After a fantastic season culminating with a superb BP win against Cardiff in the Judgement Day game last week, attention now turns to the URC Top 8 Playoff Quarter-final against Munster at Thomond Park on Friday night. In their previous URC meeting at the .com stadium, Munster ran out 27-17 winners so they will fancy their chances on their home patch. However, this is a one off game, the Ospreys have previous for winning knockout rugby matches and anything can happen on the day.
The game, like the previous encounter, will be refereed by Hollie Davidson and we must hope that she has a better all round game than she did last time out. I don't foresee too many changes to the squad although Jack Walsh may be recalled if fit. I do wonder if James Fender may be considered if he is fit enough?
Potential Squad
N Smith G Thomas D Lake S Parry T Botha R Henry H Sutton J Ratti V Sekekete/J Fender J Morgan J Tipuric M Morris H Deaves/M Morse
RMW L Davies D Edwards O Williams/J Walsh K Giles O Watkin K Williams L Morgan M Nagy T Florence/H Houston
Discuss.
My feelings are that forwards win games and when a ref neutralises your forwards as Davidson did you are at a huge disadvantage. We were already severely weakened up front by the absence of Beard, Fender, WillGriff and Rhys and playing Ratti out of position but the ref and both assistants were naive.
With North and Cuthbert absent we lost aerial parity from box kicks but our lack of bulk in the back line also made keeping it in hand risky. Toby's post match thoughts seemed to be split between pride in the achievements (top 8, play-offs, knockout in Europe, Welsh shield) and disappointment in injuries which prevented an even better showing.
I hope he can reinforce a few positions and/or some of the youngsters step up but all in all, and even with Nicky leaving, the future looks relatively promising. Ymlaen.
Every time we regain possession through good defence, or at lineout time , we kick the ball back to the opposition. We simply have to try something else. We will never beat these top sides by constantly giving them the ball. We were never on the attack at any time in the second half because we gave Munster the ball constantly.
Brilliant season and no doubt the players we are missing (Beard, Fender, Will Griff, North and Cuthbert etc) would have made some difference but this was just one game too far for us tonight.
So so proud of this Ospreys team.
Davidson has not been great but that is not why we are not winning. Not enough of our players have played at their best and as a team we have struggled to break them down.
Penalty to Munster. Little or no penetration from us. Another shot at goal.
Think this game is done now unless a miracle happens in the last 10 minutes.
We have to pull the trigger and go for it. 15 minutes left
23-7
Another penalty to Munster and a shot at goal, this game is quickly getting away from us.
Making too many basic errors and players not playing at the top of their games.
Scrum penalty to Munster under our posts. Shot at goal is good 20-7. Massive last 20 minutes needed.
More amazing defence from the Ospreys, Morgan Morris has been brilliant.
Scrum penalty Ospreys and we can clear to touch.
Next score could be crucial
Brilliant defence from the Ospreys
Half time 17-7. Still in at the half.
Someone needs to remind Hollie Davidson that there are two teams playing.
Clearly an early shove but it gets missed and Munster win the penalty.
Jac Morgan almost crosses but some strong defence stops the try. We have another 5m penalty. Time off for a Munster injury - hooker.
Front peel is stopped in its tracks but we go again.
Scrum penalty Ospreys. We go towards the corner and into their 22.
The 50:50 calls are not going our way.
Munster with a shot at goal - 17-7 after 27 minutes.
Need to sort out our maul defence.
Try Munster. 14-7 after 19 minutes.