So we reach the final game of our RCC journey and travel to Thomond Park to face Munster, who need a full haul of 5 points to see if they can somehow sneak into the Last 8. It is a tough one to call how we approach this game - do we go full strength and build on last week or do we mix'n'match? Munster may well be out of the competition after the Saturday games or require a miracle on the Sunday.
I think we will end up with a similar squad /team to what faced Saracens last time out, if nobody becomes available.
Marfo, Otten, Fia, BBBD, AWJ, Lydiate, Cross, Morris
Venter, C Evans, Diksen, North, Thomas-Wheeler, Morgan, D Evans
Reps
Smith, Parry, Gardiner, A Beard, Cracknell, A Davies, Price, Klim
Any update on the Dan Evans injury?
I tend to agree with you there but no Welsh squad players and a home game v Ulster doesn’t exactly bode well at the moment unfortunately!!
Didn't watch all the game but Dan Baker made one rampaging run going through and dragging opposition players with him and made about 15 to 20 metres, can't really talk about the first 20 to 25 minutes of the 2nd half.
I don’t think they have a game for 4 weeks now which is insane at this time of year
Once again our lack of a physical ball carrier is of a major concern. Baker is nowhere near the player he was and the above comments have been repeated so many times on this and the previous forums about games for the past three seasons that I’m beginning to lose interest.
Have to say a huge thanks for the running commentary, it put the other media outlets to shame, including Ospreys Twitter thread that was constantly behind the time and lacked accuracy to say the least.
I had no access to a TV and don't subscribe to BT anyway but thought the posts were comprehensive and well analysed to provide a detailed account of the game, well done much appreciated.
With regards other matters, everyone knows the Ospreys have a strong and experienced group of players that can with the right guidance and instructions compete with the best in Pro14, we are doing it in parts but not for 80 minutes. Even if we get our act together we have two or three pivotal positions that singularly could be covered during the game but over all the oppositions are provided with a transparent predictable attack and presented with an easy way and uncomplicated way through our defense. It is little wonder when we are having to scramble in defense and then hold a line for long sessions with this intense battle of attrition it's hardly any wonder that have so many injuries.
I would imagine the powers that be would rather wait to get the injured players back on the field before buying in any other players. If there is a reluctance to use McKenzie then we need a decent 10 before doing anything else.
Smith went well in the loose and at scrum time. Otten was prominent in both defence and attack. Fia showed up in the loose and at the scrum. Hardly mentioned if at all BBBD. AWJ was everywhere in a losing effort. Lydiate was ok but ioh for the player he was. Tips was everywhere like AWJ . Baker carried well but never broke contact.
Venter kicked well and defended well but we did not see him in a proper attacking sense.
Price was Price and missed several tackles but did save one try.
Morgan hardly saw the ball but defended well,
Evans hardly saw the ball and went off with a bad injury in the second half.
North was poor attack wise but defended well.
Dirksen defended well
Evans didn't have much to do apart from kicking penalties to touch and he missed one long range effort.
We are so, so blunt at the attacking phase of the game. We have no forwards who can carry with pace and power and break contact to give the backs quick ball. When our backs do the get the ball, we can barely pass the ball along the line and tend to crab sideways before either zero is called and box kick follows or we turn the ball over.
Cracknell is indeed shown the yellow card after being caught repeatedly offside with the Ospreys on a warning and Munster go for the scrum. Tips comes into the pack for Ospreys to maintain parity of numbers. There are less than 5 minutes left and Munster are after their 5th try. Can the Ospreys hold them out?
Price clears from inside his own goal line and Munster have an attacking lineout. The ball goes off the top and is moved wide but a knock on gives Ospreys a scrum that is starting to creak a little. Tips takes the ball up and the call of Zero goes up meaning a box kick and RMW clears to the 10m line.
Munster attack again before chipping over the top and that forces Dirksen to minor the ball, giving Munster the 5m attacking scrum.
