Ospreys v Scarlets - Bonfire Night, (Saturday 05/11/11) BOOM!

Liberty Stadium, Swansea. Kick off 6.30 pm. Live on S4C from 6:10pm. Match coverage repeated from 9:00am on S4C Sunday 06/11/11.

Roll up! Roll up! It's the West Wales derby Part One - can the Scarlets beat the Ospreys for the first time at the Liberty since 2007 or will the Ospreys determination to make up for the loss they incurred last week in the Rabo spoil the Scarlets party? Their previous meetings have looked like this:

27/12/10 Ospreys 60 - 17 Scarlets
02/10/10 Scarlets 18 - 21 Ospreys
02/04/10 Ospreys 27 - 19 Scarlets

It should be a very exciting encounter, and I can't wait to be there Let the banter begin!

OSPREYS
15 Richard Fussell
14 Tommy Bowe
13 Andrew Bishop
12 Ashley Beck
11 Eli Walker
10 Dan Biggar
9 Kahn Fotuali'i

1 Duncan Jones
2 Richard Hibbard
3 Cai Griffiths
4 Alun Wyn Jones (Capt)
5 Ian Evans
6 Joe Bearman
7 Justin Tipuric
8 Jonathan Thomas

Replacements:

16 Huw Bennett
17 Ryan Bevington
18 Aaron Jarvis
19 Ryan Jones
20 Tom Smith
21 George Stowers
22 Rhys Webb
23 Shane Williams

REFEREE: Mathieu Raynal (FFR)
Assistant Referees: Neil Hennessy, Jon Mason (both WRU)
Citing Commissioner : Richard Gwynn (WRU)
TMO: Tony Rowlands (WRU)

SCARLETS
15 Daniel Evans
14 Liam Williams
13 Adam Warren
12 Scott Williams
11 Sean Lamont
10 Stephen Jones
9 Tavis Knoyle

1 Iestyn Thomas
2 Matthew Rees (capt)
3 Rhys Thomas
4 Dominic Day
5 Damian Welch
6 Aaron Shingler
7 Rob McCusker
8 Ben Morgan.

Replacements:

Ken Owens
Phil John
Rhodri Jones
Sione Timani
Richie Pugh
Rhodri Williams
Jon Davies
George North.

PS: There will also be a Food Fair that will get underway at 4.00pm ahead of kick off. The food suppliers confirmed for the event including Gower Cottage Brownies, La Crème Patisserie, Swansea Hog Roast, the Waffle Trailer and Welsh Premium Burgers, giving fans a real taste of Wales ahead of the big match. YUMMO!!

Great to have a bit of inter regional rugby prior to the European cup stuff. Get the teams and the fans ready for some big games in the next coming weeks.

Ospreys have had a superb start in the rabo, plenty of talent returning to the squad now that the RWC is over.

Not really sure who the best team either side can put out. Plenty of the youngsters have been putting their hands up.

I imagine that the ospreys will not play Adam Jones or Paul james in their front row. May also leave Ryan jones and AW jones out of the squad or bench at best.

The youthful backline is looking very exciting and promises a great line up against a very talented Scarlets squad.

Will the Scarlets select a full strength backline? The prospect of knoyle, Priestland, jd2, Scott Williams and north is pretty daunting. Even the young academy stars are proving very capable. Warren and Aled Thomas particularly. Liam Williams looks a great find on the wing too.

The Scarlets pack options look the best they have had for years. Rhys Thimas in the form of his life, Matthew Rees back from injury, youngsters like Rhodri jones, ken Owens and simon gardiner all putting their hands up too.

A great clash against a talented ospreys front five including the talented Duncan jones, Hibbard and impressive Jarvis to be expected.

Backrows should be interesting too with tuperic past his suspension , McCusker looking good, stowers vs Morgan.

Will the ospreys go for the prodigious talent of the unpredictable Matthew Morgan at flyhalf or they more stoic Biggar. Will Scarlets pick Steve jones or possibly fit Wales supreme Priestland?

Should be a fantastic weekends rugby

Maes - I've asked the mods to merge our threads. I did one about ten minutes ago on the same match.

How many tickets are sold so far for this game ? Does anybody know ? Also I cannot see any of the teams not having their world cup players in their match day squad. They need game time together and a high intensity match against the local rivals is just what is needed before the HC. Also do not read to much into Adam Jones and Paul James not playing, I am sure that it is a ploy just to throw the Scarlets off. I absolutley love these kind of games if I can get away from work early enogh I will be going down to this game post haste.

French ref?

Dowlais - agreed, the O's alyways play silly beggars with their squad selection before matches against the Scarlets, so even though they say Paul James and Adam Jones are doubts, I can definitely see one of them starting.

