GPro 12 - Ospreys V Edinburgh

Ospreys V Edinburgh

At Liberty Stadium, 4pm. Live on S4C / BBC 2 Scotland
Referee: Peter Fitzgibbon (IRFU)
Assistant Referees: Simon Rees, Chris Williams (both WRU)
Citing Commissioner: Denis Jones (WRU)
TMO: Derek Bevan (WRU)

Head to head
24  Played 24
13  Wins 10
10  Losses 13
1    Draws 1
57  Tries 53
34  Conversions 39
71  Penalties 47
4    Drop Goals 1
578 Points 487
24   Avg. Age 25

Ospreys' only defeat in their last six Guinness PRO12 matches was 27-30 to Zebre in Parma in round 21 last season.
Ospreys have won their last four games at Liberty Stadium since Munster were the visitors in February.

The Welshmen have lost their last three fixtures against Scottish opponents, but have never lost four in a row to teams north of the border.

Edinburgh's only victory in their last seven fixtures was 14-13 over Munster in Limerick in round 1, the Scotsmen, therefore, are going for successive away victories in the PRO12 for the first time since November 2009.

Edinburgh won on their most recent visit to Wales: 23-19 over Dragons at Rodney Parade in April, and have not won back-to-back games in Wales since September 2009.

The last four encounters between the two sides have all been won by the home team on the day whilst Edinburgh have not been victorious at Liberty Stadium since a 32-30 win on 25th April 2009.

Teams

Ospreys

15.Dan Evans
14.Jeff Hassler
13.Johnny Spratt
12 Josh Matevesi
11.Hanno Dirksen
10.Dan Biggar
9.Rhys Webb
8.Dan Baker
7.Justin Tips
6.James King
5.Rynier Bernardo
4.AWJ
3.Aaron Jarvis
2.Scott Baldwin
1.Nicky Smith
Subs
Parry,Dunc,Arhip,Ardron,Allen,Roberts,Davies,Grabham.

Edinburgh

15. Jack CUTHBERT
14. Nick McLENNAN
13. Phil BURLEIGH
12. Andries STRAUSS
11. Tim VISSER
10. Tom HEATHCOTE
9. Sam HIDALGO-CLYNE


1. Alasdair DICKINSON
2. James HILTERBRAND
3. W P NEL
4. Fraser McKENZIE
5. Anton BRESLER
6. Mike COMAN (captain)
7. Hamish WATSON
8.Cornell DU PREEZ

Substitutes
16. Neil COCHRANE
17. Rory SUTHERLAND
18. John ANDRESS
19. Ollie ATKINS
20. Tomas LEONARDI
21. Grayson HART
22. Sam BEARD
23. Greig TONKS

From an Edinburgh PoV, I just don't know what to expect from this game.

After the brilliant win away to Munster I thought we were looking like a genuine Top 6 team this year.  However after last week's significantly disappointing loss at home to Connacht I'm back to thinking we're going to be slugging it out in bottom 6 again.

One of Edinburgh's major flaws is consistency however, so I wouldn't be surprised in the slightest if we won this somehow!

Team wise, I suspect Solomons will be looking at this game and the Scarlets game 5 days later at the same time, as he probably won't be able to pick the same team for each.  Tonks is back in full training but Visser might not quite make it.

Does Solomons rotate players in for this game and use his strongest team to try to get a home win against Scarlets?

I suspect we'll see a similar squad to the Connacht game but with Brett Thompson brought into the wing, ideally with Hurly moved to 12 and Beard to 13, but Strauss seems to be an imovable object in a Solomons team. Tonks on the bench, with a view to him starting against Scarlets at 10. Give Andress a 2nd chance after getting on the wrong side of the ref last week, and unleash WP Nel at home to the Scarlets.

Ospreys are riding high 2 from 2, but given it was against Treviso and the Dragons that is where they were likely to be. They will be keen to keep the momentum going.

Cheers for starting a thread RDW.

I wonder if there will be much in the way of rotation from Solomans. Last season certainly he was the mirror image of toonie in regards to his selection policy, but that may be due to him thinking his hands were tied with the players available to him.

This season the squad has more of his stamp on it, so you never know. Really what I’m saying here is I haven’t the foggiest what team he’ll pick.

Like you, following the munster game I was hugely optimistic about our season (when I say hugely I mean top 6), but after the performance against Connacht I’m far more downhearted.

I don't think the Ospreys have an injury news. Scrum half Webb might be out,AWJ rested and Tipuric back in at openside. It'll probaly the same team that has started the first two games.

