RaboDirect Pro12: Ospreys - Leinster (02-09-2011, 19:05 GMT)

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Liberty Stadium, Swansea (02-09-2011, 19:05 GMT)

Referee: Peter Fitzgibbon (IRFU, 33rd competition game)
Assistant Referees: Gwyn Morris, Jon Mason (both WRU)
Citing Commissioner: Dennis Jones (WRU)
TMO: Neill Ballard (WRU)


Ospreys have won just two of their last nine clashes with Leinster, whilst overall the Irishmen have the best record for any visiting side to Liberty Stadium, having handed Ospreys a quarter of their 12 losses at the venue in the competition.
The 2009/10 finalists meet in the opening round of RaboDirect PRO12. Ospreys have begun the season at home on four previous occasions and won them all. Ospreys were semi-finalists in 2010/11 despite winning just one of their last six matches: 12-10 at Aironi in round 22. The Welshmen are winless in their last two matches at Liberty Stadium but have never gone three home games in this tournament without victory.
Leinster's previous form on the opening round of a new season has seen them gain just one victory since 2002: 23-8 at home to Edinburgh in 2007. The reigning European champions lost last season's final to Munster, but won six of their last seven regular season encounters. (source: RaboDirect12Pro12.com)


[TABLE="class: grid"]
<tbody>[TR]
[TD]Ospreys[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]Leinster[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Richard Fussell[/TD]
[TD]15[/TD]
[TD]Isa Nacewa[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Kristian Philips[/TD]
[TD]14[/TD]
[TD]Fionn Carr[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Andrew Bishop[/TD]
[TD]13[/TD]
[TD]Eoin O'Malley[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Ashley Beck[/TD]
[TD]12[/TD]
[TD]Luke Fitzgerald[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Hanno Dirksen[/TD]
[TD]11[/TD]
[TD]David Kearney[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Dan Biggar[/TD]
[TD]10[/TD]
[TD]Mat Berquist[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Rhys Webb[/TD]
[TD]9[/TD]
[TD]John Cooney[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Jonathan Thomas[/TD]
[TD]8[/TD]
[TD]Rhys Ruddock (C)[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Justin Tipuric (C)[/TD]
[TD]7[/TD]
[TD]Dominic Ryan[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Tom Smith[/TD]
[TD]6[/TD]
[TD]Kevin McLaughlin[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Ian Evans[/TD]
[TD]5[/TD]
[TD]Devin Toney[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Ian Gough[/TD]
[TD]4[/TD]
[TD]Damian Browne[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Cai Griffiths[/TD]
[TD]3[/TD]
[TD]Jamie Hagan[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Mefin Davies[/TD]
[TD]2[/TD]
[TD]Richardt Strauss[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Duncan Jones[/TD]
[TD]1[/TD]
[TD]Heinke van der Merw[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Matthew Dwyer[/TD]
[TD]16[/TD]
[TD]Aaron Dundon[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Ken Dowding[/TD]
[TD]17[/TD]
[TD]Jack McGrath[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Joe Rees[/TD]
[TD]18[/TD]
[TD]Jack O'Connell[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]James King[/TD]
[TD]19[/TD]
[TD]Mark Flanagan[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Morgan Allen[/TD]
[TD]20[/TD]
[TD]Leo Auva'a[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Tom Isaacs[/TD]
[TD]21[/TD]
[TD]Cillian Willis[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Matthew Morgan[/TD]
[TD]22[/TD]
[TD]Ian Maddigan[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Sonny Parker[/TD]
[TD]23[/TD]
[TD]Brendan Macken[/TD]
[/TR]
</tbody>[/TABLE]

 

[Peat]

Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria (02-09-2011, 17:00 GMT)

Really?

 

[Logorrhea]

Leinster team to face the hairsprays;

LEINSTER:
15: Isa Nacewa
14: Fionn Carr
13: Eoin O'Malley
12: Luke Fitzgerald
11: David Kearney
10: Mat Berquist
9: John Cooney


1: Heinke van der Merwe
2: Richardt Strauss
3: Jamie Hagan
4: Damian Browne
5: Devin Toner
6: Kevin McLaughlin
7: Dominic Ryan
8: Rhys Ruddock CAPTAIN


REPLACEMENTS:

16: Aaron Dundon
17: Jack McGrath
18: Jack O'Connell
19: Mark Flanagan
20: Leo Auva'a
21: Cillian Willis
22: Ian Madigan
23: Brendan Macken

Pretty solid team actually for an away day without 13 regular first teamers.

