Magners League Final

[Conal]

great game poisitive fore ireland fogarty did quite well

 

[Gleision]

I think Leinster were fairly lucky not be another couple of tries down at half time as the ospreys blew a couple of good chances.Overall they controlled the game and territory,but put themselves under pressure with their ill discipline second half.Congratulations to the Ospreys,2 trophies for wales this season,a very good return.Happy days.

 

[TRF_Cymro]

Going to say what a poor game of rugby ... spoiled by the ref for both sides.

 

[dullonien]

Yup, probably Wales best domestic season since, well, as far as I can remember. Certainly bodes well for next week against the Boks, NZ in the Summer.

Looking for all four regions to improve next season. Ospreys and Blues should be seriously challenging in the Magners and HC. Dragon's need to back-up this season with another good showin + win a few in the HC. The Scarlets just need to sort themselves out a little and aim for much better then this season.

Going to say what a poor game of rugby ... spoiled by the ref for both sides.

Really? Thought the ref was ok. There was unfortunately alot of mistakes and ill diciline from both sides. Scrum was poorly refed though imo, and not because the Opsreys got so many penalties against them, I just thought it was always a mess and the ref did very little to sort it out. Overall though, thought the ref got most calls right.

 

[MunsterMan]

Ospreys really are an infuriating side to watch, no longer because they capitulate under the slightest hint of pressure, but because it seems to be coached into them to cheat at every opportunity. Call it opportunism, do what you get away with, but the whole blocking defenders, pulling back players, and especially the holding of fringe defenders around the side of rucks giving them easy yards on pick and go's.

Excellent performance from them all the same, the experience will no doubt do them the world of good confidence wise heading into next season. No shame seeing Leinster brought down a peg or two after the last 4 times we have played them either

Hope McLaughlin can tour too!

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Hmm, i wouldn't say ospreys are cheaters.
D'arcy was going down like he'd been shot every time an ospreys player was in front of him, then was crying out for blocking

 

[MunsterMan]

Not based on this game only, based on a watching them over the course of the season. It's the impeding of fringe defenders that really bugs me. And I said opportunists, not cheaters

 

[TRF_Cymro]

No but you did say coached into cheating ... therefore you are calling them cheaters!

You can moan and say the O's pull pack shirts etc yet Leinster were also very guilty of this today and over the entire season. I could go back and go through the game and in the last 30 mins of the game especially Leinster were just as guilty as the Ospreys for infringing. Infact every club is guilty of this, you can't just single out the O's im afraid. I do think there is some bitterness in your statement.

 

[dullonien]

I'm kinda glad that you came out with that MunsterMan. Every good team get's accused of stuff like this. McCaw is always labeled as a cheat from opposition fans, and Munster were always considered to be on the edge. A couple of season's ago when Munster destroyed the Ospreys in the HC quarter final, I thought the Ospreys were increadibly naive that day. While Munster played the ref brilliantly, getting away with what the ref deemed acceptable, the Ospreys were playing far more honestly. I feel the Ospreys have come a long way in the past couple of seasons, especially this year, because they've added that 'grit' to their arsenal.

Now, I didn't notice too much interference around the rucks, but I wasn't looking out for it. If you say there was, I believe you.

Lee Byrne needs to calm down on occasions though. He was guilty of two high tackles in todays game, and that's two to many imo. The first one wasn't dangerous, just kinda snagged him from behind. But the second on D'Arcy was quite a bad one and could have resulted in a yellow card on a nother day.

 

[Feicarsinn]

This result makes me highly unhappy. Should have had them at home but I can't complain about the result. Ospreys were the better team by far. It's typical of Leinster this season though, just not enough attacking edge. It could be a very painful summer for the boys in green if Drico and co. carry this sort of form down under.

 

[lucky number 7]

was at this was withing touching daistance of the great tommy bowe as he warmed up feet away from me..needless to say my girlfriend was restless

Os really deserved the game i think leinster looked sluggish never really getting moving due to poor handling .

and as for cheating ? its the easiest way to win as a flanker i love doing it and see no problem as long as nobody gets hurt or is said cheater acts in a cowardly manner .

