Munster v Ospreys - Rabo Direct Pro-12 02/03/2013 Match Thread etc

[Cari]

First topic message reminder :

Munster

F Jones; D Howlett, C Laulala, J Downey, D Hurley; R O’Gara, C Sheridan; D Kilcoyne, D Varley, S Archer; I Nagle, B Holland; P Butler, T O’Donnell, J Coughlan. Replacements: M Sherry, W du Preez, BJ Botha, D Foley, S Dougall, D Williams, I Keatley, I Dineen.

Ospreys

R Fussell, T Habberfield, J Spratt, A Beck, T Isaacs, M Morgan, K Fotuali'i, D Jones, S Baldwin, C Griffiths, A Wyn Jones (Capt), L Peers, J King, S Lewis, J Thomas, REPLACEMENTS: M Dwyer, M Thomas, D Arhip, I Gough, D Baker, A Ellis/S Davies, R Webb, T Grabham.

Note: Sam Davies will make his PRO12 debut if he is used off the bench.

At Thomond Park , 6.30pm
Referee: Nigel Owens (WRU, 93rd competition game)
Assistant Referees: Mark Patton, Eanna O'Dowd (both IRFU)
Citing Commissioner: Eddie Walsh (IRFU)
TMO: Dermot Moloney (IRFU)

Live on RTE and S4C

[wales606]

Excellent conversion

13 - 13

[Cari]

Morgs attempts conversion and it's perfick!!

13-13 at 52 minutes. Gaaaaaame oooon!

[sheephead]

JT and his attempted jar head touch down =D

[Cari]

BJ Botha on now whilst Archer's in the bin.

[Golden]

Its amazing how quickly Archer is improving in his scrummaging.

Hes coming along nicely alright. I wonder how much of that is Bothas influence. If it is him then I guess hes earning his salary cause I havent been too impressed with him on the pitch this season.

[Cari]

Marc Thomas on for Duncan Jones. I think Jones needs to come off, even though Thomas is quite inexperienced.

[sheephead]

Can't see us getting anywhere with this game with the difference in class with front row subs =(

[Cari]

Oh dear Morgs, you over cooked that kick. O's making silly little errors now. Cool head boys!

[Cari]

Arhip is on now. He's quite good apparently. He can play at 1, 2 or 3. Doesn't speak much English though...

[wales606]

Arhip is on now. He's quite good apparently. He can play at 1, 2 or 3. Doesn't speak much English though...

Must make lineout calls difficult if he is playing hooker

[Cari]

Well, I should think he's picked up the important basics...he's settling into the region well by all accounts.

The two scrumhalves having a bit of handbags

[Cari]

Nigel's missed TOD offside...shame Morgs couldn't get that intercept there.

[Golden]

Williams is just atrocious.

[Cari]

Nice one ROG - his mistake gives Sam Lewis some ball...but Munster get it back. This is a very tight game.

[wales606]

Well, I should think he's picked up the important basics...he's settling into the region well by all accounts.

The two scrumhalves having a bit of handbags

Which two? Habberfield, Issacs, Fotuali?

[valjester]

God, you can hear POC roaring from the sidelines, hopefully he will be back soon.

[Cari]

Come on O's...keep your nerve...patience....patience....

[Cari]

Nice one Laulala! He drops the ball....would've been over with that I reckon as well.

If we get a draw it'll be useful to us....but a win would be better.

[LeinsterFan4life]

That Moldovan prop has been impressive. Good find for the Ospreys scouts.

[Cari]

oof that was borderline forward pass...but the O's get away with it. makes no difference as Munster get possession.

Same Lewis is having a really good game. Potential MOTM. 4 minutes to go...

Everyone's expecting ROG to save Munster with the DG.

Nigel telling off Munster at the line out.

[wales606]

Tight finish in sight

[Golden]

If Munster dont get the win surely theres no chane of them getting top 4

[Cari]

Munster are currently 6th. A win would give them more chance of making the final top four at least.

[Cari]

Brilliant! ROG attempts a DG and it's way off!!!

Happy with that.

13 -13 FT.

[Golden]

Rog fluffs the drop goal.

[wales606]

What an utterly ludicrous decision to take a DG from halfway, ROG has lost it

[Cari]

Yep, and yet Munster and Ireland still rely on him.

[LeinsterFan4life]

Im sure people will say ROG played well but You just need to look at Munster's attacking play and see how awful it was.

[sheephead]

A draw......its like thinking you've pulled a stunner and waking up next to ur sister! Or brother for Cari..
Unless she lying and she a Clive!

[TJ1]

I thought ROG played well - some good passing flat and fast

[LeinsterFan4life]

He played well because he had some good passes? Sure isn't that what you expect from a rugby player?

[Cari]

Anyone know who MOTM was?

