Ospreys: Pro12 champions
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Ospreys pipped Leinster at the death to claim a dramatic 31-30 win in Sunday's RaboDirect PRO12 final at the RDS.
In his last game for Ospreys, former Wales wing Shane Williams scored the match-winning try in the 78th minute - duly converted by Dan Biggar - to help claim the spoils for the Welsh region in Dublin.
Both sides scored three tries, but the home side paid the price for a missed early penalty by Jonathan Sexton - a weak kick which proved the difference as Biggar's sole miss was a conversion, meaning he kicked 16 points to the Leinster fly-half's 15.
Leinster mostly paid the price for indiscipline though - Heinke van der Merwe and Nathan White both spending time in the bin - conceding two of three tries at points when they were a man short.
Ospreys have now won the 'Celtic' League twice in three seasons, having also beaten Leinster in the 2010 final.
The Welsh region went into the game on a six match winning streak, but they found themselves 17-9 down at half-time with Sean Cronin and Isa Nacewa going over for the hosts. Sexton also added a penalty while Biggar responded with three of his own for the visitors.
Despite two more three-pointers from Sexton in the second period, touchdowns from Ashley Beck and Williams saw the gap reduced to two points before Nacewa's second score seemingly sealed the victory.
But, after Biggar had kicked a fourth penalty, Williams went over for a converted try to deny Leinster a European and league double.
It was the Swansea-based outfit who opened the scoring thanks to a three-pointer from their fly-half. However, Sexton converted a penalty opportunity to level matters.
Biggar kicked a second from the tee, but it was the Irish province that looked the most threatening with ball in hand.
Having failed to secure the double last season, losing to arch-rivals Munster in the play-off final, Leinster seemed determined not to replicate that lacklustre performance. And Cronin went over for the first try of the match after a superb off-load from Brian O'Driscoll, Sexton converting, to forge them into the lead.
The visiting fly-half reduced the arrears with another successful penalty before Nacewa pounced on some slack Ospreys' defence to touch down straight from the restart.
Van der Merwe, in for the injured Cian Healy, was then sin-binned after repeated infringements in the scrum, but the home side held on until the break.
The Ospreys took advantage of the extra man two minutes into the second half when Beck crossed the whitewash.
However, their good work was undone when ill-discipline allowed Sexton to kick successive penalties and extend Leinster's advantage to 23-16.
Once again, the visitors hit back through a Williams try in his final game for the region, but Nacewa touched down to relieve the pressure.
Nathan White became the second player to be yellow carded for the Irish province and Biggar kicked the resultant penalty before Williams provided the perfect send-off.
The scorers:
For Leinster:
Tries: Cronin, Nacewa 2
Cons: Sexton 3
Pen: Sexton 3
For Ospreys:
Tries: Beck, Williams 2
Cons: Biggar
Pens: Biggar 4
Leinster: 15 Rob Kearney, 14 Fergus McFadden, 13 Brian O'Driscoll, 12 Gordon D'Arcy, 11 Isa Nacewa, 10 Jonathan Sexton, 9 Eoin Reddan, 8 Jamie Heaslip, 7 Shane Jennings, 6 Kevin McLaughlin, 5 Devin Toner, 4 Leo Cullen (c), 3 Mike Ross, 2 Sean Cronin, 1 Heinke van der Merwe.
Replacements: 16 Richardt Strauss, 17 Cian Healy/Jack McGrath, 18 Nathan White, 19 Brad Thorn, 20 Dominic Ryan, 21 John Cooney, 22 Ian Madigan, 23 David Kearney.
Ospreys: 15 Richard Fussell, 14 Hanno Dirksen, 13 Andrew Bishop, 12 Ashley Beck, 11 Shane Williams, 10 Dan Biggar, 9 Rhys Webb, 8 Joe Bearman, 7 Justin Tipuric, 6 Ryan Jones, 5 Ian Evans, 4 Alun Wyn Jones (capt), 3 Adam Jones, 2 Richard Hibbard, 1 Paul James.
Replacements: 16 Scott Baldwin, 17 Ryan Bevington, 18 Aaron Jarvis, 19 James King, 20 Tom Smith, 21 Kahn Fotuali'i, 22 Matthew Morgan, 23 Tom Isaacs.
Referee: Romain Poite (France)
Comments
celticspirit says...
Miss Shane Williams already.
Welwn ni ddim byth dy debyg di eto, little wizzard!
As for the final: Just the fact a final still has to be played after a long season in which Leinster were so dominant just doesnt feel right. How about having just the season with a winner and having the best 6 teams or even 8 play a cup for the money-spinning if it has to be done.
I mean, it is great to see Shane sign off on such a high note, but it leaves a sour taste in the mouth as far as Leinster are concerned, who by the way would beat all but the top 3 or 4 Super franchises more often than not, to be sure...
Posted 15:22 16th June 2012
crunchfit says...
@ThinkingGame
Dunno. I was just surprised I didn't have to argue with you about a fact. Nice for a change.
