Sundays big Ospreys v Northampton European showdown...! Euro cup ..!

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Ospreys v Northampton Saints

Fit to play: Christian Day
Fit to play: Christian Day

The Ospreys have done Northampton no favours in their team selection in what should be a pulsating Champions Cup game at the Liberty Stadium.

The Welsh region's hopes of qualification are slim but they will not go down wondering what might have been as head coach Steve Tandy names Rhys Webb, Dan Biggar and plenty more talent in his XV.

Dan Lydiate is ruled out so in comes James King on the blindside while last week's scorer Tyler Ardron continues at number eight this weekend.

The Ospreys currently sit on eight points after four matches, six behind Racing Metro and seven off Northampton Saints with two rounds remaining.

Meanwhile, Northampton make six changes from last weekend - a quintet of those in the forwards - as the final block of European Champions Cup pool fixtures begin.

It is an entirely new front-row, returning skipper Dylan Hartley flanked by Alex Waller and Gareth Denman on the loose and tighthead respectively, while Christian Day is fit again and back in the second row for the Round 5 clash.

The final change up front comes at number eight, Samu Manoa making his return to the starting XV, while Ken Pisi's introduction is on the right wing is the solitary alteration among the backs.

Form: Ospreys lost 18-14 away to Racing Metro in their last European clash but currently sit at the top of the Pro12 standings following last week's 22-11 win over the Dragons. Saints beat Treviso 67-0 in Round Four but were beaten 20-7 by Sale in the Premiership last week. Northampton Saints have won on their last four trips to Wales, with their most recent win on Welsh soil coming in last season's competition against the Ospreys. Ospreys are winless in eight home matches against English sides; losing seven. Ospreys' loss to Northampton last season represents their largest home defeat to an English team.

The teams:

Ospreys: 15 Daniel Evans, 14 Aisea Natoga, 13 Ashley Beck, 12 Josh Matavesi, 11 Eli Walker, 10 Dan Biggar, 9 Rhys Webb, 8 Tyler Ardron, 7 Justin Tipuric, 6 James King, 5 Alun-Wyn Jones (c), 4 Rynier Bernardo, 3 Aaron Jarvis, 2 Scott Baldwin, 1 Marc Thomas.
Replacements: 16 Sam Parry, 17 Gareth Thomas, 18 Dmitri Arhip, 19 Morgan Allen, 20 Sam Lewis, 21 Martin Roberts, 22 Sam Davies, 23 Hanno Dirksen.

Northampton Saints: 15 Ben Foden, 14 Ken Pisi, 13 George Pisi, 12 Luther Burrell, 11 George North, 10 Stephen Myler, 9 Lee Dickson, 8 Samu Manoa, 7 Calum Clark, 6 Tom Wood, 5 Christian Day, 4 Sam Dickinson, 3 Gareth Denman, 2 Dylan Hartley (c), 1 Alex Waller.
Replacements: 16 Mikey Haywood, 17 Ethan Waller, 18 Alex Corbisiero, 19 Phil Dowson, 20 Teimana Harrison, 21 Joel Hodgson, 22 James Wilson, 23 Jamie Elliott.

Date: Sunday, 18 January
Venue: Liberty Stadium, Swansea
Kick-off: 17:30 (GMT)
Referee: Jerome Garces (France)
Assistant referees: Patrick Pechambert (France); Jonathan Gasnier (France)
Fourth Official Jean-Marie Piraveau (France)
TMO Jean-Marie Piraveau (France)

*****

Ospreys are in for a very hard afternoon, a long injury list, the team not playing well in their las few games and their entire European Cup season rests on them not just winning this but winning well.

Saints have fought and bought their way into being a European powerhouse. The Ospreys should struggle to compete.

With so many front line injuries in the pack, scrum time will be a nightmare. Saints might be missing Courtney Lawes from their line out but they can replace him with Manoa...!

Not a result I hold much hope for I am affraid...

WELL-PAST-IT wrote:

The Saint wrote:

TJ wrote:

wayne wrote:

LondonTiger wrote:

maestegmafia wrote:
Being able to afford to reinforce the weaker parts of their team to the quality level they have is a different ball park to the Ospreys. Same can be said for most of the top pool leading teams in Europe.

1) Saints have a smaller catchment area
2) The disparity in the salary budgets for the two ERCC squads will be miniscule.


You can bitch and moan about how unfair things are - even when they are much fairer than you claim - or you can get behind a team who are top of their league and playing a big match. Up to you.

Tiger, not arguing the whole post, but your fact about the finances of both clubs being about the same is truly one of the most delusional posts I've ever read on these boards

Ospreys will be less - but in overall spending power there will be little in it.  Certainly not enough to make a real difference.  Saints are not toulon!

Buying North out of his contract and giving him a hefty salary would suggest otherwise. But still, Saints have recruited very well and don't need to buy their success unlike Toulon.

Don't forget the fine they played for allowing North to contrat to play Wales games out of the international window.

Not like the Welsh regions getting their WQ star players saleries paid by the WRFU is it?

