Ospreys V Leinster Fri 27th Feb

[nc6000]

And they expect us to renew our season tickets

I'll be renewing despite how poorly we are playing. I might even go to all the games too.

It's a shame how many thousand of our current STHs can't be arsed making it to games. Ulster can sell out Ravenhill for a Friday night game against Scarlets whereas we only got about 8,000 turning up at our game last Friday.

[neiliog93]

Definitely would've taken the result before the game. Performances was as insipid as always over there, and as expected. Puts us in good position to hold onto fourth.

[alanair]

2 things...
(1) Ravenhill was not sold out
(2) They were playing against Scarlets... Not Zebre

If you want to compare... at least compare like with like

[Donny B.]

We've become a team who doesn't actually want the ball, mainly because we know we can't use it.

So we kick it, or go through a few slow phases and then kick it, or go through a few more slow phases and then hope and pray the referee will give us a penalty and then we can kick it, the only difference being this time it will be at the posts and we might get a few points.

When we can't kick it, we just go endlessly up the middle with one-out runners, phase after phase, each one slower than the last until we knock it on or the referee shows mercy by giving a penalty for or (more likely) against us.

This is our game plan, get used to it people!

Credit to the Ospreys tonight, they made countless errors but they were the only ones even attempting to play rugby with any pace or ambition and frankly they deserved to win.

[neiliog93]

We've become a team who doesn't actually want the ball, mainly because we know we can't use it.

So we kick it, or go through a few slow phases and then kick it, or go through a few more slow phases and then hope and pray the referee will give us a penalty and then we can kick it, the only difference being this time it will be at the posts and we might get a few points.

When we can't kick it, we just go endlessly up the middle with one-out runners, phase after phase, each one slower than the last until we knock it on or the referee shows mercy by giving a penalty for or (more likely) against us.

This is our game plan, get used to it people!

Credit to the Ospreys tonight, they made countless errors but they were the only ones even attempting to play rugby with any pace or ambition and frankly they deserved to win.

Yeah, pretty much. We're so bad at using the ball (and prone to giving the other teams scrums through knock-ons or penalties through holding on), that it's better to kick it away and back our defence, hoping they make a mistake. Except we're not that good at kicking either, and out set-pieces are unreliable. Strong teams too so no excuses.

[All Blacks nil]

was Teo's fend off legal. Never connected with hs palm and hit Davies with a forearm. Davies had to leave the pitch with a probable concussion
Could be cited.

Furlong impressed me tonight and VDF looked a player. Luke McGrath also played well and passed excellently. Denton also did well.
Not to many impressed with Ruddock having a particularly poor outing Poor in possession, went to ground easily a couple of times and conceded penalties for holding on, high tackle and plenty of handling errors. Turned the ball over quite a few times and conceded three penalties he will probably be in the next rish squad

A poor game and a particularly poor performance from Leinster's 11 starting internationals

Even the maddingly short Guniness PRO 12.highlights reel will be plenty long enough for this one

[Oldschool]

was Teo's fend off legal. Never connected with hs palm and hit Davies with a forearm. Davies had to leave the pitch with a probable concussion
Could be cited.

Furlong impressed me tonight and VDF looked a player. Luke McGrath also played well and passed excellently. Denton also did well.
Not to many impressed with Ruddock having a particularly poor outing Poor in possession, went to ground easily a couple of times and conceded penalties for holding on, high tackle and plenty of handling errors. Turned the ball over quite a few times and conceded three penalties he will probably be in the next rish squad

A poor game and a particularly poor performance from Leinster's 11 starting internationals

Even the maddingly short Guniness PRO 12.highlights reel will be plenty long enough for this one

The ref/tmo had a look and gave a peno iirc so he's unlikely to be cited .
Form with MOC is not the same as form with Joe. However younger Leinster players will find it harder to get into Joe's squad.
Time is levelling the selection playing field.

[nc6000]

2 things...
(1) Ravenhill was not sold out
(2) They were playing against Scarlets... Not Zebre

If you want to compare... at least compare like with like

OK the attendance according to their website was 17,138. BBC Wales said during our game that Ravenhill was sold out.

Are Scarlets that much of a big draw?

