.

I'd like to see both come back to Leinster in a few year if their spells away go well. Playing in England for a while actually probably be very good for Hagan. Can't understand the Conway to Munster move though. Makes no sense to me.

[asoreleftshoulder]

I can see us struggling to make the plaoffs next year,we really are short of numbers in the outside backs so a few badly timed injuries could be disastrous.

[pete (buachaill on eirne)]

Totally agree on the two McGrath's front they were both excellent and really excelled when they were given their chance.

Roux is weird he seems to be like one of those stubborn lads who loves to play rugby when we have the ball and then loses complete interest when we have to win it back (Christiano Ronaldo??). I hope it is just his fitness levels but........

Any word on our injury status?
Looked like a fair few lads were out by the end.

What happened to Boss and Dom Ryan?

[pete (buachaill on eirne)]

Very disappointed that as soon as Hagan and Conway sign up for other clubs, they finally start to deliver for Leinster.

I'd like to see both come back to Leinster in a few year if their spells away go well. Playing in England for a while actually probably be very good for Hagan. Can't understand the Conway to Munster move though. Makes no sense to me.

Totally agree.
With Isa retiring and Carr going, Fitz being injured regularly and if BOD retires Ferg being needed at 13, I know Conway is pretty p1ssed with his own decision.

[Feckless Rogue]

On Conway, after being the star of underage rugby, shining brighter than either Zebo or Gilroy, I think he found his lack of progress hard to take.

I get the feeling Conway was convinced by his agent, or more likely by himself, that it wasn't his fault that he hadn't become a superstar at Leinster, it was the fault of others for not giving him the opportunities. So he should look elsewhere.

But the fact is he was given lots of opportunities and failed to deliver. Yesterday we saw a bit of what he's capable of. But now he's making a nonsensical move to Munster. Where there'll probably be more competition for places next year.

[pete (buachaill on eirne)]

Yeah that's the thing I don't get, there are more back 3 players in Munster than Leinster. He could find himself behind Howlett, Zebo, Earls, Jones and possibly Hurley. Where as at Leinster he might be behind Kearney Jr, Fitzgerald and McFadden.

[Mickado]

HIghlights are up:

http://www.leinsterrugby.ie/news/index.php#.UYUfGys5yF4

McGrath's offload for Conways second was bloomin marvellous!

[George Carlin]

Big Cian charging in was amazing. Plenty of that in Oz please.

[pete (buachaill on eirne)]

Re-watched the game. Roux is flippin' useless. He gets to the far side of the ruck and is a pillar defender on every frickin' breakdown and then doesn't even defend it well.

Needs to pull up his socks big time (figuratively speaking)

[LeinsterFan4life]

We'll give him the benefit of the doubt for now because of the horific injury he had but he really needs to up his work rate big time.

[pete (buachaill on eirne)]

How some people think he is better than Toner I will never understand though based on current form

[LeinsterFan4life]

Where have you seen that Pete? Toner has been great the last few games. I haven't seen anyone of Leinster fans say that.

[pete (buachaill on eirne)]

Loads of the Ulster fans have said it.

[Rory_Gallagher]

I think Toner has looked good this season, especially over the last few months. He is more physical than I remember him being.

Are Jack and Luke McGrath brothers?

[Golden]

I think the main reason people have Roux ahead of Toner is that he adds more ballast in the scrum. Toner and Culler arent exactly the best scrummaging second row around.

Also Toner had a poor first half to the season, but he seems to have found last season form again.

[asoreleftshoulder]

I think Toner has looked good this season, especially over the last few months. He is more physical than I remember him being.

Are Jack and Luke McGrath brothers?

Jeez I doubt it cos there's no physical similarities,Jack McGrath looks like he eats breakfasts that weigh more than Luke.

[Rory_Gallagher]

I suppose.

What did people think of O'Brien at 8 btw? I only caught glimpses of the game. Plus where was Dominic Ryan?

[Notch]

Loads of the Ulster fans have said it.

No, Roux and Cullen is a better partnership for you. That doesn't mean Roux is better than Toner.

Ultimately a Cullen/Toner partnership is always going to run the risk of being bullied at scrum time.

[asoreleftshoulder]

Just reading an article on Rugby365 about forward passes,it seems that I may have to rethink my view on them..Going by the definition they say refs use Sexton was very unfortunate to be pulled up for a forward pass at the very end of the game when he had set Conway away for a good chance of a 5th try.

http://www.rugby365.com/article/53665-law-discussion-forward-passes

[pete (buachaill on eirne)]

Loads of the Ulster fans have said it.

No, Roux and Cullen is a better partnership for you. That doesn't mean Roux is better than Toner.

Ultimately a Cullen/Toner partnership is always going to run the risk of being bullied at scrum time.

Again I'd disagree with this.
How much does Roux better our scrum? I would wager a bit but a huge amount. What you get from him in the scrum you then lose all over the rest of the pitch. Is the scrum really worth that much? How many scrums are there per game? This site says about 15
http://www.theroar.com.au/2013/04/29/the-effects-of-the-irbs-changes-to-scrum-laws/

Then add in what Toner brings to the loose, the lineout, he doesn't bring much to ruck and maul but he brings more than Roux does and same on defense too.

Edit: There are apparently over 30 lineouts a game on average in International rugby I amn't sure if this correlates with club rugby.
http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Kinematic+analysis+of+line-out+throwing+in+elite+international+rugby...-a0266845259

I agree that if we are starting Bent or Hagan at tighthead who are not as good at scrummaging as Ross then add in Roux (coincidently Hagan and Bent add more around the park than Ross does) so it is a balancing act almost in terms of front five. For instance if Roux and Ross both started I'd say we'd be quite weak at the breakdown and our defence would be slower to realign. If we played Toner and Hagan, we may get pushed about in the scrum and concede penalties but we'd be quick to the breakdown and dynamic in ball carrying and shifting the point of contact.

Which is better?????

Healy-Strauss-Ross
Cullen-Toner

or

Healy-Strauss-Hagan/Bent
Cullen-Roux

[pete (buachaill on eirne)]

I think the main reason people have Roux ahead of Toner is that he adds more ballast in the scrum. Toner and Culler arent exactly the best scrummaging second row around.

Also Toner had a poor first half to the season, but he seems to have found last season form again.

+1
Very true

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