Munster v Ospreys Feb 17th at 19:35

Munster benefit hugely from Leinster supplying most of the Irish team so were not far off full strength. The likes of Myler Brad Davies and Elvis May be experienced but their legs were gone. Bennetton have a very similar issue to us in that they lose so many players to Italy. A full strength Bennetton would beat Cardiff away in the same way a full strength Ospreys would be very close to Munster. The international window is a huge distortion. You need to play a side as depleted as you not to get thrashed

Fiddler ALWAYS LOOK ON THE BRIGHT SIDE OF LIFE, I take your sentiments on board, but the likes of Nicky, Botha, Collins and accepted Owen first game back , but given not used to the formation , they should not be brushed off in contact as was evident

I am not saying there were not poor performances. Watkin and Collins as a pairing have missed a lot of tackles over the past few seasons. Botha has always been too slow to be good at defending. His strengths lie elsewhere. we fielded a slow pack with natural 7. our 10/12/13 combo were slow could not read the attacking lines. It is obvious where our squad strengths and weaknesses are but bigger battles lie ahead off the field

So tell me then …what score was bigger than that one? Every game has a different set of circumstances, but to lose by that margin must make it the worst result in our history surely, unless you know a bigger losing score line?

the loss to Ulster earlier in the season was worse. Points differential simply means biggest points differential not worst. Leicester away was won by one point. We have beaten teams by more points differential but they were not better wins.

Ok then. “ Was that the heaviest defeat in our history” ? Is that better for you? Facts are facts and statistics are statistics. I asked a simple question because I truly don’t know if we have ever been beaten by a bigger score, I certainly can’t remember a time.

I don't see it that way, mate, despite the best efforts of Steffan Thomas who does his level best to throw shade and uncertainty at the Ospreys every chance he gets.

It was just a really bad day at the office, not helped as @showmaster says below, by a lack of opposed training due to limited numbers.

I don't think any of the other regions could lose so many players and do any better than that last night, although we were guilty of not converting the limited opportunities we did have.

Cardiff and Ospreys are both on 29 points with them having today's game in hand. I think that they pick up another 14 points to move to 43 points. If we win every game left, we get a minimum of 16 points which puts us on 45 and we retain the Welsh Shield.

Of course, there is the Saracens game to come as well...we are going all the way 😁

I hope your right mate.

Very worrying times for everything Ospreys atm

I met this guy once when he was very publically dying.

What he would say is to go find the full video of Ospreys under 18 v Scarlets paying particular attention to the end interview with captain Evan Hill.

When asked about winning the WRU RAG championship with a game to spare he said it would mean more to get 8 from 8.

If they were playing for a contract, few of them did much to earn one...I know the indecision around what is happening cannot be good but they can't really affect that but they can affect what they can do on the pitch.

The lack of defence from players renowned for it was shocking. A few like Keelan, Nagy and young Iestyn threw everything at it but as a team they were disorganised and confused. The front row stood up but the lack of cohesion in the back five was evident and may have been down to a lack of opposed training. We should have had them on toast and nearly did.

Makes you wonder if Booths comments affected them. The “ I didn’t sign up for this “ comment.

Booth said Parry likely to miss the game in his presser

Simon Thomas on Twitter said that Parry and Lydiate are available.

I didn't hear exactly what Booth said about Parry other than that he was out there running around.

Typical isn't it...

You can see why he wants them in camp after those two performances. It makes it harder for us but it is still possible. Even with the Ireland players and one Scot returning they are still missing about 18 players in total.

Bit like "can our third team take on their seconds".

The issue with Gatland holding them back is that had some weight when we were winning, or being competitive. Now Wales look awful and Gatland is just taking them down the dead end that is his coaching style, his way of doing things peaked in 2019 and there is nowhere for it to go now.

With the flak that the lads are getting maybe we shall see the lot of them back for good?

Just hoping.

It would be great to get them all back...

Munster have had 4 released back to them - Earls, Coombes, Healy and Salanoa.

Any chance Harriwas involved?

Couldn't see him but it was only a very short clip.

Munster have 8 away with Ireland, 1 with Scotland and 7 or 8 seniors injured. Their squad is small so they will again use 3 or 4 academy players as they did against Benetton. If Sexton fails his HIA then they also may well lose Carberry but even with him they are beatable.

Bear in mind Farrell has a history of releasing players not in the 23. Gatland has a history of insisting they stay in camp holding tackle bags