By Sea_point
May 12 2006

Connacht look to complete the Celtic League run-in in positive fashion as they face the challenge of the Neath-Swansea Ospreys in the second of their three back to back home evening home fixtures at the newly floodlight Galway Sportsground.

                              

Connacht   v   Ospreys

 

 

Galway Sportsground

Friday 12^th  May at Sportsground, kickoff 6.30pm.

Live on BBC Radio Wales MW & online (http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/sport/)

 

Weather Forecast: 14°C and Light Rain

 

Firstly hearty congratulations must go to Darren Yapp who will run out for his 100th Connacht cap against the Ospreys.

 

Connacht look to complete the Celtic League run-in in positive fashion as they face the challenge of the Neath-Swansea Ospreys in the second of their three back to back home evening home fixtures at the newly floodlight Galway Sportsground. However with a squad jammed full of International players (only four of their match day 22 have not been capped) the Ospreys will start as strong favourites to copper-fasten their Heineken Cup qualification place.  

 

The two sides have met on five previous occasions with Connacht winning the first three and the Ospreys the most recent two. The Ospreys have won three of their last four matches, but away from home the Welshmen have won just once in their last seven games in all competitions since early December. Connacht will look to take advantage of this poor away form to wreak some revenge from the pairs previous meeting on a bitterly cold night in Swansea last October (attended by yours truly - and unfortunately Rob Dickson). The game was lost to Connacht on an incorrect decision by Mr. Dickson who awarded a late penalty in front of the posts as Connacht had delayed the re-start (which should have resulted in a free-kick rather than a match deciding penalty.). This was attested to at the time by an apoplectic Derek Bevan (who is the most capped Welsh International referee) who was sitting beside me in the media section of the stand, Derek has officiated the RWC final in 1991 and a semi-final in both 1995 and again in 1999, so I’d say he’s a fair judge of a game myself.

 

Connacht have lost successive matches to Cardiff Blues and Edinburgh Gunners, but Connacht are going for a full house of victories at home against the Welsh Districts this season.

With the very recent Llanelli – Munster match very much in mind, (step forward Mr M. Changleng). While we are sympathetic to the plight of the SRU, perhaps investing more in the training of their referees would encourage higher standards of play and more supporters through their turnstiles.

We as frustrated supporters await with keen interest the latest Scottish referee’s interpretation of the laws of the game, as applied to Connacht. Clarity and Consistency will help both teams and their supporters enjoy the game.

*Denotes International Player

Connacht: David Slemen; Matt Mostyn*, John Hearty, Gavin Williams, Darren Yapp; Mark McHugh*, Chris Keane; Ray Hogan, John Fogarty, Stephen Knoop, David Gannon, Andrew Farley, John Muldoon, Matt Lacey, Colm Rigney.

Replacements: Joe Merrigan, Adrian Clarke, David McGowan, Mike Swift, Tom Tierney*, Paul Warwick, Conor McPhillips.

Ospreys: Stefan Terblanche*; Jonny Vaughton, Sonny Parker*, Gavin Henson*, Shane Williams*; Shaun Connor*, Jason Spice*; Duncan Jones (capt) *, Huw Bennett*, Adam Jones*, Alun Wyn Jones*, Ian Evans*, James Bater*, Jonathan Thomas*, Andy Lloyd*.

Replacements: Barry Williams*, Paul James*, Lyndon Bateman, Richie Pugh*, Martin Roberts, James Hook*, Andrew Bishop.

Referee: Peter Allan (SRU). Touch Judges: TBC

HEAD TO HEAD - RECENT MEETINGS

Friday 31 October 2003 (Celtic League) at St Helen's Ospreys 22: Chris Wells(T) Shaun Connor(C/4P) Adrian Durston(P) Connacht 33: Wayne Munn(T) Bernard Jackman(T) Mike McCarthy(T) Conor McPhillips(T) Eric Elwood(2C/2P) Mark McHugh(P)

Saturday 3 April 2004 (Celtic League) at Sportsground Connacht 24: Mark McHugh(T/3C/P) Andrew Farley(T) John O'Sullivan(T) Ospreys 21: Steve Tandy(T) James Bater(T) Gavin Henson(C/3P)

Sunday 21 November 2004 (Celtic League) at The Gnoll Ospreys 9: Matthew Jones(D/2P) Connacht 10: Matt Mostyn(T) Paul Warwick(C/P)

Sunday 10 April 2005 (Celtic League) at Sportsground Connacht 13: Matt Lacey(T) Matt Mostyn(T) Mark McHugh(P) Ospreys 22: Jonathan Thomas(T) Gavin Henson(T/2C/P) Shane Williams(T)

Friday 14 October 2005 (Celtic League) at Liberty Stadium Ospreys 18: Matthew Jones(P) Shaun Connor(5P) Connacht 17: Keith Matthews(T) Paul Warwick(4P)