Posted 23:42 03rd June 2012
ThinkingGame says...
@crunchfit
So if you're now indulging in the same behaviour, that makes you...?
Posted 21:30 30th May 2012
ShamanSheep says...
Jesus, is this still going on? Are you all on the dole or something?
Posted 20:50 30th May 2012
Crunchfit says...
Glad to see you acknowledge them as petty little internet warriors. All the best!
Posted 15:02 30th May 2012
ThinkingGame says...
@leinster_goy
So you expect to be able to talk like that about another team before a ball is kicked, but for them to doff their hat to you afterwards? You also want to imply the only way Leinster can lose is if the opposition cheat without being called arrogant? I'm just trying to draw the line for your team's "supporters". Talk yourselves up before the game (or season) by all means, but do it in a one eyed cocky way and be prepared to get some back if it goes wrong for you.
Posted 11:03 30th May 2012
leinster_goy says...
@ThinkingGame "The point is the "petty little internet warriors who have been waiting all year for a chance like this to take some shots at Leinster" are only doing it because..."
well, at least you've admitted that you're a ungracious little gloater. now that you've taken that first important step, please reflect on the reasons why you're posting petty, provocative comments even though your team actually won the game. i know it seems hard ThinkingGame but it's ok, i'm here for you and i'm going to help you through this cathartic experience and help you encounter your demons
Posted 09:18 30th May 2012
jontheref says...
@blametheref
"It seems to me, Poite got to Leinster psychologically", I think you do Cullen and Leinster a disservice, did you not hear Cullen talking to the ref?
(You may have been at the game, so then you would not have).
If you had, you would have been under no illusion that Cullen had a handle on how to confuse Monsieur Poite.
When being told that they must not take the scrum down, he refers to the previous penalty they conceded at the scrum, and says they were going forward.
Totally irrelevant, as it was the current scrum the ref was talking about.
Cullen and co certainly had the ammo ready for Poite!
Posted 22:51 29th May 2012
makemehappy says...
Dear Editor - - not sure why an earlier post didn't come through, but pleased could you remove the scum Sincero from here due to his racist comments against the Welsh. I trust you do not wish to be held liable for allowing his comments to be published.
Of course I will accept an apology from him so he can remain on this site. That shows that 'our kind' has more to offer than Sincero!
@Kevin83 - sorry we should have said that we enjoyed the booing and the constant requests from the crowd for non-illegal activities to be punished. We stand corrected!
Thanks
Posted 21:47 29th May 2012
ThinkingGame says...
@sextons_on_fire & crunchfit
No backtracking needed. It's 8-0. I forgot the Munster SF. I don't support the Blues, Scarlets or Dragons, and I don't recall any Munster, Ulster or Connacht fans being anywhere near as obnoxious as you about their teams' chances all year. Overconfident Irish 0-8 Unfancied Welsh.
The point is the "petty little internet warriors who have been waiting all year for a chance like this to take some shots at Leinster" are only doing it because of the plastic fans who fill the preview articles with:
paddy91317
it makes it better when we destroy them because they think they could actually live with leinster hahahahaha ;) 52-3 to leinster (the 3 points for the ospreys is being generous)
D4tress
Anyway - Leinster by 9; the Ospreys are muck.
leinster_goy
it really irritates me that our hard work this season could be totally undone in a one-off game against a jammy ospreys side
That's just the preview from this game. As soon as there are Welsh fans or Ospreys fans doing the same, feel free to moralise about it. For now, accept your fanbase on here has a sad element to it, and that the flak is deserved, but solely for the plastic fans who give your supporters a bad name.
Fireworks if these two get drawn together in your "home" competition next year?
Posted 20:13 29th May 2012
crunchfit says...
Also, I've always wondered why Poite is always referred to as a scrum specialist. He has been one of the worst officiators of the scrum. He is truly one of the worst.
Posted 15:49 29th May 2012
sextons_on_fire says...
@ThinkingGame
It's a pity you can't live up to your username and do a bit more thinking hahahaha BOOM Funny how you started off your gloating with "7-0", yet in the space of a few posts it changes to "8-0". Make your mind up, boyo LOL
Here are a few "Irish v Welsh" results for you to chew on:
Heineken Cup: Leinster 34-3 Cardiff, Scarlets 14-17 Munster, Munster 19-13 Scarlets (Dragons didn't even qualify, Ospreys trounced by Biarritz 5-36, Pro12's a lot easier when you've been knocked out of Europe embarrassingly in the first round isn't it hahahahahaha didnt even get in the amlin either)
Pro12: Leinster 31-10 Dragons, Dragons 20-22 Leinster, Scarlets 10-15 Leinster, Leinster 16-13 Scarlets, Cardiff 19-23 Leinster, Leinster 52-9 Cardiff, Munster 20-12 Dragons, Munster 35-12 Scarlets, Cardiff 13-18 Munster, Munster 16-13 Cardiff, Ulster 20-3 Cardiff, Ulster 24-17 Scarlets, Ulster 30-12 Dragons, Ulster 15-14 Ospreys, Connacht 13-11 Scarlets, Connacht 17-13 Dragons, Dragons 19-27 Connacht
Feel like revising that score-line?? LOL Come on, do a bit of backtracking now
Posted 13:03 29th May 2012
curates_egg says...