Read somewhere that of our 10 scrums last week we conceded 5 pens and 2 free kicks. With this stat alone you are going to be starved of opportunities. Of our 3/4 decent chances we butchered all bar one but with something close to parity in the scrum we would have had double the chances.

Looking forward to seeing Thompson on the wing. We really do need some actual wingers on this week (if we have any back!). With players out of position against Connacht they just stood on each touchline rather than looking for work, thought they were helping out the linesmen for most of the match! Agree with RDW, it will probably be a similar team, with the guys coming back from niggles either benched or held back for the Scarlets game.

With a new ref/clean slate/week of training to sort out the scrum I fancy Edinburgh to nick this one. (seen through heavily rose-tinted specs)

No doubt we will all be on here Monday talking about Peter Fitzgibbon's wonderfull refereeing performance.

Team announced

15. Jack CUTHBERT
14. Nick McLENNAN
13. Phil BURLEIGH
12. Andries STRAUSS
11. Tim VISSER
10. Tom HEATHCOTE
9. Sam HIDALGO-CLYNE


1. Alasdair DICKINSON
2. James HILTERBRAND
3. W P NEL
4. Fraser McKENZIE
5. Anton BRESLER
6. Mike COMAN (captain)
7. Hamish WATSON
8.Cornell DU PREEZ

Substitutes
16. Neil COCHRANE
17. Rory SUTHERLAND
18. John ANDRESS
19. Ollie ATKINS
20. Tomas LEONARDI
21. Grayson HART
22. Sam BEARD
23. Greig TONKS

Good to see Visser and Tonks back. Ford getting a rest.

Where did you find that match preview, RDW? As an irredeemable pedant, I have to issue with the claim that the Os have won their last six Guinness Pro12 matches. Impossible - they've only played two.

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:Where did you find that match preview, RDW? As an irredeemable pedant, I have to issue with the claim that the Os have won their last six Guinness Pro12 matches. Impossible - they've only played two.

Pro 12 website.

I'm assuming they include last season.

I've just seen that it wasn't six wins, it was one defeat in their last six games, but you get my point.

I'll stop now.

Wow, 7 changes makes a mockery of my "analysis" anyway. Good to see though that he seems to have a lot more confidence in his squad this year to do that. Also mabye a bit of a message that last weeks performance wasn't good enough...

Relieved that Visser is back. Think Cuthbert is a bit lucky to retain his place. I've been a big fan this last year but he was poor last week, making a hash of our 2 best chances. Chance for redemption here though.

Is there any way of getting S4C in Scotland (legally!)? Wondering if there will be any pubs able to show it though would doubt it with it being on during the prime football slot at 4pm on Sunday??

Good to see Bresler starting - it thought he looked a bit lost and clumsy last week so hopefully after another week of training and playing from the start he'll impress more.

S4C is on any digital TV provider - think it's 134 on Sky or something like that!

JonnyEdinburgh wrote:Is there any way of getting S4C in Scotland (legally!)?  Wondering if there will be any pubs able to show it though would doubt it with it being on during the prime football slot at 4pm on Sunday??

Yes if you have a Sky box. It is on one of the higher channels. I am sure it is, I have Welsh relatives in Scotland and they can get it.

JonnyEdinburgh wrote:Is there any way of getting S4C in Scotland (legally!)?  Wondering if there will be any pubs able to show it though would doubt it with it being on during the prime football slot at 4pm on Sunday??

The game is also apparently on BBC2 Scotland as well.

Can an MFL fan pls explain to me what The Wise Old One sees in Strauss? I think I'm missing s/thing

AsLongAsBut100ofUs wrote:Can an MFL fan pls explain to me what The Wise Old One sees in Strauss?  I think I'm missing s/thing

Leadership apparently.

The phrase 'solid yet unspectacular' was made for Strauss. He puts his tackles in, carries the ball averagely and passes averagely. In general, he is very average.

I suspect it's not been helped by Matt Scott (12) being injured and a lack of decent options at 13.

Solomons is a big fan of his though.

What game are they showing on ALBA then ?

EWT Spoons wrote:

JonnyEdinburgh wrote:Is there any way of getting S4C in Scotland (legally!)?  Wondering if there will be any pubs able to show it though would doubt it with it being on during the prime football slot at 4pm on Sunday??

The game is also apparently on BBC2 Scotland as well.

The game is on Friday night, you had better hope that the NO campaign wins or you will not have BBC.

Sorry, couldn't resist. I'm off now before I get tarred and feathered.

Have we really not won two away games in a row for five years?

tigertattie wrote:Have we really not won two away games in a row for five years?

Have we even won 2 games in a row in 5 years?!