Reckon Scarlets will go with Tav and Scott Williams to start, but probably Stevo, Foxy and North on the bench. Am not sure on Priestland's fitness. The lads are joining up with training late this week and Nige has said it's whether or not they themselves feel like they are ready to picked wich will decide if they play.

Also heard rumours that about 10,000 tickets have been sold, which is quite poor to be honest. We had almost 14,000 at PyS last year, so I hope a load more are shifted this week.

Cari wrote:Maes - I've asked the mods to merge our threads. I did one about ten minutes ago on the same match.

Good work Cari

rugbydreamer wrote:Dowlais - agreed, the O's alyways play silly beggars with their squad selection before matches against the Scarlets, so even though they say Paul James and Adam Jones are doubts, I can definitely see one of them starting.

Reckon Scarlets will go with Tav and Scott Williams to start, but probably Stevo, Foxy and North on the bench. Am not sure on Priestland's fitness. The lads are joining up with training late this week and Nige has said it's whether or not they themselves feel like they are ready to picked wich will decide if they play.

Also heard rumours that about 10,000 tickets have been sold, which is quite poor to be honest. We had almost 14,000 at PyS last year, so I hope a load more are shifted this week.

I was rather happy ten thousand had already been sold. I would say that with that thought the liberty will likely be at capacity come kick off

Nah the Liberty won't be anywhere near capacity I don't think.

Been on some other forums and it appears a lot of Scarlets fans have been put off going by how they were treated on their trip there last year, and not just by O's fans but by the stewards as well. Makes for not very nice reading I'm afraid. Hope to goodness I don't come across any idiots when I'm there.

It's a shame that it sounds that so many people are feeling put off going

Dreamer - yeah the O's probably won't announce their team until Thursday at the earliest.

With regards to attendance, in the words of Jiffy, here's numbehs for previous meetings at the Liberty:

27/12/10 - 18'151
02/04/10 - 13'913

With regards to the last meeting. That fixture was a bit disorganised anyway because it was moved by a day due to the icy conditions, remember. That might explain some disgruntled fans.

Cari - yeah Scarlets will probably announce their squad the same time, I'm thinking it'll be Firday this time, they seem to love announcing their team as late as possible!

I think anywhere around the 14,000 is a must really, if we can't shift a load of tickets for this match then we're in trouble.

I reckon they'll shift that Dreamer. It's a Saturday match, Bonfire Night and they're having a Food Fair with Hog Roast....

http://www.ospreysrugby.com/news/5894.php

ah food fair?! YUM!

Why can't it be Saturday already? Can't wait to get down there now

Yeah just added details above Dreamer to entice other hungry posters. Made my stomach growl reading that...

Well, if all goes to plan for me on Saturday I will be comming down from Merthyr Tydfil, so that at least makes it 10001 tickets sold, just another 9999 to go.

Fingers crossed you can make it Dowlais

Well at least ice and snow shouldn't be a problem this time around

don't worry dreamer I will be there by hook or by crook. I am taking my ten year old daughter to her first ever regional game as well, so if I do not make it happen there will be war.

Also, I do not know why, but I can see the Scarlets winning this one.

ha yeah, there'll be no "frozen pipes" this year thank you very much!


Dowlais - ah nice one, I expect she'll soon fall in love with how the Scarlets play

No no no...my curse must be lifted!!

Dreamer - i would be willing to bet something stops Stevo playing as I think he has somehow avoided playing at the Liberty since it was openned (or at least for us).

he was injured last time out wasn't he SS?

He does always seem to miss the away fixture though, tis most strange. I reckon he'll be bench at best and we'll start with Newton, unless they really surprise me!

rugbydreamer wrote:Nah the Liberty won't be anywhere near capacity I don't think.

Been on some other forums and it appears a lot of Scarlets fans have been put off going by how they were treated on their trip there last year, and not just by O's fans but by the stewards as well. Makes for not very nice reading I'm afraid. Hope to goodness I don't come across any idiots when I'm there.

It's a shame that it sounds that so many people are feeling put off going

Typical ScarletFever BS. Try going to PYS in your O's shirt. Friendly banter is a bit thin on the ground Itellsyer! Still, we'll leave the Scarlets fans to fight amongst themselves like last season.. Gutted I'm missing this one. Interesting to see how many Wales players return for both sides. No matter what the form book says, These are generally tight and nervy games. Apart from last crimbo....

Hey guys

Hoping this will have the usual venom that a local derby has, and turns out to be a good match obviously with an O's victory just for good measure!!! Anyhoo, I currently in Pittsburgh, anybody any idea how I can stream it over here??? Everything I tried while here in March didn't work. Have got it Sky + though just in case!!