It could have been nice to see Williams get the reward and also Ospreys for the rugby they play. It was a potentially decent game of rugby with some great rugby - at times - from both sides. BUT
- Roman Poite destroyed this game and ripped all enjoyment out of it. Again a referee deciding who wins. I cannot understand why Nathan White was binned at the end. The IRB needs to seriously sort out the scrum because this was a shameful end to the Pro12.
- I also had the misfortune to sit beside the pocket of Ospreys fans in the RDS. I have never come across a more discorteous and unpleasant bunch of away supporters in rugby. They reminded me of football fans.
While I was gutted Leinster lost, I would really have liked to celebrate for the Ospreys and their exciting team. As well as a perfect swansong for Williams.
But I couldn't.
Posted 12:26 29th May 2012
crunchfit says...
The Ospreys fans at the RDS were great. It's a shame about the ones here / the Wales supporters. Two quality teams and two quality sets of supporters. It's unfortunate that people who post on this site really aren't representative of the majority of fans...
You can tell you've got a great team when you finally get to see all the petty little internet warriors who have been waiting all year for a chance like this to take some shots at Leinster. They don't come around too often. Enjoy!
Posted 10:39 29th May 2012
Carpelone says...
@ Blametheref
Spot on. What is your opinion on that?
It happened also last year, even though the final was much more battled and Munster away a tougher nut to crack.
Posted 09:43 29th May 2012
ThinkingGame says...
@Sincero
But as obnoxious as they were, they're still one up on you portly trolls and armchair fanatics. Sickening.
Trolling about trolling? Great way to make your point. If losing hits you this hard, change nationality or watch a sport that noone but Ireland play.
Posted 09:43 29th May 2012
blametheref says...
Losing Mike Ross so early upset the Leinster scrum and from there on the scrum became a lottery with the ref....or was it? Sunday Times journalist, Peter O' Reilly predicted before the match that the Ospreys could turn the screw here to their advantage if they played this particular referee, Poite, right, and the Ospreys did this, with a little bit of luck of seeing Ross depart early. O' Reilly made the point that if for example Nigel Owens was the appointed ref we could expect to see the ball played if the ball was at the 8's feet, even if the front rows had collapsed at that point...But not with Poite, who O' Reilly highlighted would either reset or mostly penalize one side with no apparent blame justification, making for a completely different stop start game in prospect that would not favour a fast tempo team like Leinster. O' Reilly more or less was saying that which ever team "played" Poite cleverly at scrum time could win this game and he predicted that the Ospreys had this ability in their power or advantage over Leinster. O' Reilly's main point was that it is a blight on the game that two refs, such as Owens and Poite, can be so diametrically different in their interpertation of the rules of the game and it was affecting the outcomes of matches in a very marked way.
Though they didn't voice it, pre-match, It is no secret that Leinster were not happy when they discovered Poite was the ref and made special preperations to try and do things his way...It seems to me, Poite got to Leinster psychologically, on the training ground and especially early on in the match and with the loss of Ross. Whereas the Ospreys went on the pitch knowing they had something up their sleeves.
Posted 09:32 29th May 2012
Sincero says...
Oh, and just to state the obvious, but the nancyball nature of the internet ultras the Ospreys have here is pathetic and incredibly vulgar and moronic.... I've met some decent Ospreys fans, but they make the odd match, lads. Met some poor ones too with the wendyball chants and sunken eyes of a defeated people being their trademark. But as obnoxious as they were, they're still one up on you portly trolls and armchair fanatics. Sickening.
Posted 01:12 29th May 2012
Sincero says...
Not having it... know what booing is... I booed him myself as he walked off in front of me, and with very good reason. He's incompetent, and proved as much consistently throughout his career. But my point was that it'll be a cold day in hell before Leinster supporters take any lessons from your type... you don't even go to support your team... and the 4 that do boo both the opposition and your own team when you're losing... a certain All Black described you perfectly, and he was unfortunate enough to represent you for a while. You ran away from my question typically... if the situations had been reversed would your 4 supporters have applauded the Leinster players off in that God-forsaken location of the Stadium of Whispers in picturesque Swansea? Haaaaa. Everyone knows the answer to that... the English and Scotch included. Your number is had, shall we say. Good lad.
Posted 01:06 29th May 2012
jontheref says...
melkdave
Certainly are perserverant, I'll give you that!
Radio BBC Wales, would ahve been a better bet, it is in English.
Don't know if you could have got that through your Virgin set top box.
may be worth looking into.
I use it sometimes, when the TV commentary is dross.
Posted 19:03 28th May 2012