Weekly Round Up 7th May

By Zippy
May 7 2006

Round up of the weeks events in the amazing world of Welsh Rugby. I forget to mention Nigel Davies' coaching appointment but that wasn't really too much of a surprise.

Ulster (10) 24
Tries: Penalty, Wilson
Cons: Humphreys 2
Pens: Humphreys 4
Blues (12) 17
Try: J. Robinson
Pens: Macleod 4

At the end of the day the Blues pack came unstuck and were basically outmuscled and intimidated by Ulster.

To pick on certain players, John Yapp's general technique and skill levels are poor, Rhys Thomas is a trier but not the Wales LT answer at 2, Gethin took a screwing at tight head and is a world class loosehead, Deniol Jones plays it fits and starts and Sidoli has failed to impress all season.

And in the backline, Sterrrrrbina is average and Craig Morgan seems to have given up on being a rugby player.

Apart from that the Blues are going places because they have class at 8/9/10

Ospreys (13) 27:
Tries: S. Williams (2), J. Spice
Cons: G. Henson (3)
Pens: G. Henson (2)
Munster (10) 10:
Try: Penalty try
Con: R. O'Gara
Pen: R. O'Gara
Att: 7,841

Well that was rather impressive wasn't it?

Over the next few seasons I expect at least 6 of the Osprey pack will form the basis of the Welsh pack and last night they completely dominated a slightly weakened Munster 8.

Huw Bennett & Ian Evans are both musts for the tour of Argentina.

And isn't there a bit more "Kick" to Spice since the Marshall signing?

Scarlets: (15) 30:
Tries: King 2, Dunlea, M Jones.
Cons: Hercus 2.
Pens: Hercus 2.
Borders: (9) 26:
Tries: Brown, Sititi, Hore.
Cons: MacRae.
Pens: MacRae 3.
Att: 5,033

The Scarlets did the usual completely outplay a Scottish side and then not finish them off, it almost cost them again.

Ponty upset Neath in the Cup Final at the Millennium Stadium 26-25, it was a great game and Ponty proved it was not just a case of Neath turning up. Match report from the link - http://www.sportnetwork.net/main/s165/st96023.htm

The standard of refs in the Celtic League was question by Orlg on the messageboard, he said "The standard of Celtic League refereeing is diabolical, in particular scottish refs, and is costing welsh sides games and the league money.

The ref for Os-Munster, was terrible, and the penalty try decision was ludicrous, since they fluffed up, regardless of whether or not the ospreys were offside

Andy Ireland of Scotland is a joke, he was clueless, sided with the crowd and helped cause the blues to lose, especially with two ridiculous yellow cards, while he allowed the sais/bogmen and their aussie mercenary to get away with any amount of foul play

The Changelings (either of them) are incredible. They average +30 penalties a game, and watching their matches is normally like watching paint dry. slowly. Then there was the leinster scarlets game, and all dislike i felt for them for their incompetence vanished instantly, and was replaced by vitriol for their bias. For the first 15 minutes of that second half, the scarlets didn't get a single decision, and that in my opinion is indicative of bias, in particular since the scarlets were dominant throughout the first half

Refs seem to get an idea in their heads about who's going to win in the first five minutes and they referee accordingly"

Link to thread: http://www.sportnetwork.net/boards/read/s193.php?f=279&i=22358&t=22358&sid=193