RaboDirect Pro 12 Final - Leinster vs Ospreys - 27/05/2012

[dullonien]

TVH, good to see you around again.
Pleased about Hanno's new contract? Read today that he turned down an invitation to play with the USA for last RWC, so looks like he wants to play for us.

Looking forward to this. Who decided to play this on a Sunday?

Dirksen is a beasty player. Never a fan of 'stealing' a player, but it's not as if he was very American either, and well, he's too good to just overlook. Anyone understand the visa thing? Manu Tuilagi was playing for Leicester under an expired visa and still qualified for England (or had he already qualified by then)? I thought three years was three years, it's not as if he wasn't still living in Wales.

I have no idea why this is on a Sunday.

 

[Draggs]

From what I gather, it has to do with whether he was self-supporting or not. I believe his parents paid for his uni, so there we go. Perhaps Manu was under 18 so that point doesn't matter for him.
Dirksen has stated that he will wait the 1.5 years to qualify, so fair enough to the bloke. Does he even qualify for the US now though? Isn't it 36 months and once you are out, the time ends?

 

[Draggs]

Yep, the only thing we can thank Scott for.
Cuthbert was excellent in the Six Nations, and has had to play in a poorer club backline. Good competition though, especially with Robinson, Morgan, and Walker coming through.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Dirksen/North as the Welsh wings would be absolutely deadly.

 

[TVH11]

TVH, good to see you around again.
Pleased about Hanno's new contract? Read today that he turned down an invitation to play with the USA for last RWC, so looks like he wants to play for us.

Looking forward to this. Who decided to play this on a Sunday?

Awwww your too kind, nice to be back. Last few months of uni work took its toll

Very much glad to hear about Dirko's signing for an extra couple of years, as many have said it seems like the biggest thing that Johnno did for the Ospreys. As dullonien has said, Stealing players is possibly a big hate of mine also. I'm always one of the first to criticize a nation if they have a "non native" playing (notably any player England "poaches" ). But I am very very happy that we have the possibility to have a "little" winger among our ranks, not a dan of the whole "super Beef over 6ft wingers". In saying that Dirko's a pocket rocket, and his constant determination to attempt the snowplow approach is always amusing Very interesting to see his contribution on sunday, gonna be a big one for the packs me thinks.

I thought it was going to be a Saturday game, but hopefully the times will match up so the possibility of ENG vs BaBaa's is still on the cards of a Sunday rugby afternoon.

 

[DuncTheDoodle]

TVH, good to see you around again.
Pleased about Hanno's new contract? Read today that he turned down an invitation to play with the USA for last RWC, so looks like he wants to play for us.

Looking forward to this. Who decided to play this on a Sunday?

Actual reason is because it clashes with some Football match in Dublin on the Saturday, I believe. But I like to think they moved it specially for me so that I can watch Eurovision on the Saturday night.

C'mon Ossssssssssssppppppprrreeeeeeeeeeyyyyyyysssssss... I actually feel confident. This is always dangerous.

 

[Gavin]

Ain't seen the teams listed on here yet. Apologies if they already have been:

Leinster: 15 Rob Kearney, 14 Fergus McFadden, 13 Brian O'Driscoll, 12 Gordon D'Arcy, 11 Isa Nacewa, 10 Jonathan Sexton, 9 Eoin Reddan, 8 Jamie Heaslip, 7 Shane Jennings, 6 Kevin McLaughlin, 5 Devin Toner, 4 Leo Cullen (c), 3 Mike Ross, 2 Sean Cronin, 1 Heinke van der Merwe.
Replacements: 16 Richardt Strauss, 17 Cian Healy/Jack McGrath, 18 Nathan White, 19 Brad Thorn, 20 Dominic Ryan, 21 John Cooney, 22 Ian Madigan, 23 David Kearney.

