Pro12: Ospreys V Blues Welsh Derby

O.k I am looking forward to this one and I am going over to Swansea to watch it, this is the last chance I am giving to the Blues, another abject performance then they will get no more money off me, I could take a loss, but they seriously need to learn how to tackle, but I can only see an Ospreys win.


Like Glasgow, Ospreys have a perfect played five, won five record in the Guinness PRO12 this season, although the Welshmen have not let any opponent tally more than 15 points against them in any of those encounters.

Ospreys have won their last five fixtures at Liberty Stadium since Munster won there in round 15 last season.

Ospreys have not been defeated by a fellow Welsh region in the PRO12 whilst Steve Tandy has been in charge - their last such defeat was 20-21 to the Dragons in Newport in January 2012.

Cardiff Blues have not been victorious since the opening weekend against Zebre in Parma, although the capital side did at least draw 24-all with Connacht in Galway last Friday.

The Blues only PRO12 victory at the home of a fellow Welsh region in their last dozen encounters came at the Dragons in September 2012.

Ospreys have not been defeated by the Blues in the tournament since they visited Cardiff City Stadium on New Year's Eve 2010 whilst Blues only previous PRO12 win at Liberty Stadium came on their first ever visit in December 2005.

Teams:- TBA

At Liberty Stadium, 4pm. Live on S4C/Nuvolari
Referee: Leighton Hodges (WRU, 43rd competition game)
Assistant Referees: Sean Brickell, Gwyn Morris (both WRU)
Citing Commissioner: Dennis Jones (WRU)
TMO: Derek Bevan (WRU)

Lord, yes we have a won 5 out of 5 record so far this season, it could be quite easily a win 2 lost 3 or anything in between scenario we are looking back at, I was only confident of winning our home games so far this season
Sunday will be an extremely tough encounter IMO and if we have 5 points from this encounter I'll be very surprised and pleased, I'm just hoping for a win and a DECENT attendance, by that I mean within a 1000 of 10000, if we don't get those sort of figures with the way we have played this season it will be disappointing.

Well I will be going so there's an extra one, oops sorry there will be an extra three as my old man and my brother will be there as well.

I am really looking forward to a nice day out, my wife and daugters will be shopping with my mother and sister in law in Swansea, and we are going for dinner first then off to the game. Not the girls though. They will find somewhere to have a coffe and a chat.

I cannot see past an Ospreys win, but they will not get a bonus point, nobody ever does in a Welsh derby, not a try scoring one anyway, so I am going for an Ospreys win by about ten points.

2013-14 Season
21 Mar 14 - Ospreys 34 Blues 9
20 Dec 13 - Blues 19 Ospreys 22

2012-13 Season
30 Mar 13 – Blues 16 Ospreys 23
30 Nov 12 – Ospreys 33 Blues 12

2011-12 Season
14 Apr 12 – Blues 12 Ospreys 33
1 Jan 12 – Ospreys 17 Blues 12

Dan Biggar and Justin Tipuric hope to be fit to play:-

http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/rugby-union/29484026

Tips V Warbs, could be interesting.

LordDowlais wrote:Dan Biggar and Justin Tipuric hope to be fit to play:-

http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/rugby-union/29484026

Tips V Warbs, could be interesting.

Lord, I'm not stalking you honest, on the Ospreys website today there is the weekly press interview with one of the Ospreys Coaches, it is Steve Tandy this week, and he inferred that Tips was unlikely to play, yet Dan was looking more hopeful, he went on to say that they would be happy with Sam Lewis playing and also said how pleased they were with James King having to deputise in the recent past.

wayne wrote:

LordDowlais wrote:Dan Biggar and Justin Tipuric hope to be fit to play:-

http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/rugby-union/29484026

Tips V Warbs, could be interesting.

Lord, I'm not stalking you honest, on the Ospreys website today there is the weekly press interview with one of the Ospreys Coaches, it is Steve Tandy this week, and he inferred that Tips was unlikely to play, yet Dan was looking more hopeful, he went on to say that they would be happy with Sam Lewis playing and also said how pleased they were with James King having to deputise in the recent past.

Oh well, we will not be seeing the Tips V Warbs fireworks then.