 

[Thingimubob]

was at this was withing touching daistance of the great tommy bowe as he warmed up feet away from me..needless to say my girlfriend was restless

Os really deserved the game i think leinster looked sluggish never really getting moving due to poor handling .

and as for cheating ? its the easiest way to win as a flanker i love doing it and see no problem as long as nobody gets hurt or is said cheater acts in a cowardly manner .

well said mate! tbh, Leinster got away with a lot tonight imo - they were very clever as to where they went after they tackled a player, even after they'd ''rolled away'' you could telll they were making sure they got in Mike Phillips' way slightly. Don't overly bothered about it, just one of those things that teams do to try and win games.
Anyway, I enjoyed that game tbf Ospreys tries were both class! Was very impressed with Hook and Bishop in the centres! Hook was fantastic in setting up Byrnes try, he's really developing into a world class center and it's just a massive pity that we cant see him develop his partnership with Roberts over the summer tests. But, Bishop was superb, he was running great angles all match, and I'm sure we'll see him alongside Roberts in the Welsh centers.
Leinster really had their injury problems though! didn't they finish the match with only Heaslip as a specialised back rower, with a second row and a hooker at 6 and 7? Personally, I reckon Leinsters bruising effort against Munster probably caught up with them in this match.

 

[MunsterMan]

I never criticized the Ospreys for cheating, they have become tough ****ly ******** who I'd hate to play against and I admire them for it.

Is it true Cheika gave Leinster a dressing down on the pitch after the game? I had switched to the T14 by then.

 

[shtove]

Only saw the second half. Osprey tries on replay at half time looked great.

Leinster should have ripped a new arsehole in the second half, but the defence was too strong.

The criticism should be for Sexton - if he really is so good he had to take more on himself and run the ball instead of shovelling it out wide.

Plus he missed a must kick on 75 mins. I thought they'd kick it to the corner, but if you're going to play the percentage game then you've got to take your percents. If that one had gone over Leinster probably would have shaded it.

Bad loss for Leinster, but a good game - plenty of movement.

 

[Bluemoon]

Congratulations to the Ospreys. Was a great win and all bodes well for the summer tour now!

I watched the game down the pub, so I'll watch it again later. From what I saw, the Ospreys were more than a match for Leinster up front, both teams making some good line breaks out wide though.

Like I said in my previous post, that could just be the start of a turning point of the Ospreys. Now that they've got a decent trophy with their current team, from pretty much a european level game, I'm sure this will be carried into europe next year.

Not to be negative, but whats going on with Lee Byrne lately? Ever since the Wales v France game, he seems to have completely lost his composure in big games. I know he scored, but he also made a few unforced errors.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

17-12, 2 tries to nil, better kicking game, better defence, multiple line breaks and a 1st win in Dublin for something like 5 years. Congrats Ospreys on a thoroughly deservd win.

 

[Gleision]

Ospreys really are an infuriating side to watch, no longer because they capitulate under the slightest hint of pressure, but because it seems to be coached into them to cheat at every opportunity. Hope McLaughlin can tour too!

This is a crazy statement coming from a Munster fan.Munster forwards for years have been cheating at rucks and living on the edge,it just seems like other teams have wised up to it now.What goes around comes around.

 

[coonor]

Good for the Ospreys. They played well in attack and held Leinster up in defence. the Os wanted this win so badly and the talent was really beginnig to spark. Is it me or did that narrow and unlucky defeat at the hands of Barritz help the Ospreys to beleive a little more. Leinsters set peice was very good but their backs dissapinted me today. Kearney wasn't to bad but not like he was 2 weeks ago. the backs also weren't their usual defencinve self. KNOCK ONS are why we lost, to many in the tackles and some just were completly unpreasured.
Well done to the OSPREYS I can see this as just the beggining for them.

 

[King_D'Arcy]

Better team won. Leinster were pretty woeful I thought. Handling errors all over the place. Ospreys always looked dangerous in attack. Fair play to them. The ********

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

Something I found telling was Leinster's bench. As I've mentioned in the Next Season: Your Team thread, Leinster lack significant impact replacements numbered 16-22/23. Last night when it was clear that the game was getting away from Leinster, they had Cian Healy, Richardt Strauss, Trevor Hogan, Stephen Keogh, Paul O'Donohoe, Fergus McFadden and Girvan Dempsey in reserve. Healy apart, the others were never likely to be called upon other than in the case of an injury.

I realise Sean O'Brien and Luke Fitzgerald returning from injury will improve things as will signing Isaac Boss but I think a couple more signings are also required. I'd like to add a new 2nd row who'll genuinely push Hines and Cullen, a starting hooker and a prop who can rotate with Ross, Wright and Healy. Perhaps even try recruit a class winger if one becomes available.