Ospreys: 15 Richard Fussell, 14 Hanno Dirksen, 13 Andrew Bishop, 12 Ashley Beck, 11 Shane Williams, 10 Dan Biggar, 9 Rhys Webb, 8 Joe Bearman, 7 Justin Tipuric, 6 Ryan Jones, 5 Ian Evans, 4 Alun Wyn Jones (capt), 3 Adam Jones, 2 Richard Hibbard, 1 Paul James.
Replacements: 16 Scott Baldwin, 17 Ryan Bevington, 18 Aaron Jarvis, 19 James King, 20 Tom Smith, 21 Kahn Fotuali'i, 22 Matthew Morgan, 23 Tom Isaacs.

http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,16024_7777372,00.html

 

[Feicarsinn]

Ain't seen the teams listed on here yet. Apologies if they already have been:

Leinster: 15 Rob Kearney, 14 Fergus McFadden, 13 Brian O'Driscoll, 12 Gordon D'Arcy, 11 Isa Nacewa, 10 Jonathan Sexton, 9 Eoin Reddan, 8 Jamie Heaslip, 7 Shane Jennings, 6 Kevin McLaughlin, 5Devin Toner, 4 Leo Cullen (c), 3 Mike Ross, 2 Sean Cronin, 1 Heinke van der Merwe.
Replacements: 16 Richardt Strauss, 17 Cian Healy/Jack McGrath, 18 Nathan White, 19 Brad Thorn, 20 Dominic Ryan, 21 John Cooney, 22 Ian Madigan, 23 David Kearney.

Ospreys: 15 Richard Fussell, 14 Hanno Dirksen, 13 Andrew Bishop, 12 Ashley Beck, 11 Shane Williams, 10 Dan Biggar, 9 Rhys Webb, 8 Joe Bearman, 7 Justin Tipuric, 6 Ryan Jones, 5 Ian Evans, 4 Alun Wyn Jones (capt), 3 Adam Jones, 2 Richard Hibbard, 1 Paul James.
Replacements: 16 Scott Baldwin, 17 Ryan Bevington, 18 Aaron Jarvis, 19 James King, 20 Tom Smith, 21 Kahn Fotuali'i, 22 Matthew Morgan, 23 Tom Isaacs.

http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,16024_7777372,00.html

Slick.

 

[lucky number 7]

Where is Sean...

 

[Feicarsinn]

To quote the good GK Chesterton:

' Dim drums throbbing, in the hills half heard,
Where only on a nameless throne a crownless prince has stirred,
Where, risen from a doubtful seat and half attainted stall,
The last knight of Europe takes weapons from the wall,
The last and lingering troubadour to whom the bird has sung,
That once went singing southward when all the world was young.
In that enormous silence, tiny and unafraid,
Comes up along a winding road the noise of the Crusade.
Strong gongs groaning as the guns boom far,
Dom Ryan of Lansdowne is going to the war'

 

[lucky number 7]

to quote the good gk chesterton:

' dim drums throbbing, in the hills half heard,
where only on a nameless throne a crownless prince has stirred,
where, risen from a doubtful seat and half attainted stall,
the last knight of europe takes weapons from the wall,
the last and lingering troubadour to whom the bird has sung,
that once went singing southward when all the world was young.
in that enormous silence, tiny and unafraid,
comes up along a winding road the noise of the crusade.
strong gongs groaning as the guns boom far,
dom ryan of lansdowne is going to the war'

to the bench!!

 

[Peat]

Where is Sean...

Knee injury.

 

[Feicarsinn]

Knee injury.

I know that feel....

to the bench!!

Dom Ryan laughing in the brave beard curled,
Spurning of his stirrups like the thrones of all the world,
Holding his head up for a flag of all the free.
Love-light of Leinster--hurrah!
Death-light of Ospreylia!
Dom Ryan of Lansdowne
Is riding to the RDS.

 

[TVH11]

Actual reason is because it clashes with some Football match in Dublin on the Saturday, I believe. But I like to think they moved it specially for me so that I can watch Eurovision on the Saturday night.