Be great to see Sam Lewis get back on the field

Patchell vs Biggar will be very interesting too.

maestegmafia wrote:Be great to see Sam Lewis get back on the field

Patchell vs Biggar will be very interesting too.

I doubt Patchell will be playing at 10.

LordDowlais wrote:

maestegmafia wrote:Be great to see Sam Lewis get back on the field

Patchell vs Biggar will be very interesting too.

I doubt Patchell will be playing at 10.

Not sure I agree. With Thomas and Fish as fullback options I think Patchell will be at ten. Especially after playing there vs Connacht last week.

Teams up...

Ospreys: Dan Evans; Jeff Hassler, Andrew Bishop, Josh Matavesi, Eli Walker; Dan Biggar, Rhys Webb; Nicky Smith, Scott Baldwin, Dmitri Arhip, Lloyd Peers, Alun Wyn Jones (Capt), James King, Sam Lewis, Dan Baker
Replacements: Sam Parry, Duncan Jones, Aaron Jarvis, Joe Bearman, Morgan Allen, Martin Roberts, Sam Davies, Tom Grabham.
Cardiff Blues: Adam Thomas; Alex Cuthbert, Cory Allen, Gavin Evans, Geraint Walsh; Rhys Patchell, Lewis Jones; Gethin Jenkins, Matthew Rees (c), Adam Jones, Jarrad Hoeata, Filo Paulo, Josh Turnbull, Sam Warburton, Josh Navidi
Replacements: Kristian Dacey, Sam Hobbs, Scott Andrews, Macauley Cook, Manoa Vosawai, Lloyd Williams, Gareth Davies, Dan Fish
Referee: Leighton Hodges (WRU)
Assistant Referees: Sean Brickell, Gwyn Morris (both WRU)
Citing Commissioner: Dennis Jones (WRU)
TMO: Derek Bevan (WRU)

Ospreys Team, Evans, Hassler, Bishop, Matavesi, Walker, Biggar, Webb, Smith, Baldwin, Arhip, Peers, AWJ, King, Lewis and Baker
Bernardo NOT selected or injured, no out and out 2nd rows on the bench, hope nobody gets injured there, or we could be in trouble IMO, according to our site if we have a decent walk up, we could get close to 10000 for this game, and NOT before time.
Sorry Breadvan you beat me to it

LordDowlais wrote:

maestegmafia wrote:Be great to see Sam Lewis get back on the field

Patchell vs Biggar will be very interesting too.

I doubt Patchell will be playing at 10.

Surprise LD

Josh Navidi again at 8, I couldnt see the Connacht game, how did he get on there?

Looking at both teams it should be a close game but somehow I believe there is only one winner as the Blues keep leaking soft tries, I expected them to be the top Welsh team this season but they are under performing again. Ospreys by 15 points.

PenfroPete wrote:

LordDowlais wrote:

maestegmafia wrote:Be great to see Sam Lewis get back on the field

Patchell vs Biggar will be very interesting too.

I doubt Patchell will be playing at 10.

Surprise LD

He is the best fly half they have... Best fullback and probably best inside centre too...

This is going to be a good game.

Is Navidi really an 8? What has happened to young Ieuan Jones they signed from us, is he injured?

There are a few players that they have signed that they're not playing bedford,

Knoyle, Watkins, I Jones are among them

Really looking forward to a few tasty battles, the experienced Blues front row against the other end of the age experience, the relatively balanced Os backrow with very inexperienced players against the 2 No 7s and a blindside, of real class, and for me the real special confrontation Cuthbert against Walker, one a proven international class finisher with defensive faults, against the silky smooth runner with excellent stepping skills.

Tbh Cuthbert has been disappointing so far this season, especially considering his form in that second SA test.

bedfordwelsh wrote:Is Navidi really an 8?  What has happened to young Ieuan Jones they signed from us, is he injured?

I wish we'd kept hold of Ieuan Jones.

Front rows are an interesting match up as well. The best front row Wales has had for years but now past their prime and 2 thirds of a potential future Wales front row.would like to see vosawaiting at 8 with Josh and Sam 6 and 7 that looks much better balanced and gives us a ball carrier which we are missing especially with baker and nick Smith making a lot of yards for the o's this year. A win is sorely needed by the blues but just can't see it coming in Swansea

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:

bedfordwelsh wrote:Is Navidi really an 8?  What has happened to young Ieuan Jones they signed from us, is he injured?