A more pressing start is this season - 2 games, 4 yellow cards

We have played a quarter of the season so for with reduced men on the pitch!

Its the saffa way though RDW!

Its the saffa way though RDW!

Its the saffa way though RDW!

Was that so important you had to post it 3 times??

I could delete them....

Probably the Ospreys team will be
15 Dan Evans
14 Jeff Hassler
13 Andrew Bishop Spratt
12 Josh Matavesi
11 Eli Walker Dirksen
10 Dan Biggar
9  Rhys Webb
8  Dan Baker
7  Justin Tipuric
6  James King
5  Rynier Bernardo
4  Lloyd Peers AWJ
3  Aaron Jarvis
2  Scott Baldwin
1  Nicky Smith
If Rhys is injured Martin Roberts could come in, Tandy has said AWJ will be rested again and the new South African De Kock Steenkamp is expected to arrive next week, he appears to be a good acquisition,  he has the 2nd number of lineout steals IIRC in this years S15 behind Whitelock, if he can reproduce that kind of stats and be the normal kind of South African abrasive 2nd row, we should be very happy. There are a lot of Edinburgh players that I'm not acquainted with, therefore I'll be very happy with 4 points.
Walker and Peers injured

RDW_Scotland wrote:

AsLongAsBut100ofUs wrote:Can an MFL fan pls explain to me what The Wise Old One sees in Strauss?  I think I'm missing s/thing

Leadership apparently.

The phrase 'solid yet unspectacular' was made for Strauss.  He puts his tackles in, carries the ball averagely and passes averagely. In general, he is very average.

I suspect it's not been helped by Matt Scott (12) being injured and a lack of decent options at 13.

Solomons is a big fan of his though.

He's basically a smaller and less powerful version of Rob Dewey.

Still think Burleigh should be at 12 with Beard at 13. Much better combination. Slightly surprised Atkins has been dropped rather than MacKenzie but I'm sure Atkins will have a role from the bench.

Neil Cochrane may make a rare appearance as well. Remarkable!

Strauss reminds me of a 7 being told he is playing centre so all he concentrates on is tackling and catching the ball no creativity apart from this.

Personally I really like Dominguez as a 13 he offers slightly more flair, the one thing I am always confused by is why Michael tait was re -signed, he has never really been given a chance and is not a youngster anymore.

Anyone planning to go to this A game on Monday ? Could be interesting to see how the youngsters fair against each other

I'd rather see Dominguez in the centres as well, and Sam Beard. Strauss just doesn't really do anything, and I can't imagine him making a break or creating anything.

Do you not remember that one break against the Ospreys at Meggetland? He looked so shocked he'd made it through the gainline he almost didn't know what to do!

Was that the one where he should have scored but seemed to be stuck in second gear? He has absolutely no pace or accelaration. Other than a solid tackle completion rate, I can't think of a redeeming feature!

It is mentioned on our forum there are 12 NSQ in your team, is that right and if it is, how as Scottish supporters do you feel about it ? Are there a number able to qualify for your country ?

Ospreys team..
15.Dan Evans
14.Jeff Hassler
13.Johnny Spratt
12 Josh Matevesi
11.Hanno Dirksen
10.Dan Biggar
9.Rhys Webb
8.Dan Baker
7.Justin Tips
6.James King
5.Rynier Bernardo
4.AWJ
3.Aaron Jarvis
2.Scott Baldwin
1.Nicky Smith
Subs
Parry,Dunc,Arhip,Ardron,Allen,Roberts,Davies,Grabham.

wayne wrote:It is mentioned on our forum there are 12 NSQ in your team, is that right and if it is, how as Scottish supporters do you feel about it ? Are there a number able to qualify for your country ?

I've highlighted the NSQ players in bold.  WP Nel will be SQ next summer

15. Jack CUTHBERT
14. Nick McLENNAN
13. Phil BURLEIGH
12. Andries STRAUSS
11. Tim VISSER
10. Tom HEATHCOTE
9. Sam HIDALGO-CLYNE


1. Alasdair DICKINSON
2. James HILTERBRAND
3. W P NEL
4. Fraser McKENZIE
5. Anton BRESLER
6. Mike COMAN (captain)
7. Hamish WATSON
8.Cornell DU PREEZ

Substitutes
16. Neil COCHRANE
17. Rory SUTHERLAND
18. John ANDRESS
19. Ollie ATKINS
20. Tomas LEONARDI
21. Grayson HART
22. Sam BEARD
23. Greig TONKS

9 out of 23 is a lot, but not a disaster.

Worth noting that Matt Scott, Dave Denton, Grant Gilchrist and Dougie Fife are nailed on starters but are currently injured - they would bring that number down further. Factor them in and that would be around 5 out of 23, which is much more reasonable.