C'mon Ossssssssssssppppppprrreeeeeeeeeeyyyyyyysssssss... I actually feel confident. This is always dangerous.

My housemates and I have been so bored due to lack of Uni, we have been watching the Semi final's on BBC 3. The one thing we have noticed, is now that Jedward have gone all floppy haired, I now have the Jedward look Not happy. So because of this I am now growing my hair and wearing eye-makeup like the Slovakian entry, he was actually almost credible!!!! UK entry is depressing, even with key change!

Anyways, nice strong team for the O's Really exited to see the final combo of Shaney and Dirko woop woop! Hope Ryan continues his excellent form, have no F'in clue where that has come from. Hope Webb can give Biggar some fast distribution so we can unleash Beck and the Backline

 

[DuncTheDoodle]

My housemates and I have been so bored due to lack of Uni, we have been watching the Semi final's on BBC 3. The one thing we have noticed, is now that Jedward have gone all floppy haired, I now have the Jedward look Not happy. So because of this I am now growing my hair and wearing eye-makeup like the Slovakian entry, he was actually almost credible!!!! UK entry is depressing, even with key change!

Anyways, nice strong team for the O's Really exited to see the final combo of Shaney and Dirko woop woop! Hope Ryan continues his excellent form, have no F'in clue where that has come from. Hope Webb can give Biggar some fast distribution so we can unleash Beck and the Backline

I actually voted last night. The woman from Sweeden looks a bit like Claudia Winkleman and I like Claudia Winkleman. And yeah, the Jedward look's probably one you should avoid. Although I've just confessed my love for Eurovision and the woman from Strictly Come Dancing midweek shows on a rugby forum, so I'm not one to be giving advice.

Glad to see Webb starting, I can see us really going for Leinster in the first half, as in 2010, and then easing off and playing with a bit more control in the second half, as Fotuali'i comes on. Can also see Biggar being shifted to 15 again to give us a second 10 to edge it out at the end. WHICH WE WILL. I BELIEVE

 

[TVH11]

I always get quite frustrated by Fotuali'i, he slows everything down a bit too much for my liking, but I guess if he comes off the bench then its a good thing (If we're in the lead). Will be interesting to see if Morgan is introduced at any point, I always get exited when he comes on, but left wanting more if he starts. Hope next year we can see more of him so he can develop

 

[lucky number 7]

Leinster will reign supreme

 

[DuncTheDoodle]

with the exception of Heaslip, I don't think any of that Leinster pack would get in the Ospreys side (maybe Cronin when Hibbard was chief gordo mid season)

if James and Jones can dominate the scrum like they did earlier this season, and Tipuric and Jones can maintain their superb form and get the better of Jennings and McLaughlin, then hopefully the Leinster backs will be shut down

no idea why Leinster dropped Thorn by the way, especially against one of the best scrummaging teams in Europe

also still no idea as to why Tom Smith still makes it to the bench

Smith's played every league game this season. I think they just want to keep his record up.

 

[big ginger 8]

Wonder what happened to Healy him and Jones were biging each other up the last few days. Anyway Jack McGrath will come on and destroy the Ospreys despite the fact he is probably still hungover. Dom Ryan can help if he wants.

 

[coonor]

with the exception of Heaslip, I don't think any of that Leinster pack would get in the Ospreys side (maybe Cronin when Hibbard was chief gordo mid season)

if James and Jones can dominate the scrum like they did earlier this season, and Tipuric and Jones can maintain their superb form and get the better of Jennings and McLaughlin, then hopefully the Leinster backs will be shut down

no idea why Leinster dropped Thorn by the way, especially against one of the best scrummaging teams in Europe

also still no idea as to why Tom Smith still makes it to the bench

I agree with you on that individually the Osprey's pack may be superior but if we look also where, that is not the case. I would certainly argue that Leinster are significantly superior on an individual basis in the backs and appart from the bench Scrum half position, I don't think any other Osprey replacement would be even close to the Leinster bench.