I wish we'd kept hold of Ieuan Jones.

LP,

I agree but with Faletau there and the signing of Powell I guess he thought his chances would be limited but looks like they being even more limited now, at least he use to get game time off then bench for us.

bedfordwelsh wrote:

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:

bedfordwelsh wrote:Is Navidi really an 8?  What has happened to young Ieuan Jones they signed from us, is he injured?

I wish we'd kept hold of Ieuan Jones.

LP,

I agree but with Faletau there and the signing of Powell I guess he thought his chances would be limited but looks like they being even more limited now, at least he use to get game time off then bench for us.

Is ieuan injured?

Blues have shown pretty much every reason they are doing so badly in the first 5 minutes,

Bad tackling, bad lineouts, bad discipline, average fullbacks and handling and poor scrummaging

This is going to be baaaaaad

Ospreys should go for the bonus point it is looking like an easy win again

Thomas thinking where is all my cash going with this shower.

I may as well switch over to the Estonia v England game maybe that will be more competitive unless the 'Mighty Blues' can actual start playing like a profesional team

A lot of people were tipping Blues for a top four spot... they've lost to Ulster, Glasgow, Leinster and now probably the Ospreys. You need to be taking 2 or 3 wins there to set yourself up for a run to the playoffs.

Wa rbs brought that maul down lucky he did not get his marching orders.

The difference in pace between these teams is shown by Webbs try, two down two to go..

out of interest.. Webb got the ball on the line. No question.. But are you actually allowed to dab it down back in the breakdown like that.. Isn't that potentially playing offside or obstruction by the pack in the floor...

By the way, I'm Osprey fan, so I'm just interested in the technicality of that play, rather than simply whinging about a score...

When I played years ago, I'd say good fair try. But I know some of the finer rule points have changed many many times...

Cuthberts days are numbered... I reckon there's a stronger call now for Lliam Williams to have the Welsh 15 shirt with Halfpenny over to 14 and Cuthbert nowhere in the squad.

No9 wrote:out of interest.. Webb got the ball on the line. No question.. But are you actually allowed to dab it down back in the breakdown like that.. Isn't that potentially playing offside or obstruction by the pack in the floor...

By the way, I'm Osprey fan, so I'm just interested in the technicality of that play, rather than simply whinging about a score...

When I played years ago, I'd say good fair try. But I know some of the finer rule points have changed many many times...

I'm also interested, surely the ruck blocks any kind of defence?

IronMike wrote:

No9 wrote:out of interest.. Webb got the ball on the line. No question.. But are you actually allowed to dab it down back in the breakdown like that.. Isn't that potentially playing offside or obstruction by the pack in the floor...

By the way, I'm Osprey fan, so I'm just interested in the technicality of that play, rather than simply whinging about a score...

When I played years ago, I'd say good fair try. But I know some of the finer rule points have changed many many times...

I'm also interested, surely the ruck blocks any kind of defence?

I was thinking the same. Not sure if it is legal, and if it is, I am not sure that it should be...

Walsh is one of the positives from this match for the Blues.

In fairness, there have been some shockers from the ref, and this is definitely one

Haha - did the ref just say Eli Walker was tackled without the ball when he was half way through kicking?? Surely a kick counts as all one action so he was in possession?

glamorganalun wrote:Walsh is one of the positives from this match for the Blues.

Agree, finally a winger/FB who can defend and catch

Blues are not in the same league... They just seem clueless...

Ok, as an Ospreys fan, not unhappy for this game result. However, as a Welsh fan, I'm really concerned at the lack of quality from a side that should be able to compete with the best.

What kind of decision is that? Eli Walker wanted to kick the ball and was tackled, how is that a penalty?

That seems a strange decision, tackled during kicking the ball, I have not seen that before.

Bad ref call... simples.

Blues have some serious issues...

Its been hard watching the Blues, they were hyped up a bit pre season, but they have been a shambles since the Zebre game.

Where did that come from, well taken try.

The Blues start playing some Rugby on the 78th minute, well done lads

I don't get how Blues can be so poor with such a good team. They look like the Ospreys of old...

That is what you get taking your foot off try or not try.