The bench looks pretty threadbare but that cant be helped

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Really?

I was still busy but accidentally already pushed the button to post it haha. That's what happens when you copy-past

 

[Peat]

You're forgiven.

Logorrhea, how do you rate Cooney? Looks like the weak link to me there.

 

[munstermuffin]

I think this is the position for Luke Fitz as he has all the attributes for a 12 and is a big enough guy too,

 

[Logorrhea]

You're forgiven. Logorrhea, how do you rate Cooney? Looks like the weak link to me there.

Honestly I know very little about him. Hes meant to have been pretty sharp in pre-season (your typical small, quick, nippy scrumhalf) but I avoided that pre-season nonsense this year, so didnt see him first hand.

Glad to see him get a run of games early in the season, lets hope those around him look after him.

 

[coonor]

I think this is the position for Luke Fitz as he has all the attributes for a 12 and is a big enough guy too,

I am abit weary of his passing tbh. I have seen on a number of occasions his pass slipping of his hand and bobbling along the ground. (just look at the saracens game at the RDS last year where he throw an intercept) however if he regains proper form he could slot in nicely but I would rather have him at 13.

A very solid young squad that is most capable of magners league matches considering the amount of players out.

 

[DuncTheDoodle]

Meanwhile, the Ospreys side looks something like this-

15 Richard Fussell 14 Kristian Phillips
13 Andrew Bishop
12 Ashley Beck
11 Hanno Dirksen
10 Dan Biggar
9 Rhys Webb

1 Duncan Jones
2 Mefin Davies
3 Cai Griffiths
4 Ian Gough
5 Ian Evans
6 Tom Smith
7 Justin Tipuric (Capt)
8 Jonathan Thomas

Replacements
16 Matthew Dwyer
17 Ken Dowding
18 Joe Rees
19 James King
20 Morgan Allen
21 Tom Isaacs
22 Matthew Morgan
23 Sonny Parker

Quite a strong team, though probably of about equal strength to the Leinster side. I reckon it'll be a close game, with the Ospreys sneaking it.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Both captains really young in this match

Should be a good match up - considering the number of players both teams are missing through the WC (and for Ospreys - the WC and players leaving for France) - a good indication of the two teams strength in depth

 

[Thingimubob]

How come Luke Fitzgerald is playing? Shouldn't he be on his way to New Zealand?

 

[profitius]

Looking forward to seeing this match. Loads of new players on both sides to watch.

How come Luke Fitzgerald is playing? Shouldn't he be on his way to New Zealand?

He had a bad season last season and needs to find form again. Playing in the center might be his best position long term.

 

[Thingimubob]

Looking forward to seeing this match. Loads of new players on both sides to watch.



He had a bad season last season and needs to find form again. Playing in the center might be his best position long term.

Ah daft that he's been left out though - thought his break against France was superb! I'd have him over Earls any day, just feel that Earls has the hack it at international level just yet.

 

[SelimNiai]

Try of the season already perhaps? That was awesome

 

[Thingimubob]

Try of the season already perhaps? That was awesome

Yupp! Fantastic try!

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Ospreys for the ***le?

They won the first playoffs, might as well win the first Pro12 trophy as well

 

[Draggs]

Ospreys for the ***le?

They won the first playoffs, might as well win the first Pro12 trophy as well

We're less than 20 minutes into the season mate! Ospreys have plenty of time to get expectations high and go to Reading

 

[Thingimubob]

Didn't know Dirkson was South African, bit unlucky not to score there too! Taken it into contact well too.

Well just as I type this looks like he's scored Brilliant finish!

 

[Draggs]

Very nice work from Dirksen. 17-0.
SA have played Dirksen in an SA Overseas match or something, while the US have played him v Munster.

 

[Thingimubob]

Very nice work from Dirksen. 17-0.
SA have played Dirksen in an SA Overseas match or something, while the US have played him v Munster.

So he hasn't actually had any caps for either? They did say he was the only non-Welsh qualified players in team today