posted Apr 7, 2008

Unlike the Internationals though, Saracens were applying the pressure on Sunday and sometimes against a smothering defence, you run up blind alleys and lose your way. I think Ryan was alluding to that fact and that they then couldn't see the woods for the trees. As an Osprey fan tou could almost feel the game running awy from you. Momentum is a difficult thing to turn around and I was quite happy only to be 6-3 down at half time. Thought we looked a bit more purposeful when we came out for the second half but then had the unfortunate charge down/try at the other end which I think took the game out of our reach.

add comment | complain about this comment

posted Apr 7, 2008

I'm afraid JB has Os(grand slam)preys coloured glasses on. A side that was 80% of a grand slam winning Wales team should have won the match in style particularly after all the praise they have had since the 6N. Perhaps a GS against poor opposition isn't such a good performance after all.

add comment | complain about this comment

posted Apr 7, 2008

dannylyons (U972729)

"I agree with old blindside. England have 2 semi finalist in this competition and how many of these players turned out for England? None."
Not strictly true. This term Hodgson has been on for England at full level,Paice,Ojo and Armitage have all been on for England at lower levels and Catt was there for the RWC.Kennedy should indeed hopefully will be included in the England party to NZ.Same could be said for Jackson at Sarries.

add comment | complain about this comment

posted Apr 8, 2008

Don't forget Geraghty & Richards!! I'm sure that Cairns, Haughton & Skirving will all turn out for the Saxons this Summer as well.

add comment | complain about this comment

posted Apr 8, 2008

Haughton, man what a player! I'm not a Sarries fan but I've seen him play a few times this year and he is one dangerous runner. I'd love to see him get a shot a full back for England being that we're a bit spoilt for wingers at the moment. He bottled Shane Williams up for the whole game, didn't miss a tackle i don't think? And those snaking runs up mid-field, it was like he'd greased his legs or something. Great to watch!

add comment | complain about this comment

posted Apr 8, 2008

He had a stormer all right, but he has played better than that this season. Don't forget his main break on Sat was where he skinned Adam and Duncan Jones and then AW Jones before being tackled from behind by Shane.

Can't understand why he is over-looked by England though, surely can't be long before they start looking at him?

Shane was pretty lively too though, considering the situations he found himself getting the ball.

add comment | complain about this comment

posted Apr 8, 2008

Yeah i don't think Shane got a huge amount of help most of the game. His run in the dying minutes made me laugh, i think that must be where most of Sarries missed tackle count came from. How many men in a row beaten by identical side-steps? He is a genius but didn't really get the chance to show it much on the weekend. And granted he did make that tackle on Haughton. But i think Haughton won that battle all told, and from an Englsih point of view hopefully whoever it happens to be that ends up picking the England team in the summer was paying attention.

add comment | complain about this comment

posted Apr 8, 2008

Again, most pundits/commentators failing to see wood for trees, choosing to comment on the minutiae of Ospreys play. The Ospreys just couldn't get themselves up for this match, plain and simple. They looked like they'd challenged themselves to play the entire match without getting that crisp white strip of theirs dirty. They were looking past Sarries to a semi with Munster, and, when they realised half-way through that they were in the mire, it was too late to raise their intensity to meet that of their opposition. Throw in James Hook's bit of show-boating while they were behind and it was a very tardy performance. While I personally backed the Ospreys to go further in the competition, it's heartening in a way to have Wales' post-Grand Slam halo dashed after the nauseatingly out-of-proportion gush of praise from all those rugby union "experts" out there. In the end, this could prove a blessing for the Wales team ahead of their trip to South Africa as they may go there not thinking of themselves as the out-and-out favourites, as they and all the pundits think they are currently.

add comment | complain about this comment

posted Apr 8, 2008

I've been quite understanding with Cardiff's loss to Toulouse because its no shame to lose to a great team in thier own back yard. its like losing to munster at thomond park, Toulouse at home is a huge challenge.

The Ospreys though MUST be disapointed. No chris Jack, Census Johnson only making the bench and the welsh super team failed to be ruthless and put Sarries away. Okay we did see why Richard Hill was probably the greatest flanker the world has ever seen in his prime. He's about 36 / 37 now and he still annihilated the ospreys back row almost single handedly, but the fact that Hilda rolled back the years and had a blinder won't make Jonathan Thomas or Marty Holah or Ryan Jones feel any better. The ospreys have a very beefy pack which should be able to go toe to toe with any team in europe, they've got Shane williams who is in sparkling form and they are directed by the incredibly tallented James Hook who's going to be there or there abouts for Lions test selection next year. So how did they blow this match aginst a Saracens team thats been woefull in the guiness premiereship?

Lynn Jones will take some stick, but he's used to it and he strikes me as the sort of man who'll stand up to any crap thrown at him, hell its its not the first time, is it.

I'd like to point out that Leicester were really flat against wasps in the GP the week after the EDF semi's and I feel that maybe the ospreys just hadn't recovered from the emotions of the semi finals either. its still a big disapointment becasue unlike Liecester the opsreys had two whole weeks to get it together for this fixure and lets remimeber that the wasps vs leicester semi final was a classic while the ospreys steam rollered Saracens.

So here we are with the EDF final just days away. both Leicester and Ospreys comming off the back of a hurtful defeat. I feel that the freshness of the osprey's loss will spur them on to playing like men posessed, but thats balanced with Leicester having home advantage... Then again the welsh sides seem to place more importance on the edf than the english so I think the welsh will have sizable support. on the other hand leicester have ALOT of fans!!! Fun, isn't it. All the drama of the last four weeks will culminate on saturday. I think its going to get tasty, The ospreys have a reputation as a nasty bunch of so and so's up front and Leicester ain't no angels. I'm looking forward to a very exciting match!

add comment | complain about this comment

posted Apr 8, 2008

Does this game and result not bring into perspective the standard of the teams at the 6 Nations.

Don’t get me wrong, it is good that Wales as a nation are playing better. And they fully deserved to win the 6 Nations. However, I would prefer if they treated the Grand Slam as a stepping stone to success rather than thinking the team has now emerged as the out right force of the Northern Hemisphere.

Next season will see just how much the Welsh team has progressed. France will be more settled, Ireland and England will have a new coaches and structures.

There are a few Welsh players that currently would be knocking on the door of a world 15, Ickle Shane, Martyn Williams and Rob Jones. My concern would be that Shane is 31/32 and Martyn is 33/34. Both are unlikely to make the next world cup (more than likely going in the next two years – probably after the Lions) and I don’t see anyone to replace them. Without either the brilliance of Shane and his finishing ability and Martyn’s ability around the park, Wales will not be the same team.

add comment | complain about this comment