Ospreys v Leinster Saturday 7th 19.35 TG4

[RoboProp]

Leinsters scrum has become a huge issue.

We've won 93% of our scrums in the league this season.

Conditions were horrific out there tonight and ref got a couple calls not quite right. I was roaring at the telly on one of the last ones. Sure, enough Van De Man was none too pleased with the call either...and he's usually a reserved fellow

[wixfjord]

With Jenkins, Furlong/Mike and Porter our scrum is a weapon.

With Deeny/Molony in the row tonight it was always going to be under pressure against a strong Ospreys front row. That was well flagged before the game.

We've clearly got depth issues behind our first 6 front rowers though.

[RoboProp]

If Welsh fans were an indie band, they'd be the Boo Boo Dolls

The Boo Bradleys

Those fans are like school in July

[RoboProp]

With Jenkins, Furlong/Mike and Porter our scrum is a weapon.

With Deeny/Molony in the row tonight it was always going to be under pressure against a strong Ospreys front row. That was well flagged before the game.

We've clearly got depth issues behind our first 6 front rowers though.

Backrow weren't packing down either for the most part which when you're coughing up penos always irks me

[mildlyinterested]

It's clearly not a 'huge issue'.

It is.

Well argued with wit and insight as usual GG!

(For anyone else who's wondering, we actually have 100% scrum success so far in Europe, including 3 pens won against Racing.)

Ive no interest in discussing it with you.. i know what ive watched over the past few weeks and its not a strong scrum, if you wish to fool yourself into thinking otherwise go ahead.

[FLIP]

If Welsh fans were an indie band, they'd be the Boo Boo Dolls

The Boo Bradleys

Those fans are like school in July

Got to love the sound of boos echoing around the Library stadium

[Dexter]

We've clearly got depth issues behind our first 6 front rowers though.

Most teams would be delighted to be able to say that in fairness.

[wixfjord]

It is.

Well argued with wit and insight as usual GG!

(For anyone else who's wondering, we actually have 100% scrum success so far in Europe, including 3 pens won against Racing.)

Ive no interest in discussing it with you.. i know what ive watched over the past few weeks and its not a strong scrum, if you wish to fool yourself into thinking otherwise go ahead.

You probably missed the Racing game did you? Worth going back and having a look at it again.

[hugonaut]

Big win that - physical game that the Ospreys were well up for and we had to dig deep to pull out the win

They were strong. The first XV were very tough. There was a drop off when they brought substitutes on. Still, that was a tough, tough match for us. One of the toughest we have had all season.

Outstanding kicking performance from Kai Evans. That fella hits the ball so true and so hard. He absolutely leathers it.

Their scrum was very, very strong ... as you would expect it to be with a TH side of Tomas Francis and Alun-Wyn Jones. Nicky Smith and Dewi Lake aren't bad either. It's a very cohesive, canny and powerful unit. They had us in trouble from the first scrum.

We had an underpowered second row out there with Molony and Deeny together. Not really sure what the thinking was behind pairing them.

We had a lot of drops and handling errors in the first half, quite frustrating to watch. The ball was like a bar of soap and we were making a lot of passes and taking a lot of heavy contacts. With that said, that was how we scored our three tries as well – the last two were replete with well-timed and executed passes.

[Blue Man]

With Jenkins, Furlong/Mike and Porter our scrum is a weapon.

With Deeny/Molony in the row tonight it was always going to be under pressure against a strong Ospreys front row. That was well flagged before the game.

We've clearly got depth issues behind our first 6 front rowers though.

You’re saying Deeny and Molony were under pressure but it’s down to a lack of front row depth? That doesn’t make sense. Also, Mike (listed as a weapon) started tonight and we gave away three scrum penalties when he was on.
Gather your thoughts and come back.

[desperado]

I'm still willing to stick with Harry B. Some errors for sure; but some glimmers too. He''s had very little gametime and tonight was a massive challenge from several perspectives. Time will tell

[Dave Cahill]

There was a huge amount of pressure on Mike tonight. We were underpowered in the second row, and Cian always struggles against Francis. He's had problems with him going back years.

[mildlyinterested]

It was harrys 1st start all season behind a pack well beaten.. he will benefit from it.

[Blue Man]

Big win that - physical game that the Ospreys were well up for and we had to dig deep to pull out the win

They were strong. The first XV were very tough. There was a drop off when they brought substitutes on. Still, that was a tough, tough match for us. One of the toughest we have had all season.

Outstanding kicking performance from Kai Evans. That fella hits the ball so true and so hard. He absolutely leathers it.

Their scrum was very, very strong ... as you would expect it to be with a TH side of Tomas Francis and Alun-Wyn Jones. Nicky Smith and Dewi Lake aren't bad either. It's a very cohesive, canny and powerful unit. They had us in trouble from the first scrum.

We had an underpowered second row out there with Molony and Deeny together. Not really sure what the thinking was behind pairing them.

We had a lot of drops and handling errors in the first half, quite frustrating to watch. The ball was like a bar of soap and we were making a lot of passes and taking a lot of heavy contacts. With that said, that was how we scored our three tries as well – the last two were replete with well-timed and executed passes.

Agree that the second rows were clearly under power and that it was a particularly strange selection given that the Hairspreys are know for a strong scrum and maul.
With JJ injured we might be saving Big Joe for Europe.
It’s interesting that regardless of the front row combinations for either side tonight, we got stuffed.

Tough night for Foley but I still have hope. Unfortunately, my faith in Harry is now fully evaporated.

Sheehan and Conan really stood up tonight and the back three looked dangerous with ball in hand. Slight problem is we were trying to play summer rugby on a sh1t pitch in bad conditions.

[Blue Man]

It was harrys 1st start all season behind a pack well beaten.. he will benefit from it.

He was very poor.

[desperado]

I thought JOB was absolute class tonight; can't recall one error or wrong option taken. Keenan had a wooble or two but his line and finish were sublime. Larmour also had a good game I thought. It's worth also considering that Ospreys had tackled themselves to a standstill by 60 mins; just when the 7th arrived.

[mildlyinterested]

It was harrys 1st start all season behind a pack well beaten.. he will benefit from it.

He was very poor.

He was poor but hardly surprising

[desperado]

Next weekend in Glaws could be a carbon copy; although they are likely missing their entire first choice FR. Wed/windy day; Glaws have a scrum/maul focus to their game. Granted we''ll have a fair number of changes to the starting 15. I hope Kelleher is fit, as Sheehan is approaching the flogged horse stage - I don't know how he continues at this level consitently.

[Oldschoolsocks]

Williams their 12 is causing us big problems. Cracking player.

Some of his runs would remind you of Scott Gibbs, i thought he was brilliant

[RoboProp]

Was I tripping or did I see Hairsprays going in with the head a couple of times at the breakdown? I could have sworn I heard one of our lads shout at the ref "again they're going in with the head"

It makes no difference to the result, but I can't abide gamesmanship like that going unpunished