Biarritz v Ospreys

[Sir Speedy]

Ospreys can win this, but I don't recall them ever playing at their best in the Heineken Cup.

I'd like to see what their front row is. What happened to Duncan Jones? Injured? Paul James is rubbish to be honest.

 

[Charles]

Ospreys can win this, but I don't recall them ever playing at their best in the Heineken Cup.

I'd like to see what their front row is. What happened to Duncan Jones? Injured? Paul James is rubbish to be honest.

Well if that's the case they risk being destroyed in the scrums. Their Barcella August Johnston front row is quite good.

 

[DuncTheDoodle]

Ospreys can win this, but I don't recall them ever playing at their best in the Heineken Cup.

I'd like to see what their front row is. What happened to Duncan Jones? Injured? Paul James is rubbish to be honest.

Duncan's broken a bone in his foot and is currently on crutches. So, yeah, he's going to be destroying scrums in that state.

He's out for the season.

Though James-Hibbard-Adam destroyed the Leicester scrum, and although now Hibbard is injured, Bennett is still a 40-odd cap international, and Wales' scrum did hold its own against France, and it'll be same same front row as started that game against Biarritz.

 

[munstermuffin]

Why have I got a dirty suspicion this is The Osprey's year

 

[TVH11]

EXTREMELY GUTTED - Missing the game
just had a new job, working 8 till 5 noooooo
fingers crossed the boys (Meaning The Ospreys) can succeed)

 

[Bluemoon]

The Ospreys have a real chance to make it to their first semi-final here. Its not going to be easy, but this is definately time to prove the critics wrong or the 'chokers' label is going to be even harder to shake off. I worry about the lack of depth the O's have in the front row conisdering the depth they have in the backline. The struggle up front will be important as always, but if Biarritz don't find a way to stop Bowe I think the O's are 4 points better. Even as my bitter rivals, Ill be rooting for them on the weekend.

I can only see a french team winning the cup this year though, the momentum is with them and it will take an almighty blunder for a french team not to win it.

 

[DuncTheDoodle]

Biarritz: I Balshaw; T Ngwenya, K Hunt, D Traille, I Bolakoro; J Peyrelongue, D Yachvili; E Coetzee, B August, C Johnstone, J Thion [capt], M Carizza, W Lauret, F Faure, I Harinordoquy.
Replacements: R Terrain, F Barcella, R Hugues, T Hall, F Alexandre, V Courrent, A Mignardi, J Gobelet





Ospreys: Lee Byrne; Tommy Bowe, Andrew Bishop, James Hook, Shane Williams; Dan Biggar, Mike Phillips; Paul James, Huw Bennett, Adam Jones, Alun Wyn Jones, Jonathan Thomas, Jerry Collins, Marty Holah, Ryan Jones (capt).
Replacements: Ed Shervington, Ryan Bevington, Craig Mitchell, Ian Gough, Filo Tiatia, Jamie Nutbrown, Sonny Parker, Nikki Walker.





Referee: George Clancy (Ireland).



Strongest possible team the Ospreys could put out, with the exception of Duncan Jones at loosehead, and even then with the form he was in pre-injury, it would just be the bench spot. Has Hari played at 7 before? Hopefully it's a no and he has a shocker trying to adapt to a new positon.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

You've listed him at 8, no?

 

[lynam1104]

he has played 7 before i think he played there a few times in the past few he played 7 in the final in 2006

 

[mohamed_ali12]

Biarritz: I Balshaw; T Ngwenya, K Hunt, D Traille, I Bolakoro; J Peyrelongue, D Yachvili; E Coetzee, B August, C Johnstone, J Thion [capt], M Carizza, W Lauret, F Faure, I Harinordoquy.
Replacements: R Terrain, F Barcella, R Hugues, T Hall, F Alexandre, V Courrent, A Mignardi, J Gobelet





Ospreys: Lee Byrne; Tommy Bowe, Andrew Bishop, James Hook, Shane Williams; Dan Biggar, Mike Phillips; Paul James, Huw Bennett, Adam Jones, Alun Wyn Jones, Jonathan Thomas, Jerry Collins, Marty Holah, Ryan Jones (capt).
Replacements: Ed Shervington, Ryan Bevington, Craig Mitchell, Ian Gough, Filo Tiatia, Jamie Nutbrown, Sonny Parker, Nikki Walker.





Referee: George Clancy (Ireland).



Strongest possible team the Ospreys could put out, with the exception of Duncan Jones at loosehead, and even then with the form he was in pre-injury, it would just be the bench spot. Has Hari played at 7 before? Hopefully it's a no and he has a shocker trying to adapt to a new positon.

No Ayoola Erinle? What are Biarritz thinking?

 

[munstermuffin]

Have a feeling Balshaw will win this for Ospreys

 

[welshgazza1992]

My nerves are starting to go already. C'mon Ospreys... We Believe!

 

[iWin]

No Ayoola Erinle? What are Biarritz thinking?

I'm fairly sure he's injured. Anyone know for sure?

 

[monkeypigeon]

Rickie Hanuarie to come on as a 16th man and score an 8 point try to win by .1. That's 18 - 18.1.

I do hope that Ospreys win. I like when there'a diverse range of semi-finalists...

One French (Tolouse), one Irish (leinster), Ospreys and Northampton (I'm willing to break my dream of diversity for Northampton not to be there)...

But it's nice, like this years Champions League having One French, One German, One Italian and One German team (even if Ribery is really ugly). Far prefer that to three English teams and someone else.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Not long now!


C'mon 'Spreys!

 

[DuncTheDoodle]

You've listed him at 8, no?

He's playing at 7, but I've copy and pasted the BBC's line-ups. So... yeah.

According to Sky Sports, the Ospreys training has been very intense and fired up, where as Biarritz have been very relaxed. Hmmm...


Oh, and did anyone see the Super 14 game on this morning in which one team had 18 players at once (I've forgotten which match it was.)? I think we've been outdone!

 

[TRF_Olyy]

This game/the crowd is intense!
90m try for the "American" winger!
Burnt Shane and Byrne to do it

 

[durbutter]

Great game. Two poor defences.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Sums it up

Cracking game to watch, hopefully there'll be a good few more tries in the next half

 

[Sir Speedy]

Okay, I only saw the first half through a hasty fast-forward session and from what I can gather, the Ospreys should be a million miles ahead by now. Also, wasn't there a deliberate knock-on before Ngwenya's try, meaning a penalty should have been given, not a scrum which led to Biarritz's only try? Oh well, c'est la vie.

EDIT: The instant he says "only" try...