[RoboProp]

Watching that last night I couldn't help but think that there was so mucg aimless kicking from hand by Gopperth. Now if this is MOC's game plan there's no way Johnny will go along with it

[Le Duvet]

That was one depressing performance. The difference to many previous visits to Swansea was that our scrum dominance, Osprey's recent form and our strong team (on paper - injury crisis has abated) meant they were there for the taking. But MOC set us up with such a limited game plan that we hardly fired a shot:
-starting attacks with one-up runners followed by static phases
-or with 10 standing deep behind game line, then going lateral or kicking long
-or going for the 50:50 option of box kicks/cross kicks every time we were in our own half.
At half time the Osps could hardly believe that they were only 3 points down - we were on top but had hardly tried to get into their 22 with ball in hand [Reminder: we are the two-time defending champions]
There were some good moments among the morrass - we even carried & off loaded well going for a try when at 9-6 - only to butcher the position. It took us falling behind to up our game to anything like what's expected.
It's an away game in a freezing and 3/4 empty stadium (and a children's choir providing the wierdest soundtrack to a rugby game in history) so no one expects champagne rugby. But at least give us a decent Merlot and have a go on the gain-line with some pace and threat. Don't keep giving the ball back to the opposition with stupid mistakes and penalties.
Playing this way, in a league, let's be honest, that's not filled with too many world beating teams, we have thrown away at least 11 points: Connacht (A) 3, Treviso (A) 2/3, Dragons (H) 3 and now Ospreys (A) 2. If we had converted even 2 of those 4 games we'd be looking at a home play-off. As it stands, the likelihood of either Glas/Muns/Uls away means elimination likely. Add in Toulon (at best) and season 2014/15 looks like a write off because of our limited and error-strewn performances.
Actually, on second thoughts, the kids choir - along with the sweet sound of the final whistle - was the best part of the evening.

[johng]

2 things...
(1) Ravenhill was not sold out
(2) They were playing against Scarlets... Not Zebre

If you want to compare... at least compare like with like

Hold on. I got this email 10 days ago

Ulster Rugby vs Scarlets - Limited Availability

Less than 600 tickets remain for the 27th Febuary clash with Scarlets.

Currently sitting 4th in the Guinness PRO12 and only 4 points off the top spot, Ulster will be hoping for a repeat of the performance.......

You mean they didn't sell 600 tickets in 10 days?

[All Blacks nil]

The ref/tmo had a look and gave a peno iirc so he's unlikely to be cited .

Referee and TMO looked at Pape's case and decided penalty and yellow card. The citing commissioner decided it was a citable offence.
Whether or not the referee dealt with it on the day does not come in to it. Even when Lacey did look at it, his TMO was obviously of a different opinion.

The player was knocked out. Teo only made contact with his forearm. At no stage did he use his hand to hand off.
Where I come from we used to call it a "hand"off. i.e use your hand to fend off the player.


I think he is certain to be cited.

[molloyjh]

The ref/tmo had a look and gave a peno iirc so he's unlikely to be cited .

Referee and TMO looked at Pape's case and decided penalty and yellow card. The citing commissioner decided it was a citable offence.
Whether or not the referee dealt with it on the day does not come in to it. Even when Lacey did look at it, his TMO was obviously of a different opinion.

The player was knocked out. Teo only made contact with his forearm. At no stage did he use his hand to hand off.
Where I come from we used to call it a "hand"off. i.e use your hand to fend off the player.


I think he is certain to be cited.

The Pro12 rules say that a player can only be cited if the offence was deemed a red card offence by the Citing Commissioner. I don't think that counts as a red card offence.

[All Blacks nil]

Is a forearm smash not striking An opponent and is striking an opponent not a red card offence.

As in other cases the damage caused is considered. In this case the victim was knocked out.

[COYBIB]

No matter how much you wish it to be so ABN, I very much doubt he'll be cited.

[matt]

All Blacks Nil why do you bother posting on this site when all you want to do is get our players cited & generally troll under the guise of being objective. Would you say the same things about the turnips?

[Oldschool]

All Blacks Nil why do you bother posting on this site when all you want to do is get our players cited & generally troll under the guise of being objective. Would you say the same things about the turnips?

It's a slow weekend cut him some slack.

[goreyguy]

the standard of rugby MOC has brought to Leinster is depressing.

[offshorerules]

It's nothing compared to your predictability. You've made your point. You might be right, but for the love of God would you leave it alone.

[paddyor]

We've become a team who doesn't actually want the ball, mainly because we know we can't use it.

So we kick it, or go through a few slow phases and then kick it, or go through a few more slow phases and then hope and pray the referee will give us a penalty and then we can kick it, the only difference being this time it will be at the posts and we might get a few points.

When we can't kick it, we just go endlessly up the middle with one-out runners, phase after phase, each one slower than the last until we knock it on or the referee shows mercy by giving a penalty for or (more likely) against us.

This is our game plan, get used to it people!

Credit to the Ospreys tonight, they made countless errors but they were the only ones even attempting to play rugby with any pace or ambition and frankly they deserved to win.

I'd have no problem with a limited game plan like you describe if we did it well or with a bit of conviction. In fact I think being able to play like that to grind out results is essential over the course of the season. I wouldn't have any confidence though in us playing like that against a good team and getting the result. Granted we'll be better with our Ireland internationals back(4/5 x front row, 1 x second row, 3 x back row, 3 backs).