Tell me what Osprey playing Sunday has his salary paid by the WRFU ?

None. There may be some salaries paid by the WRU... Oh, actually there isn't.

bedfordwelsh wrote:Maybe they think that not having a winger there is still better defensively than picking North there.  

Nah, Saints finally got their season figured out by playing with 14 men and finding a way to beat Tigers. Winning any match down to 14 is unusual, but beating Tigers with 14 is far beyond rare and far past extraordinary. Therefore, the template for the season.

I wouldn't say we're injury ravaged. It's still a strong Ospreys side tbf. The props and Hassler are a miss yet big George used him as a the proverbial door matt last year. Hopefully we are over the run of poor performances and can raise our game.

Breadvan wrote:I wouldn't say we're injury ravaged. It's still a strong Ospreys side tbf. The props and Hassler are a miss yet big George used him as a the proverbial door matt last year. Hopefully we are over the run of poor performances and can raise our game.

Breadvan, yes you are right to say we are not injury ravaged, but I wouldn't say the team selected is a strong one, Hassler missing is a big miss and don't forget, George ran through him in the centre where Hassler had to move to on the morning of the match, when Bishop pulled out, if Arhip hadn't been played so much lately he would have been T/H, and he would have been a significant improvement in the scrum than Jarvis, for all his courage Marc Thomas is a very poor scrummager at this level, he is at best the 4th best L/H on our books. Even though he hasn't played for us, by reputation Steenkamp is vastly superior to Bernardo and as well as Ardron has played Baker is better.
I for one didn't expect us to get anything out of any of our games against the top 2 this season, to have got 3 points already has exceeded my expectations and if we get a LBP on Sunday would be great, things are looking up on and off the field for next season and if we can qualify for the RCC next season that for me will be job accomplished.

I've watched a few O's games in the Pro12 and Hassler's always impressed when I've seen him.

Breadvan wrote:I wouldn't say we're injury ravaged. It's still a strong Ospreys side tbf. The props and Hassler are a miss yet big George used him as a the proverbial door matt last year. Hopefully we are over the run of poor performances and can raise our game.

As someone said earlier in the thread, we have the top teams in the premiership and pro 12. Let's hope for a great match we can all enjoy.
(hopefully Saints winning with 4 tries)

wayne wrote:

WELL-PAST-IT wrote:

The Saint wrote:

TJ wrote:

wayne wrote:

LondonTiger wrote:

maestegmafia wrote:
Being able to afford to reinforce the weaker parts of their team to the quality level they have is a different ball park to the Ospreys. Same can be said for most of the top pool leading teams in Europe.

1) Saints have a smaller catchment area
2) The disparity in the salary budgets for the two ERCC squads will be miniscule.


You can bitch and moan about how unfair things are - even when they are much fairer than you claim - or you can get behind a team who are top of their league and playing a big match. Up to you.

Tiger, not arguing the whole post, but your fact about the finances of both clubs being about the same is truly one of the most delusional posts I've ever read on these boards

Ospreys will be less - but in overall spending power there will be little in it.  Certainly not enough to make a real difference.  Saints are not toulon!

Buying North out of his contract and giving him a hefty salary would suggest otherwise. But still, Saints have recruited very well and don't need to buy their success unlike Toulon.

Don't forget the fine they played for allowing North to contrat to play Wales games out of the international window.

Not like the Welsh regions getting their WQ star players saleries paid by the WRFU is it?

Tell me what Osprey playing Sunday has his salary paid by the WRFU ?

WRU FU has a ring to it. I want the t-shirt.

Wayne, I think the discussion developed about various clubs signing big name players, and being rich. Ospreys were not mentioned and I do not know enough about the pro 12 or Ospreys to know if any of the dual contract players or centrally contracted players are on their books, but it was trying to make a point that if there are advantages that English clubs don't have of having players you don't pay for or partially pay for.

Having said that English clubs do get a payment for the use of the clubs players if they are on international call up.

Dave, I can understand why, yours makes ours look good. Perhaps you should bring in a business consultant, Alan Sugar would do your fired.

WELL-PAST-IT wrote:Wayne, I think the discussion developed about various clubs signing big name players, and being rich. Ospreys were not mentioned and I do not know enough about the pro 12 or Ospreys to know if any of the dual contract players or centrally contracted players are on their books, but it was trying to make a point that if there are advantages that English clubs don't have of having players you don't pay for or partially pay for.

Having said that English clubs do get a payment for the use of the clubs players if they are on international call up.

Dave, I can understand why, yours makes ours look good. Perhaps you should bring in a business consultant, Alan Sugar would do your fired.

Ditto over this side of the bridge too. Tiz why we have a services agreement with the WRU.

wayne wrote:

Breadvan wrote:I wouldn't say we're injury ravaged. It's still a strong Ospreys side tbf. The props and Hassler are a miss yet big George used him as a the proverbial door matt last year. Hopefully we are over the run of poor performances and can raise our game.