The table now looks like this:

Glasgow 61
Ulster 61
Leinster 59
Scarlets 50
Ospreys 47

[UlstermaninGlasgow]

I thought ROG played well - some good passing flat and fast

The problem was it was all lateral... As someone else said, there were no inside balls, switches anything to change the direction. Not a criticism of ROG per say, more of Penney's style of playing. The O's made ground with the inside balls, and the only time Munster looked like making any headway was when the back row were offloading and using inside runners...

[Cari]

A draw......its like thinking you've pulled a stunner and waking up next to ur sister! Or brother for Cari..
Unless she lying and she a Clive!

No I'm definitely not a Clive!

We really need to get some bonus points now because we're three behind the Scarlets and I don't want them in the final four.

[Gibson]

If ROG even sees the Irish Squad next weekend, it will be Kidney's biggest ever mistake. And he has made 4 years of them.

Jackson and Madigan.

Munster out of the PRO12 now. I still feel Os will make it over Scarlets, along with Ulster, Leinster and Glasgow. Nice spread.

[Cari]

Aye Gibbo, and we'll snatch the trophy of yous again!

[sheephead]

I've been watching catfish on MTV so I'm on my guard. I thought it was just a point between us and the Turks Cari?

[UlstermaninGlasgow]

Aye Gibbo, and we'll snatch the trophy of yous again!

Nah Cari, we all know the trophy is headed North this year. Just haven't worked out which side of the Belfast-Cairnryan Ferry it'll be on...

[Notch]

I think it's turned into the battle for 1st place (three horse race between Ulster, Glasgow and Leinster) and the battle for 4th with Scarlets, Ospreys and Munster still in it.

Whoever finishes 4th will be up against it, so you have to think the decisive games are coming up fast.

Leinster vs Glasgow
Leinster vs Ulster

If Leinster win both of those they have a great chance of home semi and home final at the RDS and no Heineken Cup this time. Hope I'm wrong, but the momentum from those two wins would make them favourites. I think if Ulster can get a home semi and final we'll win it. Finishing first is so crucial for home advantage. And if Ulster can pull off a massive result at the RDS, it'll really put the season back on track in a big way. Thats a big ask, but not impossible depending on how many of the injured guys we get back.

Don't see any of Scarlets, Ospreys or Munster challenging if they have to hit the road in the semis against any one of the current top 3.

[Cari]

I've been watching catfish on MTV so I'm on my guard. I thought it was just a point between us and the Turks Cari?

No, that's the latest on the Pro-12 website.

I reckon it'll be an Ulster/Glasgae final. Where they play it is another matter...Glasgow will be raging if they miss out again this year.

[sheephead]

Sorry butt, I mistake. I thought I saw the table on S4C. It would be nice for the Scottish to win it. Spread the love and all that!

[Cari]

No YOU'RE right! They must've updated the table again since. It's now:

Glasgow 61
Ulster 61
Leinster 59
Scarlets 50
Ospreys 49

[sheephead]

woop woop =D Im going to have to show the Mrs this thread. Proof of mw being right

[Rory_Gallagher]

I was very pleased with Archer and Kilcoyne tonight, it has to be said. They are getting a good amount of game time with Munster.

Also, TOD deserves a shot with Ireland. He is so good.

[George Carlin]

Very charitable of you both - the best result for us Weegies - a draw with no try BPs.

Yoooooou, yooooouuu aw shucks, I mean you shouldn't have.

Bu thanks.

[red_stag]

Hi all,

Have to say a very enjoyable game. Good intensity and a good advert for the Pro 12.

A few bullet points on my thoughts from the game and in Munster moving forward:

- It was very well reffed. Kudos to Nigel Owens.

- Our young props are developing nicely. I would not be adverse to Munster replacing BJ Botha with a big name second row (an area we are lacking IMO).

- ROG played his best game in a long time. Still not of the standards he once had but I was very worried about how he would do. Kicked well into corners, from tee and made a vareity of other kicks such as chips.

- Although Laulala has taken a lot of criticism this year I think if paired with the right 12 he could still bring something to the table.

- Cathal Sheridan was excellent considering it was his first ever start. I dont think Stringer or Murray would have contributed much more. He managed tempo well and did not take a step before passing.

- O'Garas post game reaction to Duncan Williams (refusing to shake his hand and then having a go at him for his performance) was disgraceful.

- That back three of Felix Jones, Doug Howlett and Denis Hurley could well be second choice next year. Not enough pace in the wings at all and very nearly cost us a try.

- Although he is public enemy #1 for many Munster fans I believe in Rob Penneys vision for Munster. We need time and to weed out the players who cannot implement it.

[Thomond]

ROG did play his best game in a while but it still was only around Rabo level at best. It's criminal how far he stands behind the scrumhalf, and doesn't take the ball at pace. RTE were using cameras that were looking down on the players at times. Munster were at the ten metre line and O'Gara was closer to the half way line not running at pace, how does he expect our backs to get anywhere?

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