RDW_Scotland wrote:Was that so important you had to post it 3 times??

I could delete them....

I do appologise. I only clicked once so dunno what happened there!

Lets just blame FES and move on...........

tigertattie wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:Was that so important you had to post it 3 times??

I could delete them....

I do appologise. I only clicked once so dunno what happened there!

Lets just blame FES Westminster and move on...........

Joke!

Back to the rugby, that's a strong Ospreys team.

Can see us getting a bit of a doing here.-

I'm going to plump for 28 - 10 for the hair products

RDW_Scotland wrote:

wayne wrote:It is mentioned on our forum there are 12 NSQ in your team, is that right and if it is, how as Scottish supporters do you feel about it ? Are there a number able to qualify for your country ?

I've highlighted the NSQ players in bold.  WP Nel will be SQ next summer

15. Jack CUTHBERT
14. Nick McLENNAN
13. Phil BURLEIGH
12. Andries STRAUSS
11. Tim VISSER
10. Tom HEATHCOTE
9. Sam HIDALGO-CLYNE


1. Alasdair DICKINSON
2. James HILTERBRAND
3. W P NEL
4. Fraser McKENZIE
5. Anton BRESLER
6. Mike COMAN (captain)
7. Hamish WATSON
8.Cornell DU PREEZ

Substitutes
16. Neil COCHRANE
17. Rory SUTHERLAND
18. John ANDRESS
19. Ollie ATKINS
20. Tomas LEONARDI
21. Grayson HART
22. Sam BEARD
23. Greig TONKS

9 out of 23 is a lot, but not a disaster.

Worth noting that Matt Scott, Dave Denton, Grant Gilchrist and Dougie Fife are nailed on starters but are currently injured - they would bring that number down further. Factor them in and that would be around 5 out of 23, which is much more reasonable.

Thanks for that RDW, are any of the others time servers ?

Cornell Du Preez is Edinburgh's equivalent of Josh Strauss at Glasgow - I'm sure he'll be in the frame for Scotland's back row when he becomes qualified (another 18 months or so).

The rest are very much squad players, apart from maybe Bresler but he's just signed.

RDW_Scotland wrote:Cornell Du Preez is Edinburgh's equivalent of Josh Strauss at Glasgow - I'm sure he'll be in the frame for Scotland's back row when he becomes qualified (another 18 months or so).

The rest are very much squad players, apart from maybe Bresler but he's just signed.

So basically you are not much different to us, we are allowed 6 + 2 time servers, the only difference really is that ours is enforced by the recent agreement with the WRU, yours is not enforced, is that right ? If it is there really is a misconception on our boards about your situation.
Thanks RDW
Wayne

Alan Solomons came in and discovered that the squad was weak and so jettisoned 23 players and brought many in - including a lot of foreign players.

In Edinburgh's best 23 - if everyone is fit - I'd say there would be 4 NSQ players. The problems come with injuries and Scotland call ups, because a lot of the back up options are NSQ.

We have no limits on signing foreign players - he can sign us many as he wants.

RDW_Scotland wrote:Cornell Du Preez is Edinburgh's equivalent of Josh Strauss at Glasgow - I'm sure he'll be in the frame for Scotland's back row when he becomes qualified (another 18 months or so).

The rest are very much squad players, apart from maybe Bresler but he's just signed.

Nonsense. Du Preez would eat Strauss for breakfast.

The 1st XV balance isn't bad, but it's the NSQ players in the wider squad at Edinburgh that I take issue with. I refuse to believe that we needed to re-sign Ben Atiga, and along with Strauss, Dominguez and Beard that's four NSQ centres who are hardly setting the world on fire. Also not yet convinced by McLennan, and we signed a Canadian winger (Thompson) who we don't seem to be using plus have two strong SQ prospects in Hoyland and Farndale.

The 1st XV balance is fine, but there's a fair bit of NSQ dead wood in the squad. Not sure why we ditched Allan and Cross only to retain Blaauw and Berghan either.

I know its early season but this looks an important game for both sides. Ospreys win and they are at the top. Edinburgh? need to show some steel and beating teams like the Ospreys is essential if they are to challenge for a euro cup place / top half finish. Hoping for a good game.

Late change for Edinburgh (again) : Coman pulled out so Leonardi starting and Grant on the bench.


Strauss made captain (obviously!)

Pathetic, we're going to get gubbed!

Wonderful stuff from Rhys Webb.

That was rubbish wasn't it!

Webb must have done pace to skin Nel and the speedster Cuthbert

Better, but butchered a try there