Breadvan, yes you are right to say we are not injury ravaged, but I wouldn't say the team selected is a strong one, Hassler missing is a big miss and don't forget, George ran through him in the centre where Hassler had to move to on the morning of the match, when Bishop pulled out, if Arhip hadn't been played so much lately he would have been T/H, and he would have been a significant improvement in the scrum than Jarvis, for all his courage Marc Thomas is a very poor scrummager at this level, he is at best the 4th best L/H on our books. Even though he hasn't played for us, by reputation Steenkamp is vastly superior to Bernardo and as well as Ardron has played Baker is better.
I for one didn't expect us to get anything out of any of our games against the top 2 this season, to have got 3 points already has exceeded my expectations and if we get a LBP on Sunday would be great, things are looking up on and off the field for next season and if we can qualify for the RCC next season that for me will be job accomplished.

Yeh I agree about the game earlier on but last year too. North ran over Hass then too....

Some good match ups in the teams..

Baldwin and Hartley might meet each other again in a few weeks in Cardiff. Mylar vs Biggar, Webb vs Dickson at halfback. Dan Evans and Foden at Full back.

Some young props with a lot to prove in Denman and Thomas.

Callam Clark vs Tipuric

Should be interesting. But that Saints pack look likely to be too much for the Ospreys.

Off now, OLE, OLE, OLE, Come on you Ospreys.

Good luck both teams, hopefully it will be a great game

wayne wrote:Off now, OLE, OLE, OLE, Come on you Ospreys.

Good luck Wayne, i think you will need it..

Enjoy Wayne. Hope your team does you proud, even if I want Saints to win. Ospreys will always be the first time I started watching regularly.

Pitch is looking great

Looked like a forward pass to me

It's a really good hybrid pitch (I think). Reasonably good start from both sides.

Gutted, Foden injured just as he was coming back to form.

I wish they'd stop the game when they see a player go down like that

Looked bad for Foden

Yep, a real shame for Foden.

Bigger looks fired up lol

He generally is. Real chopsy bugger (in a good way IMO)

What happened to Foden? I missed it.

Cumbrian wrote:What happened to Foden? I missed it.

Went off injured. Didn't look good

Looked like his left knee

Ah right, that isn't great from an England point of view. Mind you Watson would make a good back up.

Looked like a swinging arm by the Ospreys prop, presumably the Saint will be pointing it out

Has to be a card I think...

yellow

He's off. Idiot

Got to be off

Definite yellow. Dawson talking rot about a jump. Can't see it myself.

So unnecessary.  If he hadn't done that the break was on for Northampton.

nathan wrote:Looked like a swinging arm by the Ospreys prop, presumably the Saint will be pointing it out

Didn't see it. It's one for the citing commissioner. I don't usually go out of my way to point out these things as I've better things to do. But when a bunch of one-eyed fans deny blatant foul play then I might just give my opinion. Grow up.

The Saint wrote:

nathan wrote:Looked like a swinging arm by the Ospreys prop, presumably the Saint will be pointing it out

Didn't see it. It's one for the citing commissioner. I don't usually go out of my way to point out these things as I've better things to do. But when a bunch of one-eyed fans deny blatant foul play then I might just give my opinion. Grow up.

After you mate.

Saints are going backwards here

Lucky break that.

Both teams playing some good stuff. Great hands by Osprey's 8. Shame to concede a try that way.

Cumbrian wrote:Lucky break that.

Yes and no, good pressure forced the error

True, but it's not often you pick up a ball like that with a straight run to the line from that distance.

Biggar looks like he has improved no end in the last season. Does anyone know he if still throws the odd intercept pass?

nathan wrote:

The Saint wrote:

nathan wrote:Looked like a swinging arm by the Ospreys prop, presumably the Saint will be pointing it out

Didn't see it. It's one for the citing commissioner. I don't usually go out of my way to point out these things as I've better things to do. But when a bunch of one-eyed fans deny blatant foul play then I might just give my opinion. Grow up.

After you mate.

Typical child-like response. Don't refer to me as mate, you're going to damage my credibility on here .

It is a shame for Ben Foden. Hope it is not to bad, typical though 2/3 weeks out from the 6ns and players start getting injured.

The Saint wrote:

nathan wrote:

The Saint wrote:

nathan wrote:Looked like a swinging arm by the Ospreys prop, presumably the Saint will be pointing it out

Didn't see it. It's one for the citing commissioner. I don't usually go out of my way to point out these things as I've better things to do. But when a bunch of one-eyed fans deny blatant foul play then I might just give my opinion. Grow up.

After you mate.

Typical child-like response. Don't refer to me as mate, you're going to damage my credibility on here .

Told you already, I'll only grow up after you!

Best to ignore him. I do

Looked nasty for poor old Foden. ACL maybe, hopefully not.

Good game so far. Ospreys really have to watch out for that big fella on the wing, he looks blwdi good

Two mistakes, one by Webb one by Tips. Otherwise we have been looking good.

Referee really bottled his decision on Pisi, if Biggar handn't got his hand free he would have landed on his neck. Much worse than Phillip's tackle the other week.