Munster's 9 HIA are both passed and their are back to having a 9 at 9, if you know what I mean. Munster look for the pushover and gain the penalty advantage, surely a yellow card for Ospreys.
The penalty is kicked to touch and Munster drive. Stander bounces Price out of the way but to his credit he gets back behind the ball and wins a valuable turnover allowing Ospreys to clear to touch up near the half way line. Smith is off for Ospreys and Lake comes on for Otten.
Ospreys win the ball after Tips steals the ball but Ospreys knock on yet again and Munster have the scrum.
Ospreys have a scrum but are free kicked and Munster kick deep, Morgan brings the back towards the 10 metre line and Ospreys go through their side to side crab before Venter puts in a box kick. Ospreys regain possession before another poor pass from North puts them back under pressure and forced to kick. Munster now attack and make easy yards every contact and almost score a try but Price grounds the ball before the Munster players and it is a 5 metre scrum for Munster. Morgan-Williams on for Venter. Munster do not have a 9 on the pitch as both of them are off for HIAs.
Munster continue to press, Nicky Smith is down for Ospreys but solid Ospreys defence prevents a try and the ball ends up in touch. Could be a penalty though for a high tackle - yep North is pinged for the tackle that put the Munster player into touch.
My instinct was to ask why we have no real attacking threat and suggest it is down to the lack of direction by the coaches but clear if Munster target Price from the start it demonstrates that the coaches are expecting the rest of the team to make up for Price but against a team like Munster it needs every player to be able to hold their positions, tackle and play to the standard required.
Cracknell comes in for Baker to defend this lineout which goes off the top. Munster begin to build through the phases and win an offside penalty but they want more. The ref misses a clear out on Tips who was not part of the ruck and Munster get over the line again but the ball is dropped and we go back to the penalty.
Dan Evans goes off injured and it looks bad - either a shoulder dislocation or a broken collarbone. Ghaijon is on for Fia. Cross comes on for Dan Evans so Tips goes into midfield. We had a 6-2 split on the bench.
Munster cross the line again but it is held up and we go to a 5 metre scrum.
Tips is back on after a HIA, a Munster kick goes touch and goal and Ospreys have a scrum near half way. North drives the ball deep into the Munster half but Ospreys still cannot break the Munster line, before another loose Price pass sets the Ospreys back to their own half. Ospreys recover and get back to the half way line but Lydiate is pinged for coming in from the side and Munster have a penalty that will be kicked towards the corner.
Munster press and press and eventually the pressure tells allowing Murray to dot down in the corner for the third try. The speed of ball and attacking invention is light years away from the that of the Ospreys. Hanrahan misses the conversion but it is 19-6 after 48 minutes. This could be a long second half.
Ospreys attack from the lineout but are struggling to make any decent ground before a neat chip from Price almost finds Luke Morgan and he would have been away had the ball not bounced away into touch. The Munster lineout is not straight and Ospreys go for the scrum. Ospreys go wide but cannot break the line and Munster gain a penalty after Dirksen refuses to release the ball. Why oh why is our attack so blunt????
A poor clearing kick from Price allows Munster to forge into the Ospreys 22 and are just metres form the line but AWJ is so strong over the ball and wins a much needed penalty. Cai Evans kicks to touch and Ospreys get a free kick that gives possession back to Munster but Ospreys regains the ball and win a penalty.
Lydiate is down after a bump to the head/neck area.
Price is the worst tackler in rugby. Both professional and amateur rugby
Scrum time again after another Ospreys knock on - Price with another poor tackle effort lets Munster gain the front foot and win a penalty but play the advantage and are within 5 metres before the ref gives another penalty straight in front of the posts. Munster attempt to go quickly and mess it up giving Ospreys a scrum and a chance to clear their lines. Dan Evans clears to touch.
Munster with a clever lineout bust into the Ospreys 22 and their defence cannot reset quickly enough allowing Munster to score the opening try that Hanrahan converts and it is 7-6 after 31 minutes. They seem dangerous when ever they get the ball whereas the Ospreys look slow, ponderous and unlikely to score.