Im goin should b good,dont usually get down the library as if im goin to a non scarlets game ill go 2 the blues or dragons as their easier to get to. Come on the scarlets

Hey TB - when I get home later this evening, I'll PM you something that should get you to see the game

I can't wait!!!

why thank you cari x

You're welcome. Wouldn't want you to miss out on seeing the boys...I'll be relying on the same thing myself when the Heino starts (I don't have Sky). Thankfully I'll be there this weekend. You'll know it's me when Tommy scores...

Rumours of Steve jones at ten for scarlets...I hope we pick Morgan, that would be interesting.

Really Maes? Dreamer will love to see (Wellies) at ten.

Cari wrote:Really Maes? Dreamer will love to see (Wellies) at ten.

An interesting bloke to have a crush on boat I agree, she does see him with a different value to me..

Wouldn't read too much into his selection I think it is purely because Priestland is still injured..!



Definitely want to see Morgan over Biggar, he has been great the sat few weeks, mature and a hell of a lot more talented than Biggar.

Really opens the game up in attack.

I don't think Morgan's all that just yet. He's got a big boot on him for sure, but his defence wasn't up to much last weekend. He is only 19 so I'm not having a go about it.

Still no team announcements as yet that I can see...

rugbydreamer wrote:Dowlais - agreed, the O's alyways play silly beggars with their squad selection before matches against the Scarlets, so even though they say Paul James and Adam Jones are doubts, I can definitely see one of them starting.

BS!! No silly beggars at all!! You may have noticed that Adam was injured at the world cup, or did you miss that? And James had an operation on his thumb last week so will definately not play.

gilla wrote:

rugbydreamer wrote:Dowlais - agreed, the O's alyways play silly beggars with their squad selection before matches against the Scarlets, so even though they say Paul James and Adam Jones are doubts, I can definitely see one of them starting.

BS!! No silly beggars at all!! You may have noticed that Adam was injured at the world cup, or did you miss that? And James had an operation on his thumb last week so will definately not play.

We need a handbag emoticon!

I was more eluding to the fact that in the past, usually with Shane, the O's always talk about him being a doubt, potential injury etc, but low and behold, there on match day he starts!

And I said only definitely one of the to start, didn't know about James' operation, so chill a bit eh?

Just ask and you shall receive

ah no Lemony my work won't let me see that one, shall have to wait until I get home! Intrigued now, hope it's a good one

Oh God....what do I do if it doesn't live up to expectations?!?!

I'll get my coat

ah I want the teams to be announced already. So going to have to wait until tomorrow, nerves building for this one big time.

Ospreys Team for Saturday at 6.30pm, will be as follows:
15 Richard Fussell 14 Tommy Bowe 13 Andrew Bishop 12 Ashley Beck 11 Eli Walker 10 Dan Biggar 9 Kahn Fotuali'i 1 Duncan Jones 2 Richard Hibbard 3 Cai Griffiths 4 Alun Wyn Jones (Capt) 5 Ian Evans 6 Joe Bearman 7 Justin Tipuric 8 Jonathan Thomas

Replacements:
16 Huw Bennett 17 Ryan Bevington 18 Aaron Jarvis 19 Ryan Jones 20 Tom Smith 21 George Stowers 22 Rhys Webb 23 Shane Williams

Not bad, nice to see Beck and Eli Walker getting a game, though having Cai at 3 certainly helps the scarlets scrum

I was just thinking the same Jay about Cai. That's a very experienced scrum, be good if Morgan can get on top of JT and his experience at 8 (especially as our scrum may be creaking).

Can't believe the Scarlets leave it so late to announce their squad

Do you think Fotuali'i is starting because last week he came on and couldn't adjust to the game's tempo?

So he can dictate it initially and let Webb fit in this time or just a case of "you went first last time so I'm going first this time" sort of thing?

Woooo! Tommy's in...will be nice to see him again. Haven't seen him since March.

Anyhoo, not a bad side. Also, Andrew Bishop is making his 150th appearance

Cari wrote:Also, Andrew Bishop is making his 150th appearance

Does that mean he's allowed to wear two different coloured boots?

No, he has to wear gold ones Lemony

Lemony stop showing off your making me jealous i want the dancing rabbit!

Anyways back on topic, fingers crossed for the Scarlets to pull this one out of the bag a steal the win at the Liberty,after the humbling last time out there they must make amends.

I think you'll find technically it's a "sexy dancing bunny rabbit"!

Just really hoping for a corker of a match. Apart from the whole Welsh Derby angst Ospreys should be coming out with fire in their bellies after their dismal second half against Glasgow last week......not that I'm trying to take anything away from the Glasgow performance though.

If the bunny makes you jealous I can only imagine how you'll react to the energetically dancing BANANA!

Lemony - oh the O's will want to win this baaaadly.

This is my smiley...mmm Tommy!

I've just noticed Cari......I'm catching up to you post-wise